Page 65 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
His gaze turns icy-cold when he notices Ryan and my interlocked hands. After working his jaw side to side, he returns his eyes to mine. His stare quickens my pulse, but I remain quiet, letting him stew, grateful the shoe is finally on the other foot.
“Isaac, I haven’t seen you in months. Where have you been?” Ryan releases my hand to offer it in greeting to Isaac. “How is Nick? How many months left until we have another Holt player running around?” he continues, making me realize he knows Isaac more personally than just a casual acquaintance.
Isaac stands from his seat, his demeanor commanding the attention of everyone surrounding him. Numerous women—and even a handful of men’s eyes—turn to watch him as if he’s performing an act instead of doing something as simple as standing.
“I’ve been around. I’ve just been busy.” Isaac’s infuriated gaze shifts to me before he continues in a friendlier tone, “Jenni is due in a couple of months.”
A smile curls on my lips. Even in his bad-tempered mood, he can’t hide his excitement when he talks about his nephew due in a few months.
“Isabelle, this is Isaac Holt. I’ve not yet had the pleasure of arresting him, but I’m sure my day will come soon. Isaac, this is my date, Isabelle,” Ryan introduces us, unaware that we’ve already met.
Isaac isn’t the slightest bit fazed by Ryan’s cheeky statement. His captivating gaze remains steadfast on mine as he offers me his hand to shake.
Rolling my eyes, I accept his offer. My heart thumps in an unnatural rhythm when he raises my hand to his mouth to kiss my palm. Although my heart is flipping, my outward appearance doesn’t give any indication that his simplest touch has affected me.
“Are you going to introduce us to your date?” I drop my gaze to Isaac’s date, who’s more interested in the polish on her nails than participating in an adult conversation.
“Isabelle, Ryan, this is…” Isaac’s brows draw together as confusion slides over his face.
“Tatiana,” she informs us.
Her nasally whine screeches through my eardrums. If I’d only heard her speak, I would’ve assumed she was a twelve-year-old boy going through puberty.
“Tatiana.” Isaac shakes his head before his mouth carves into a smirk.
I huff, disgusted he doesn’t know his date’s name. Sighing, I plunk down in a spare chair and skim my eyes around the restaurant while Isaac and Ryan continue with their chit-chat.
Thankfully, not long later, Harlow saunters toward our group. My mouth gapes, and my pupils widen. It isn’t just her beautiful canary yellow dress that has my eyes bugging. It’s the pair of Jimmy Choo gold and black Lana stilettos encasing her feet, capturing my attention. When we were fantasy shopping online a few weeks ago, she told me they were her dream pair of shoes, but at nearly twelve hundred dollars a pair, they were to remain a fantasy.
“Cormack’s two-month anniversary present,” she explains to my shocked expression before sitting down in the chair next to me. “I got him a present, but it’s only suitable for him to open in private.” She gives me a cheeky wink.
Her playful commentary improves my sour mood. I’m glad things are going well for Cormack and Harlow.
When Ryan takes a seat next to me, I jump when he places his hand on my bare thigh. Lifting my eyes, I meet his rugged grin. He seems pleased my body reacted to his touch. Although it did respond, it was more because I wasn’t expecting his hand on my thigh than a zing of intimacy. Ryan is gorgeous, but no man can make my senses ignite as Isaac does.
“How do you know Isaac?” Ryan probes, gesturing his head to Isaac, who has sat back down next to his date.
Hearing Ryan’s quiet interrogation, Isaac’s unique colored eyes lift to mine. He shifts his head and cocks his brow, not attempting to conceal he’s eavesdropping on our conversation.
“I don’t know him. He’s practically a stranger,” I reply, my tone pompous.
A ravenous smile morphs onto Isaac’s face before his tongue slides out to lick his top lip. When his eyes darken, I know he’s recalling our time in the office of his nightclub.
Isaac’s pussy-clenching chuckle sounds around our group when I dart my eyes away from his, needing to look at anything but his sinfully striking face.
For the next hour and a half, I keep my focus on Ryan. He has been a perfect gentleman with the occasional flirty line thrown in. He asked me what I’d like to eat instead of assuming, and not once did he bat an eyelid when the waiter filled my wine glass numerous times throughout the evening—unlike Isaac. Every time the server returned with a bottle, Isaac’s eyes connected with mine. His lips would thin into a sharp line, and his brow would arch when I nodded at the waiter’s silent question of a refill.
Although it has been awkward sitting across from Isaac, the night has gone surprisingly well. But I swear if I hear, “It feels so big,” come out of Tatiana’s mouth one more time, I’m going to snap.
I was always under the impression restaurants made sure each of their patrons had their own chair to sit in, but apparently, no one has informed Tatiana of that. She’s been sitting in Isaac’s lap since the first course was served. Isaac doesn’t seem concerned about her closeness, but I’ve heard several other restaurant patrons’ gasps of disdain when Tatiana’s immature giggles bounce around the restaurant. Tatiana is beautiful, but she’s a dimwit. I’m surprised someone as entrancing as Isaac would have any interest in wanting to date someone like Tatiana.
This time, when Ryan places his hand on my bare thigh, I don’t jump in fright. Looking up from the extensive dessert menu, I lock eyes with his twinkling baby blues.
“What would you like for dessert?”
“Umm.” My gaze returns to the menu. “There are too many choices. Why don’t you pick something for me?”
His face spreads with a full-toothed grin as he waggles his eyebrows. My interest piques when he swivels his back and sneakily orders from the waitress.What is he up to?
