Page 12 of Hawke

I looked up from the menu at her sultry voice, giving the cute redhead a once-over before answering. “I’ll take a Peliroja Ardiente.” The drink made with strawberry tequila, hell-fire bitters, and lime was also known as a ‘fiery redhead.’

“Very well,” Allison replied. “Is there an appetizer you’d like for me to have the cooks get started for you?”

I shook my head. “I’ve spoken to the manager ahead of time, and he was to set up a tasting menu for me.”

“Yes, of course.” Allison scribbled something down, then disappeared toward the bar.

She then quickly returned with my drink before leaving once more. With hopefully no other interruptions, I glanced around the dining area. It was very contemporary, yet elegant, in its style. Those luxurious elements added a splash of color to the rustic furniture, adding a much-needed vibrancy to the space.

I couldn’t wait for Syn to be finished. Because the warehouse hadn’t required any major structural changes, so most of the construction was merely cosmetic. That lent well to keeping to a specific time frame, and even with the last-minute suggestions the architect had emailed me earlier in the afternoon, everything was still on schedule for a Valentine’s Day grand opening. I only needed to stay on top of Vivian and Charlotte.

I turned my focus to my drink, then heard a recognizable laugh. When I looked in the direction from which it’d come, a familiar face came into view. It was as if the mere thought of Charlotte had conjured up her presence. She had no idea I was there, so I knew it was purely coincidental. Still, I couldn’t help but watch her.

“Is there something wrong?” Allison asked, evidently hearing my growl of displeasure.

I turned around. I’d been so preoccupied with the blonde that I hadn’t even realized my waitress had returned. “No.”

My answer was brief, and maybe even a little brisk. Allison peered at me before looking at the drink I hadn’t even touched yet. “Are you sure the cocktail is to your liking? If not, I can bring you something else from the bar.”

I shook my head. “No, everything’s fine. Do you have an estimate on when the sampler plate will be done?”

I wasn’t in a hurry, but I knew the question would send the woman scurrying off to the kitchen which would allow me to look at Charlotte again. She’d just found her table, and my eyes narrowed when she embraced another man.

I didn’t know why the gesture bothered me, but for some reason, it did. My lips tightened into a scowl as I watched the familiarity between the two. It was hard to tell exactly how intimate they were from a simple hug, but it appeared very natural from my vantage point.

“It’ll be ready soon,” Allison told me when she returned to my table.

Once again, she cut off my view, and I almost snapped at her, but caught myself in time. “Very well. Thank you.”

And with that, the redhead moved down the aisle to another table, leaving me to my previous view. I now wished I was seated closer to at least make out what the two were talking about. It was probably for the best that I wasn’t. Shaking my head, I finished my drink in a few large swallows.

Why am I sitting here spying on a woman who for all intents and purposes wanted very little to do with me? And why the hell do I even care?It wasn’t as if I planned to take her to my dungeon once the club opened. I’d been there and done that already, having given her more chances in that one encounter than I had anyone else. Ever!

The blonde rose from her seat, and I tried following her with my eyes until the waitress stepped into my peripheral once again.

“Here you go, Sir,” Allison said.

Her timing left something to be desired, and not giving a damn whether my next words sounded rude or not, I looked up at her. “Can you have all of this placed into a carryout container?”

“Is there a problem?” she asked.

“No, nothing like that,” I replied, hopefully in assurance. The last thing I wanted to do was draw attention to my table by having her return with a manager. “Something’s come up and I need to leave.”

“O-okay,” she stammered, then left with the tray. When she was in the back, I rose from my seat and followed the same path Charlotte had just taken.

I soon saw the sign for the restrooms and knew she had to have gone to powder her nose, or whatever it was women did. The bathrooms were down a long hallway, so I stood on the opposite wall between the men and women’s room, waiting on her to emerge.

She didn’t make me wait long. When the door opened, Charlotte stepped out into the hallway, looking directly at me. She gasped softly, the sound going straight to my cock.

“Hawke?” she asked, obviously confused that I was standing outside of the bathroom like a stalker.

My eyes roamed over her body, but I didn’t see the tight-fitting leggings that covered her toned legs, or the loose sweater hiding everything else. All I could see was this submissive cuffed to a St. Andrew’s Cross, naked and trembling in anticipation. Just the thought of some other man touching, tasting, and marking her had me somewhat crazed.

“Who is he?” I asked in a clipped tone.

Charlotte looked taken aback, shaking her head as if she actually had to think about who it was I was referring to. “Who?”

“The man you’re dining with. Who in the fuck is he?” I asked once more, this time making sure there was no question as to whom I was talking about.

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