11. Lourdes #2
Ares clears his throat and puts the glass down. “Someone bought off the judges for that award. Bring me the Delaire Graff.”
Blinking, Eden says, “Nice alternative. I’ll send Blake over to take your order.”
“You’ll take our selections now,” Ares says and proceeds to place orders for both of us.
Lamb chops for him. Chicken risotto for me.
Less cheerful, Eden leaves, and Ares turns to me again, fingers running along my arm like this is a real date. Our eyes lock, and I struggle for something to say.
Our moment is interrupted by a voice shooting across the table. “What are you doing here?”
Ares closes his eyes briefly and hides a grin. “Lucia, is that how you greet me?”
“I told you, I can handle this.” In a white jacket and a white cap over the same dark hair as Ares, but tied back into a bun, his young cousin folds her arms like a strong little spitfire.
“And I thought I made it clear that I handle men in your life who don’t respect you.” He sits back, his arm sliding around my shoulders. “I came to warn your boss that he is on thin ice. If he persists in devaluing you, he will get another version of me.”
His words, though delivered in a calm manner, are terrifying, but even so, I can tell Lucia is resisting an eyeroll.
“The food smells delicious,” I say to lighten the mood.
It seems only now she notices me. Or is surprised I spoke up.
Blinking, she looks from me back to her mafia boss cousin, and her face softens.
“Hello. Thank you.” Her hands twist together in front of her jacket.
“Lucia, this is Lourdes,” Ares says, again not clarifying that I’m his new assistant.
“Nice to meet you,” she says with a smile.
“Same.” I notice she’s about the same age as me.
Eden appears a moment later and whispers to Lucia, “Jared is freaking out in the kitchen.”
“Good,” Lucia snaps, smiling. “I’ll work on your dinner order right now.”
“We can wait.” Ares cups the edge of my shoulder, giving it a delicate squeeze. “We’re not in a rush.”
Smiling, Lucia backs away and then waltzes through a door that leads to the kitchen.
“She’s lucky to have you look out for her,” I say, settling next to his warmth.
He glances at me. “Her father passed away. She and her twin sister are my responsibility.”
Responsibility. Obligation. Power.
“My father passed away, too,” I admit and leave it at that. I’ve already shared too much with this man.
“I’m sorry.” Ares stares into my eyes. “What did he do for a living?”
“He was an accountant,” I say carefully.
“In New York?”
“Chicago.” I clear my throat. “That’s where I’m from. I moved here with David.”
“I see.” He raps his fingers on the table. “Who did your father work for?”
“A construction company. A pretty big one. He handled a lot of money for them.”
Narrowing his eyes at me, he says, “And how did he die?”
“Car accident.” I steady my breath, praying he doesn’t ask if I have any siblings.
I really don’t want to lie to Ares, but no one can know about Sandrine.
Instead, he turns to me and rests a hand on my thigh again. “I’m sorry.”
His touch makes my blood move in a different direction. I can’t show him how he affects me.
Moments later, Lucia herself brings our dishes. The savory aroma makes my stomach growl. I feel like I haven’t had a decent meal in at least three years.
Ares takes a bite, chews, and swallows before asking me if I’d like to try his lamb chop.
“Sure. It looks delicious.” I think he’s going to put a portion on my plate, but instead he offers me a bite right from his fork, holding it out until I lean forward and take it into my mouth.
When a trace of mint sauce lingers at the corner of my mouth, he gently wipes it away with a thumb, slow and deliberate.
I stop breathing.
“How does it taste?” he asks.
I take a sip of water to give myself a moment to catch my breath. “Tender but not chewy. Not to be cliché, but it did melt in my mouth.”
The mention of something in my mouth raises his gray eyes at me. “Cliché, but effective.”
“Excuse me. I need to use the restroom.” I fold my napkin and scooch out of the booth.
In a narrow hallway, I’m about to turn the doorknob to a single washroom when I catch a whiff of cigarette smoke. It’s very rare to smell that indoors these days.
“He’s just going to use you and toss you aside,” Eden says from a gray shadow at the end of the hall near a propped-open door.
At first, I’m not sure who she’s talking to. Without anyone else around, I figure it’s me she’s addressing.
“Did he use you and toss you aside?” I ask, folding my arms.
“No one uses me. No one tosses me aside,” she says bitterly.
She’s not actually admitting that she and Ares were together in some way.
So I leave it alone. This woman knows nothing about me.
Only assumes I’m his date. And her comment is supposed to offend me.
It’s only another reminder that this isn’t my world.
I have to get out of this city and be with my sister. The sooner the better.
Knowing what will put Eden in her place, I say, “I’m going to tell Ares you were rude to me.”
She tosses the cigarette and storms up to me. Her eyes are red, and she smells like whiskey. “Wait. No.”