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Lauren responded by reaching for his ain This time he didn’t stop her At first he didn’t move, and for the briefest of moments, she felt nervous about her actions But she’d co do Instead, she pressed into hiue across his bottoht,her as if he were trying to possess her And God, she wanted to be possessed Her hands went to his waist, and she tried to pull him closer, but he wouldn’t move He nipped her bottom lip and pressed his cheek to hers "Dinner first," he said and this time, he sounded hoarse, his voice raspy with desire "Then… we’ll talk"
She jerked back and he laughed "You have a real thing about talking, don’t you?"
He kissed her "Get your purse and let’s go eat Wait I rinned "I did say I’d work on the bossy thing"
She laughed "Yes You did And good thing you added that ‘please’" She turned on her heels, and headed to the bedrooive her an order or two under the right circumstances, under the most pleasurable of circu back to where Royce waited, looking forward to both dinner and what ca in a very long time
Thirty minutes later, with her arm linked with Royce’s, Lauren walked into the door of "Eden" and stopped at the hostess booth Her gaze traveled the direen colors with plants running around high ledges that lent to the tropical-island ambiance, that Royce said he couldn’t wait for her to try
"It’s such a cool place," she ht you’d like it," he said, but before he could continue they were greeted robustly by a friendly thirty-so couple, with a baby on the ho not only obviously knew all three of the Walker brothers well, they owned the restaurant With energetic, friendly conversation surrounding her, and Royce frequently touching her, Lauren felt a new kind of warnificance of his actions He’d brought her to a place that was so clearly a part of his life, after he’d taken her to his apartment and invited her to be nosy
"Let et you two a table," Shannon, the wife, a pretty, petite brunette, every bit of eight rabbed two menus and et out of line, Lauren," John, Shannon’s husband a tall blond who looked more lethal weapon than the lethal chef she’d been assured he arned "Bust his chops freely You have ed a look with Royce who quickly explained, "I call him ‘Shannon whooped’ He doesn’t like it"
Shannon rubbed her belly "Oh, he likes it"
Lauren laughed again, pretty sure her cheeks were going to hurt if this night continued as it was, soht out, could do for her
Shannon led the area and circular booth, waving them forward "Our VIP seat" Once they were seated, Shannon placed the menus on the table "Enjoy"
Lauren reached for her eous watch"
"Oh," Lauren said, wondering why she’d worn the darn thing "Thank you A gift fronition of her father she’d just delivered, was probably why he gave her the flashy diaift, thehimself feel, and look, like he cared, even if his actions said otherwise A point driven home today quite clearly She’d left his house obviously upset, clai to be sick, and he hadn’t even called to check on her
Royce’s hand slid to her leg under the table, and her gazein his expression, at the awareness that somehow, she’d let emotion seep into her reply to Shannon in a way she normally would not, and he’d noticed The sincere concern she saw in his eyes touched her, while the contrast it held to the insincerity of her father’s gift clawed at her
"Well it’s spectacular," Shannon said wistfully and glanced at Royce "Giveat Walker Security"
Royce chuckled "None of those in my arsenal, but I have a desk and sturdy chair with your name all over theirl’s gun, I can promise you that"
A waitress appeared with a bottle of wine "Frolasses in front of Royce and Lauren
"I’ll leave you two to enjoy," Shannon said and smiled at Lauren "Nice to meet you, Lauren Maybe next time we can chat more"
A few minutes later, Lauren and Royce sipped a rich, sweet red wine, each having ordered a pasta dish "What was all that about Shannon’s gun and your desk and chair?" Lauren asked
"The restaurant is really John’s baby Shannon’s an FBI agent I used to ith, and a daet her for Walker Security And it would be a safer job for her too, which is why John wants her to leave the agency I can control what jobs she gets and watch her back And I can ency won’t do that"