Page 99 of Absinthe Minded

I stepped out of the car before the driver came around. Music floated over the brick walls, and the aroma of our dinner made my stomach growl—loud.

Maggie took my hand. “Seems I’m not the only one who skipped lunch.”

“I’ve been busy today.”Lame, Gabe. Real Lame. “You took my breath away in the salon. I barely recognized you.”

Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. “Thanks.”

“Full disclosure, I asked Clair to talk you into going to the salon.”

“Why?” Maggie’s mouth fell open.

“Because I wanted you to feel beautiful.” I ran my thumb over her lower lip. “There’s nothing wrong with taking a little time to yourself.”

She blushed again and glanced out the window. “Where are we?”

“Enzo uses this for special events.” I led her through the gate and into a private courtyard.

A fountain bubbled in the center of the space and various types of flowers and trees lined the perimeter. A single table with a white cloth sat under a canopy of twinkling lights. Enzo’s people had outdone themselves.

I pulled out her chair. Once she sat, I nodded to the musicians. The soulful blues music quieted to a conversational volume.Perfect. So far, so damned good.

“You did all of this for me?” She glanced from the pale pink roses on the table to the candles burning throughout the garden.

“Yes.” I hoped what I lacked in words, I’d made up for in effort. I needed her to know she was the most precious thing on this earth to me.

“Thank you. I’m overwhelmed.”

“We don’t get out much. I wanted to make tonight special.” I pulled a piece of paper from my jacket and handed it to her.

“What’s this?”

The ink had barely had time to dry on the court order. “It’s temporary for six months, then Ella’s legally mine.”

Maggie squealed, jumped from her chair, and hugged me. “That’s awesome.”

One down, two to go… I kissed her lips but pulled away before things crossed from PG to rated R. “Dinner first. We have plenty of time for that later.”

“What time did you tell your mother we’d pick up the kids?” Maggie eased into her chair.

“Ten in the morning. We have a room at the Monteleone.”

The look in her eyes made my cock sit up and take notice. I’d never make it through dinner at this rate.

A waiter came forward and filled our wine glasses, while another poured water. When they finished, another came forward and presented the first course. “Dungeness Crab Gratinée.”

God, bless Enzo. I nodded my approval.Food now, sex later.“Did you enjoy your day?”

“Not as much as you did.” Grinning, she sipped her wine.

“Everything all right at the bar?”What am I doing?I had important things to discuss with her, and here I was making small talk.

“Busy for an afternoon.”

“It’s that time of year. Thanks again for covering the shift.”

“I met a strange woman. She said she knew Rebecca from Chloe’s preschool. She’s been in a few times. She ended up coming shopping with us tonight.”

“Did you recognize her?” I sat back in my chair.

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