Page 63 of A Breath of Life
“Dinner?” He asked again, quirking a brow. “It would be nice to forget the drama of the past twenty-four hours and simply spend time together.”
Tallus was offering an olive branch, seeking connection and reconciliation. Sometimes, I forgot the foundation of what constituted a healthy relationship. I had no basis for comparison, so I was making it up as I went along. My hyperawareness of touch and affection often meant I overlooked the simple things.
When was the last time we had a proper date? If I couldn’t remember, then it must have been ages.
“Dinner would be nice.”
“Yeah?” A real smile touched the corner of his mouth. A spark of light shone in his eyes. Real Tallus returned.
“Yeah.” Despite anxiety and a roaring conscience telling me to hide Tallus away, I extended my hand.
He took it, and for a moment, all was right in the world.
17
Diem
The host had to consult his manager before allowing us in with Echo. I didn’t grumble or have anything negative to say as much as I wanted to. I would be agreeable. Respectful. I would play the part of a doting boyfriend and erase whatever concerns Tallus had over my absence and injuries.
I was not an actor, but I would try no matter how deceptive it felt.
The kid—he was not a day over nineteen—seated us at a table in a far corner away from other customers. It suited me fine. I positioned myself so I could watch the door and our surroundings.
Tallus didn’t seem to notice or mind.
Echo curled up under the table and closed her eyes.
A waitress brought water and menus, eyeing my battered face more than once before leaving us alone. Tallus studied the selections while I studied him. Why did the distance of a single table feel like a canyon? I could reach out and touch him, and yet he was too far away.
“You’re staring, Guns.” He peered over the top of his come-fuck-me frames and hit me with the sultry smirk that turned my insides to liquid. “Do you know what you’re ordering?”
“No.” I couldn’t focus on the options. A queasy twist of anxiety still soured my gut. Hunger pains or not, I wasn’t sure I could eat.
Tallus closed the menu and pushed it aside. “I’m getting the kabab platter. It says we can upsize and make it shareable. Want to do that?”
I grunted and stacked my menu on top of his. It saved making decisions.
“Don’t grunt. Words, Guns.”
“Sounds good.”
“You seem anxious.”
“I’m fine.”
Tallus had an uncanny way of dissecting me and drawing far too accurate conclusions based on little evidence. It took effort not to squirm. His evaluation threatened to turn me transparent, and there was too much I didn’t want him to know. Keeping a mask in place was proving impossible. Not when he was so astute.
“So.” Finished with his analysis, he sipped his water. “Aside fromtorturous, how was your day? Anything I should know before tomorrow? Did you find those girls?”
“Girls?” I had no idea what he was talking about.
“The teens you were supposed to be looking for.”
“Oh. No. I worked on other stuff.”
“What stuff?”
“The… Patrolli case.” I hadn’t touched the Patrolli case. My entire day had been spent trying to find the people who kidnapped me and threatened my loved ones.
