15 Chapter 15: Not a Date
He didn’t laugh, but the corner of his mouth lifted just a little. His eyes lingered a bit too long, and something about his expression made my stomach flutter.
I crossed my legs and looked outside, pretending I hadn’t just been caught.
“You’re quiet,” Gareth finally said.
A few minutes later, the car slowed, and I realized we weren’t just anywhere. He pulled
up in front of a place that screamed luxury without needing to show off. The valet opened
my door before I could react.
Gareth didn’t miss a beat. “They’ll deal.”
It wasn’t just some regular restaurant-it was fancy. Like, really fancy. The lights were soft and golden, and everything sparkled, from the wine glasses to the silverware. The
chairs looked like they belonged in a palace, not a restaurant.
He nipped me.
My eyes dropped to his hand. Big, and strong, the veins on the back of it slightly visible. I remembered how that hand had wrapped around my wrist just days ago-firm, warm,
possessive.
“I’ll be back,” I said, sliding out of the booth. “Bathroom.”
I turned, confused. He was walking past her not sparing her a glance. She reached for his
but he brushed right by her like she didn’t exist.
arm,
Was this just a dinner or was it starting to feel like a date?
His head dipped low, and his breath fanned across my neck, making goosebumps rise all
over my skin. He didn’t kiss me. He didn’t speak.
He didn’t press, just let the silence settle again-like he didn’t mind the way it stretched
between us.
I blinked. “You didn’t even ask what I wanted.”
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My nails dug into my palm. The sting helped keep me still.
There was this curvy blonde. Dressed like she walked out of a magazine. She had one hand on Gareth’s chest and her body angled like she was already halfway into his lap.
That caught me off guard. “Why me, then?”
And then there I was… in jeans and a tank top.
Then his arms slid around my waist, firm and warm, and he pulled me into him. My palms
flattened against his chest, and I could feel the steady beat of his heart under my
fingertips.
He glanced at me, calm as ever. “Trust me, you’ll like it.”
When I stepped out again, I stopped abruptly.
The drive was quiet at first, but not uncomfortable. Just… charged. Like there was
something in the air neither of us wanted to name.
Snap out of it, Jasmine.
It wasn’t a claiming mark. But it could’ve been.
When the food arrived, I dug in without thinking. First bite and I was hooked. I hadn’t
realized how hungry I was until that moment.
“This place is nice,” I said, glancing around. The lighting was soft and warm, with quiet jazz playing in the background. Couples and people filled the room, chatting over fancy
plates. I felt out of my depth. I was still staring at my surroundings when Gareth’s voice
pulled me back.
“It’s one of my favorites,” Gareth said, leaning back in his chair. “I don’t bring many people
here.”
A small smile played on his lips, but he didn’t say more.
I tugged my shirt a little lower, suddenly self-conscious. “Are we… even allowed in like
this?”
“Oh, don’t give me that look,” she went on, her voice smooth like poison in silk. “You’ll get bored of her. She’s nothing. You’ve had better.”
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The hostess didn’t even blink at my shabby outfit. We were ushered into a private booth at the back, tucked in a dimly lit corner where soft jazz floated from hidden speakers.
“Just tired,” I lied quickly. My thoughts were loud and messy.
I smirked, wiping my mouth. “Probably because I am one.”
Cocky man.
Gareth took the driver’s seat without a word and I slipped into the passenger seat. I was
expecting the car to turn towards home, but Gareth headed in the opposite direction.
He didn’t say a word. His eyes searched mine like he was reading every thought, every
doubt, every crack I tried to hide.
The waiter showed up fast like he was waiting just for us. Hmm! Did Gareth call ahead or was he a regular here? Before I could even glance at the menu, Gareth looked up and said, “Two steaks, medium rare. And a bottle of red.”
I walked through the hallway lined with mirrors and expensive art. The bathroom was marble everything. Even the soap smelled like it came from another tax bracket.
“She’s probably just throwing herself at you for protection. Or maybe hoping for a handout. Isn’t that what these girls do? Flash a little skin, cry a little story-then boom, in your bed.”
Mutts? My breath caught.
Before I could ask what he was doing, Gareth stepped in close-too close. His chest pressed lightly against mine, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
I stepped back slightly. Her voice lowered, but I still caught the words.
Of course, they would. He was Gareth Laken.
I turned to go when I heard Gareth’s voice behind me.
“I’ve been waiting for you to call me,” she purred. “Didn’t think you’d be spending your nights with mutts.”
And goddess help me… how I craved him.
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I blinked and looked out the window again, cheeks warm. But then I caught the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth. A smirk. He’d noticed me staring and was enjoying every second of it.
Everyone around us was dressed up. I saw heels, expensive suits, and designer bags. Some of the women even had diamonds in their ears and around their necks. The whole vibe was quiet and classy. It was the kind of place you only saw in movies.
Then he was in front of me.
I tried to keep my eyes on the road, on the passing buildings, on anything that wasn’t the man behind the wheel-but my gaze kept drifting. His profile under the soft dashboard light was unfairly perfect. Sharp jaw, straight nose, and his lashes were long enough to cast shadows against his face. He looked carved from stone, calm and composed, with one hand resting lazily on the steering wheel.
He looked at me for a second, then said simply, “You looked like you needed a break.”
“Wait… you’re not taking me home?”
He glanced at me briefly. “You looked like you hadn’t eaten. Figured we could grab a meal. Unless you’d rather go home hungry?”
I should’ve been annoyed. I wasn’t. Something about the way he said it, like he knew I’d enjoy it, made it hard to argue.
Gareth didn’t say anything, not right away.
She scoffed. “You’re joking. Her?”
“Don’t.”
I blinked. “I-no. Food sounds good.”
Right at the curve where my neck met my shoulder. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make my body freeze, then melt, all in the same breath. Enough to make my knees wobble and my heart race so loud I was sure he could hear it.
His scent hit me like a wave of cedarwood, smoke, and something darker, something wild.
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To Chapter 15: Not a Date-
It wrapped around me and pulled me in. I felt small under his gaze, like the whole room
had vanished and there was only him and me, standing in the middle of silence.
My heart did a small, unexpected flip, and I quickly looked down at my napkin.
I didn’t know what was happening-why he was doing this-but I couldn’t move.
Gareth watched me with mild amusement. “You eat like a starving wolf.”
“Gareth, what are you-”
