Page 45 of Stars At Dusk

Hello.That hadn’t been in situ when she’d left that morning.

‘What’s this?’ she exclaimed, partly to herself and partly to the man who’d stepped into the suite with her.

She whirled around to Kage. ‘What’s that?’ she repeated slowly, pointing at the unexpected item.

‘Why don’t you find out?’

She took on his challenge and lifted the cart’s stainless steel cover.

On a series of elegant white plates were a selection of delicious-looking pork and chive dumplings, fried chicken and enoki parcels, beef tartare on garlic toast, and cumin and chilli lamb skewers. On a platter floating above the white plates was an artisan-designed spread of smoked roe and forest mushrooms,

The steamy, delectable aromas drifted into the air and hit her with the essence of savoury goodness.

Her face dissolved into a deep smile, which she quickly forced-wiped off her face. Morphing her delight into a cutting glance she turned to the man behind her.

‘Really, Kage?’

He was a vision of smugness. ‘Better believe it.’

‘When did you get this happening?’

‘This was plan B,kara. I hedged my bets that you’d hold fast to your ‘timeline’ guns.’

She was flabbergasted, shaking her head.

‘Enjoy. It’ll be a sweet release after your first day.’

She turned to look at the delectable food. Finally, her tummy rumbled, and she gave in. ‘Thank you,’ was all she could say.

‘Karibu.’

He turned to leave and then paused, facing back towards her. ‘One thing, Harlow, you need to know about me. I don’t give up. So that dinner will happen. It’s just a matter of time.’

‘Is that right?’ she taunted, unable to help herself.

All she got back was a smirk, a heated glance from silver irises and a jerk of his bearded chin. Then he was gone, leaving an insatiable hunger inside her that would not be filled with merely delectable food.

Later that night, just as she was shoving the last morsel of a lamb skewer into her mouth, she heard a soft chime ring through the apartment.

‘Selene calling to be let in.’ the intercom announced.

‘Selene? Of course, let her in,’ Harlow cried out. Excited, she dumped her plate in her kitchen sink and rushed to the suite’s lift doors, where a curly-haired petite woman was stepping out.

‘Girl!’

The women embraced with a shared laugh and squeals.

After a moment, they pulled apart to appraise each other,

‘Love the hair, hon,’ Selene said, touching Harlow’s soft curled locks in their newer, deeper shade of purple.

‘Love your loved-up look,’ Harlow shot back. ‘Regular sex looks good on you, bitch.’

‘Girl,’ Selene warned with a raised eyebrow. ‘Maybe I’mma take this bottle of reserve prosecco I brought you back to my suite.’

‘Oh hell no,’ Harlow said, grabbing the bottle from her friend’s hands. She marched to the kitchen and procured two glasses. She popped the bottle and poured it liberally.

She handed Selene’s glass over.

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