Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Luna
I stare into my closet like it somehow offended me because I don’t see a single thing that would be appropriate to wear for a date with Rage. Skirt. Dress. Jeans? None of it seems right. We’re going to dinner and then he said maybe a walk on the beach.
What the hell do you wear to a popular fancy restaurant followed by a walk on the beach? It could be windy, which means a skirt or dress might blow up. I’ll also have to take off my shoes to walk in the sand. And with Rage, I can comfortably wear heels, so I really want to.
I’m still staring at my closet when there’s a knock on the door. I whirl, staring at the clock. I’m running late and he’s ten minutes early.
Shit.
Luckily, my hair and makeup are done—I just have to figure out what to wear.
Pulling my robe tight around me, I hurry to the door.
“Hey. I need a few more minutes,” I say as I throw it open.
“No problem.” He’s standing there looking like sex on a stick, biceps bulging through his button-down shirt.
“Make yourself at home,” I say before closing my bedroom door and going back to the offending closet.
“Time to decide,” I murmur. I pull out a navy-blue dress with white piping down the sides.
It’s fitted but slimming and I feel confident in it.
I also have a pair of strappy white high-heeled sandals to wear with it.
I dress quickly, slipping my feet into my shoes and then staring in the mirror for a beat.
This is as good as it’s going to get, and he’s either going to think I look nice or he won’t.
I can’t control how he feels, and I have to remember that.
As much as I like him, I still have to put my mental health first.
I barely know this guy. He only knows the basics about me and my past. The idea is to get to know each other. I understand that intellectually, but emotions are a totally different thing. And I don’t know that I’m as prepared as I think I am.
Because I really like him.
Rage lets out a low whistle when I walk into the room, eyes moving over me in what I can only describe as a possessive way.
“That’s a great dress,” he says, reaching out to press a light kiss on my cheek.
“Thank you.” I smile up at him, acutely aware of his hand at my waist. The way he’s looking at me. The heat radiating off of him even though he’s barely touching me.
“You going to be okay in those heels with your ankle?” he asks quietly.
“Ankle is fine, thankfully. And if we do go walk on the beach, I’ll take them off.”
“Good plan.” To my surprise, he takes my hand as we leave the apartment and waits for me to lock up. Then we take the elevator down and walk to the parking lot. His SUV is parked out front and he uses a key fob to unlock it, though he still opens the door and helps me in.
“Such a gentleman,” I say softly.
“I try.” He walks around to the driver’s side and gets in, then starts the SUV. “Do you mind the drive to Oceanside? This restaurant has great reviews.”
“Not at all. I go into Oceanside all the time. There are some great restaurants and I’ve been wanting to try this one.”
We talk about food and restaurants we’ve been to, and he’s just as easy to talk to when we’re out as he is at work. He’s well-read, well-traveled, and laid back, so it doesn’t feel like I have to fight to be heard.
I’m starting to relax by the time we get to the restaurant and, once again, he comes around to my side to get the door for me. He helps me out and then takes my hand, leaving the SUV with the valet and leading me inside.
It’s a Thursday night and the place is busy, but Rage made a reservation. We’re taken to a nice table in the back, overlooking the water, and I can’t help but get caught up in the romance of it all.
“Wine?” Rage asks, picking up the extensive list.
“Sounds lovely.”
He chooses a Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon, surprising me with his knowledge about several of the wines on the list.
“There are perks to being a bodyguard to the rich and famous,” he says. “And having a good friend that’s married to royalty.”
I chuckle. “I imagine that’s true. Have you been to the palace in Limaj?” That’s where Daniil is from.
“Quite a few times. Usually not for fun, although there’s been some of that over the years. King Erik and Queen Casey are good people.”
“It’s interesting to hear you talk about an actual king and queen like they’re regular people.”
“They are regular people. I mean, Casey’s American. She married into that life, and honestly, after so many years in exile, Erik is doing his best to walk the line between being a leader and just a good human being.”
“I don’t know that I’d be up for a job like that.”
“Me either.” He shakes his head. “I’m a lot happier being in the background. Helping quietly, in whatever way they need. We talked about moving to Limaj. Grim and I. Maybe joining the Royal Protectors.”
“They’re the special bodyguards to the royal family, right?”
He nods. “Yeah. But then Courtney and Daniil got back together, and they decided to open Shadow Security. Grim and I knew this was where we needed to be.”
“I’m glad. Otherwise, we never would have met.”
His eyes flick to mine across the table and there’s a moment of…something. It’s hard to describe. Not a lightning strike of passion or anything. More of a gentle breeze of recognition. And it speaks to a story that hasn’t yet begun.
Luckily, the waiter arrives with the bottle of wine before either of us say anything. I watch him pour the dark red liquid and take a sip when he hands me a glass.
“Oh, this is wonderful,” I say with a happy sigh. “There’s nothing better than a good glass of wine. That’s probably the one thing I’ll miss once I get pregnant.”
“If it makes you feel better, I won’t drink while you’re pregnant either.”
I blink. “You don’t have to do that,” I say in confusion.
He frowns. “It’s only fair. You’ll be doing the hard work, so the least I can do is be supportive. I don’t want to be sitting there enjoying good wine while you watch.”
I flush. For some reason, his thoughtfulness warms me. Hell, everything about him warms me. Especially now.
“The world doesn’t stop for one pregnant woman.”
“No, but I wouldn’t do it for just any pregnant woman—I’d only do it for my pregnant woman.”
His pregnant woman.
Those kinds of words are dangerous.
I need to nip this in the bud now.
“Can I be honest about something?” I ask quietly.
“Of course.”
“I…” Oh, this is hard, but maybe if I admit what I’m feeling he’ll understand.
If it makes him change his mind about baby-making, that’s okay too.
I’d rather know now than after I’m already pregnant.
“I’ve had a crush on you for a long time.
” I swallow, though I lift my chin. Honesty can’t be a bad thing under the circumstances.
To my surprise, he smiles. “That’s good to know.”
“How come?”
“Because I’ve had a crush on you for a long time.”
“You have?” I frown. Guys like Rage rarely pay attention to me, much less have crushes on me. I don’t know what to do with this information.
“Why do you look so confused? You think I’d offer to procreate if I didn’t already like you?”
“But…we barely know each other.”
“Which is why we’re taking things one step at a time. Spending time together, talking about the important things, seeing lawyers. That way, if it turns out we’re not compatible, the baby is protected. You and I will figure out the rest.”
“You mean… you actually want to…date?”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing?”
“I don’t know. I thought…”
“You thought I volunteered to make a baby with a woman I didn’t have any interest in?”
“I thought maybe you felt…sorry for me.”
He rolls his eyes. “If I just felt sorry for you, I’d have started asking around, seeing if any of my friends were interested in being dads.” He pauses. “But when I said I was going to be the only man to put a baby in you—what did you think that meant?”
“That you’re a little bossy.”
He grins. “Oh, you have no idea, princess. Bossy doesn’t even begin to cover it. While we’re together, we’re together. I can be a jealous man, if provoked.”
“I have no reason to provoke you. Not like that anyway.” I’m feeling a little flirtatious all of a sudden.
“Good to know.” His smile is as disarming as ever and I’m enthralled.
He’s very easy on the eyes, so I never gave a lot of thought to who he is as a man, beyond how tough he has to be to do what he does. Yet the more time I spend with him, the more I like him. And apparently, he likes me too.
“I feel like we need to start over,” I say after a moment. “I didn’t know exactly where I stood with you as far as relationships go, and I was too nervous to ask directly.”
“Okay, then let’s start over.” He smiles and extends his hand. “My name is Elliott Rageis. Nice to meet you.”
I laugh and shake it. “I’m Luna Gallagher.”
We’re cut off as the waiter appears with an appetizer and takes our entrée orders.
From there, the conversation is even easier.
As if starting over somehow flipped a switch for both of us.
Probably more for me than him, but this feels like a real date.
Two people who want to spend time together outside of work and get to know each other beyond a surface-level attraction or even a deal to become parents.
I love the fact that he had no trouble admitting he’s had a crush on me. If I was expecting awkward, I would have been disappointed.
Because there is nothing awkward about Elliott Rageis.
“I don’t know what to call you,” I say after our entrees arrive. “Calling you Rage feels so impersonal, but that’s what everyone calls you.”
“You can call me Rage at work and Elliott when we’re alone, if that makes it easier.”
“What about Rage the Cage?” I tease. “Is there a time I should use that one?”
He chuckles. “When we’re naked, you can call me anything you want.”