Page 59 of Queen of Diamonds
He texted Josh, letting him know that he was leaving, then picked up his one box and headed for the door. Before he got to it, Josh came barreling in.
“Dude, tell me you weren’t going to leave without saying goodbye.” He tackled Rand in a bear hug.
“Josh, I’m not disappearing from your life, you know.” He gave his fellow agent an awkward pat on the back. “You can let go of me now.”
“Gonna miss those sour looks on your ugly mug when the bikers come in the door.”
After extricating himself from Josh’s hold, he said, “Nah, you’ve got a new partner to break in. You won’t even think about me.”
A wide grin appeared on Josh’s face. “He is one cool dude.” He held out his arms. “I’m thinking I need some tattoos.”
“No, you don’t.” He squeezed Josh’s shoulder. “You watch your back when you’re at the bar, you hear?”
Surprisingly he did feel a trace of regret as he walked out of the door of Aces & Eights for the last time.
It was Saturday night, and Rand was taking Kinsey out to dinner on the pretense of celebrating her new position as the buyer at Cheeky Chic.
One of the many things they’d found they had in common was the love of trying new foods. She’d never eaten in an authentic French restaurant, so he was taking her to the best one Miami had to offer.
“Mr. Stevens, we have your table ready,” the maître d’ said at seeing him.
Rand saw the surprise on Kinsey’s face that Marc recognized him on sight, but he just smiled. “Thank you, Marc.” He slid his palm down to Kinsey’s lower back. “My lady is looking forward to enjoying Gregory’s selections.” Rand would almost consider marrying Gregory Pugin if they played on the same team. His food was that good.
Marc smiled at Kinsey. “You’re in for a treat,mademoiselle. Please follow me.”
They were led to the table that Rand had requested, one set in the back, giving him and Kinsey privacy. “Will you be ordering from the menu or the chef’s selections tonight, Mr. Stevens?” Marc asked after they were seated.
“Are you good with the six-course chef’s selection?” he asked Kinsey. “That will give you a little taste of everything. Or you can order from the menu.”
She turned those sexy-as-hell smoky eyes on him. “I’m at your mercy tonight. You promised to teach me new things.”
Rand’s brain short-circuited, getting stuck on all the ways he could answer those two sentences.
“You will enjoy the chef’s creations then,” Marc said to Kinsey before turning to Rand. “It is good to see you out again, Mr. Stevens, especially with such a beautiful lady. Do you wish to choose the wine or go with the chef’s wine pairings?”
“Ah, right, the wine.” He gave himself a mental shake, glad that the tablecloth hid him below the belt. “Kinsey? Marceau’s has an extensive wine collection, and Marc will bring you the wine menu if you wish. However, I recommend you allow the chef to choose the wine to go with each of your selections.”
“That would be fun.”
“The wine pairings for the lady, and I’ll have a club soda on ice with a lime.”
Marc nodded. “Your waiter tonight is Brandon. I’ll give him your selections.”
After Marc left, Rand glanced around, then turned his gaze on Kinsey. “You know what I don’t see?”
“What’s that?”
“I can’t find another woman here tonight as beautiful as you. Don’t be obvious, but see the man two tables to my right?” At her nod, he said, “He’s sneaking peeks at you. He wishes he were me.”
She lowered her lashes as she smiled, and that shy smile touched something deep inside Rand. Before her, he’d been used to women who knew they were gorgeous, whose smiles were artificial, and who accepted compliments as their due. Kinsey was real, nothing practiced about her, and her honesty shone in her eyes. She owned his heart. He slipped his hand into his suit coat and fingered the two items in it. They felt warm on his skin, as if confirming what he planned for tonight was right.
“I love you, my sunshine girl,” he said, getting her eyes back on him. “Yesterday our trial date of living together was up, and you’re still here. Are you going to stay? Just so you know, your answer determines whether I ever breathe again.”
She slid her hand across the table, palm up. “Take my hand.”
He placed his over hers, and as always happened when he touched her, he felt something powerful pass between them.
When their fingers were linked, she said, “It amazes me how easily I do breathe when you’re near. You’re my rock, my soul mate, and damn awesome in bed. I’m staying.”
