Page 43 of Release Me

When I walk back out to the living room, dressed in jeans and a button down, Zoey is already waiting, her back to me as she looks out the massive windows. She’s also changed into jeans that hug her amazing ass, a cream knit sweater that molds to her curves and knee high black boots that practically have me drooling.

Fucking hell, I want her.

“Ready to go?”

“Yep,” she replies, turning toward me. “Let’s do it.”

We grab our coats and make our way back downstairs and toward Pike Place. The place is bustling, which is hardly surprising given it’s Friday afternoon and everyone is ready for the weekend.

“So what’s on the menu?” Zoey asks as we walk up to the fish markets, the tourists all milling around, waiting to watch the whole fish throwing thing they do.

Chuckling, I lean in, my hand resting on her shoulder as I say, “Maybe we should see if they have some Ono?”

Zoey lets out a loud laugh, her head falling back a little. “As delicious as that sounds, shouldn’t we be eating local?”

Grinning, I squeeze her shoulder, leaving my hand resting there as I steer us toward one of the shops. “You’re probably right,” I say. “What about some grilled salmon with buttered asparagus? We can grab some salad stuff, some wine and fresh bread too.”

Zoey’s eyes widen as she stops to look up at me, my hand still resting casually on her shoulder. “You can make all that?” she asks quietly, an amazed tone in her voice.

My smile widens as I step a little closer, my hand sliding to curl around the back of her neck. “Guess we’ll find out, won’t we,” I whisper, seconds away from saying fuck it and just kissing her like I’ve been wanting to since last night.

“Ethan?”

The familiar voice cuts through the moment and when I turn, I see Declan standing in front of us, a curious look on his face as his gaze moves from me to Zoey. I don’t miss the flash of recognition that crosses his face as his eyes take her in, giving her a slow once over before he takes in my hand, resting against her neck, the way we’re standing close together.

I have no doubt that he remembers her. That he knows exactly who she is and not only that, but that he remembers the day he saw her, when he first came to my office to pitch the hotel expansion. The one I turned him down on.

“Declan, hi,” I say, pulling my hand from Zoey’s neck as I extend it in his direction.

His gaze lingers on Zoey for a few more seconds before moving to me. “Hey,” he says, giving me a smirk. “I didn’t know you were in town.”

“Last minute trip,” I lie. “That business and tourism conference,” I add, regretting my words because of course that will only remind him of the tourist opportunity he missed out on when I turned down his proposal.

“Right,” he says, shaking my hand quickly. “Of course. And you are…” he turns back to Zoey, that smirk turning into a smarmy smile that has me stepping closer to her.

“Zoey,” I say, even though I know he remembers her. “She works with me,” I add.

“Right, yep,” he says, holding a hand out to her. Zoey shakes his hand, her eyes widening a little as he lifts their joined hands to his lips for a brief but completely inappropriate kiss. “Nice to see you again.”

I move my hand to the small of her back because if I don’t, I’m gonna punch him in the mouth. “Anyway, we’ve gotta get going. We have a dinner to get to tonight,” I add, already stepping around him. “Nice to see you again, Declan.”

I press gently against Zoey’s back as I steer us away, not looking back even as I can feel his questioning eyes on us. I have no idea what the fuck he’s thinking right now and while I don’t care, I also hate that he’s seen us like this. Even though we aren’t doing anything wrong. Hell, we haven’t really done anything at all, I don’t like the way Declan was looking at Zo.

“That was the guy who wanted to buy in, right? Expand your empire?” Zoey asks, leaning in to me, even though there’s no chance he can hear us.

“Yeah,” I reply with a nod. “It was.”

“He seems pissed still?” she says, looking up at me, her eyes wide.

Chuckling, I gently squeeze her side. “Maybe, but you know what, I kinda don’t give a shit.”

Zoey laughs at that, gently elbowing me as we walk over to the fish stall. “Good, it’s your empire, Ethan, your empire.”

An hour or so later, we have bags of salmon and bread, salad ingredients along with fresh asparagus and a shitload of cheese in case we’re still hungry. Zoey has been game to try anything I suggest we eat and I love that she’s this adventurous.

On the way out of the markets, I swing by one of the liquor stores to grab a couple of bottles of white and a couple of bottles of red, before we head back to my condo.

It’s dark by the time we get upstairs and after I drop the bags in the kitchen, I turn on a few table lamps in the living area, before switching on the electric fire.

---