Page 105 of Into the Woods

“It’s me who won’t be letting your granddaughter go,” Eric whispered conspiratorially. “Now that I’ve found her, I’d be a fool to lose her. But I’m sure I don’t have to tell you just how spectacular she is.”

“No, you don’t.” Papa gave me a warm smile that did little to thaw my insides. His expression turned into one of concern. “Are you all right, sweet girl? You look a little pale.”

Probably because I felt like I was going to have a stroke. I wanted Eric as far away from my family as possible.

“Darling?” Eric crossed the room to me, his hands coming up to frame my face. It was all I could do not to flinch and jerk away. “Are you all right?” The question seemed genuine enough—maybe I was imagining the hard glint in his eyes.

“Just tired,” I finally answered, giving him a weak smile as I pressed a hand to my stomach. “And famished. I didn’t eat on the plane. I was afraid to spoil our dinner.”

Looking satisfied, Eric leaned in and kissed my forehead. “Then we should get you some food. Can’t have you wasting away on me now, can I?”

I gave a small shake of my head, my smile fading as Eric studied me, his gaze scrutinizing before he seemed to shake himself out of whatever thoughts he was having. He took my hand and pulled me from the room.

“I’ve already reserved a table at Aubergine as you requested,” he told me, ushering me through the house and toward the front door. “We have so much to discuss.”

“We do?” I was unable to keep the surprise from my voice.

Eric spun, looming over me as he squeezed my fingers. “We do, my love. Missing you these last few days brought some things into perspective for me.”

“I was only gone a couple of days,” I pointed out, barely able to resist the urge to back away.

His gray eyes were bright, almost manic, as he looked at me. He let out a heavy breath. “Let’s discuss this while we eat. I can’t have my girl withering away.”

I wasn’t his girl.

I was Court’s girl. Always had been.

Always would be.

Even if, for the rest of the night, I had to pretend I’d fallen for a monster.

Eric pressed a possessive hand to my back and guided me out into the night.

CHAPTER 32

BEX

Aubergine was just as packed as the first night we’d gone there, but unlike that time, we were shown to a private booth in the very back corner of the restaurant. The lighting was dimmer back here, and when Eric indicated for me to slide into the booth, my stomach gave an uncomfortable flip.

Taking a deep breath, I slid across the bench and waited for him to join me. He boxed me in against the wall.

He took the menus from the hostess but didn’t bother handing me one. Once the hostess turned and left, he shifted to look at me, once again grabbing my fingers. “I’ve missed you.”

“I was gone barely three days,” I pointed out.

His brow furrowed. “Bex, I think you misunderstand my intentions here, so let me be perfectly plain. I see a future with you.”

“Oh. Uh, okay.” I wasn’t sure what to say, because I knew I had no future with him. I was playing a game of cat and mouse, and I wasn’t sure if I was the cat or the mouse.

Right now, I felt like the mouse.

His thumb stroked the back of my hand. “I know this must seem sudden, but I’m not a man who entertains casual relationships, and this is the first time in my life that I’ve found a woman who is just like me. Who won’t judge me. A woman who can help me.”

My throat and mouth went dry.

“I never expected to find someone like you,” he went on. “Someone who can understand my business while helping me build connections. Do you see it? The power we could have?”

Shit. I might’ve oversold my connections to General Woods and Kent Westford. “I think you’re overestimating my reach. I grew up knowing these people, but that doesn’t mean we’re friends.”

---