Page 64 of Beneath the Surface

I quirk a brow. “I’m not romantic, Lily. I’m just in—” The words stick on the back of my tongue and I clear my throat as I realize what I was about to say.

In love.

She tilts her head, her eyes gaining a curious sheen, and my heart spasms in my chest. My thumb brushes against the underside of her jaw, the smoothness of her skin making my mouth water, wanting to feel it under my tongue.

I smile, running my hands down her arms and grasping her palm, locking our fingers together. I bring her hand up to my mouth, pressing a kiss to the back. “You must bring it out of me.”

Her eyes dim, and she inhales heavily before pasting a grin on her face and twisting to stare at the restaurant. “Wow, Alex, this place looks really nice.” She fidgets as I lead us through the doors. “Is it okay for me to wearjeansin here?”

I smirk and tap the top of her nose, turning my attention to the blonde hostess as her head pops up from her stand with a big grin. Weareunderdressed, but honestly, I don’t give a fuck. The only thing places like this care about is the money. If you act like you belong, then you do. I grew up living and breathing in this type of environment, and if I have to adopt the air of my past in order to give her a night to remember, then that’s what I’ll do.

Besides, fuck these people. It isn’t about what they think, it’s about my woman. And that’s what Lily is.

Mine.

“Alex Calhoun. We have a reservation.”

The hostess nods and leads us to our booth. When we sit down, I can feel Lily’s stare burning a hole in the center of my chest.

“What?” I ask.

She blinks a few times then shakes her head. “Nothing, I-I never knew your last name is all. Crazy because it’s never even crossed my mind to ask.” Her eyes haze over, and my stomach tenses as I force a smile on my face.

It’s not my last name. It’s Don’s.

She picks up a menu. “Jesus, how’d you even find this place?”

I raise my fingers and wiggle them. “Magic.”

“Alex.” She giggles, rolling her eyes. “The entire menu is in French.”

I shrug. “And? I’ll order for you if you want.”

“There’s nothing under fifty bucks!” she whisper-shouts.

I shrug again. “Don’t worry about that.”

Her eyes slide behind me and she shrinks a little in her chair, making my stomach sink. I glance around, realizing for the first time that there are servers in the corner glancing over at us, whispering in hushed voices.Fuck.Suddenly, I’m second-guessing the entire evening. I was trying to show her a nice night, give her things that she’s never had, but I don’t want her to spend all of her time being uncomfortable. With people judging us for tattoos and jeans when they’re used to suits and pretty dresses.

My leg reaches for hers under the table, my foot grazing up her calf.

Her eyes flash to mine. “Stop it,” she mouths.

I smirk. “Or what?”

The waiter interrupts our moment, and I order without thinking, allowing the names of the items to roll effortlessly off my tongue.

“Parles-tu français?” I ask him. I need to tell him to keep his coworkers in check, but I don’t want to embarrass Lily.

His eyes widen with his nod, and I swallow, my eyes flashing once again to the girls in the corner. “Demandez à vos collègues d’arrêter de regarder ici comme si nous étions le divertissement et j’ajouterai une centaine de plus à votre conseil.”Get your coworkers to stop watching us like we’re the entertainment, and I’ll add a hundred to your tip.

“Oui, Monsieur.”

He takes our menu, and it isn’t until I take a sip of my sparkling water and look back to Lily that I realize she’s frozen in place, eyes large and round, glass of water frozen halfway to her mouth.

I grin, even though panic starts to leech my nerves.This was a stupid idea.

“Whoareyou?” she asks.

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