Page 52 of The Devil's Reward
“Can I go play now?” Macy asks excitedly, looking up at me pleadingly.
“Let’s get a table first, then you can,” I reply. Macy scowls but nods.
Shadow leads us over to the hostess station and a young girl of about seventeen smiles up at him flirtatiously. “Do you have a reservation?” she practically purrs. I nearly roll my eyes but manage to control myself. I can’t blame her. He’s pure sex.
“Under Shadow,” he tells her politely. “And I think we need one kid's menu,” he adds with a wink down at Macy.
It’s like the girl only just clues into Macy and I standing here. Her face flushes, but she grabs one dutifully and leads us over to our booth, which is close to the play area. “Can I go play now?” Macy asks me impatiently as Shadow and I slide into opposite sides of the booth.
“Yes,” I tell her. “But don’t wander out of the play area or past our table,” I warn her.
“I won’t. I see some kids from school.” Then she’s off without so much as a backward glance.
Shadow smiles, then slides around the rounded back portion of the booth and pulls me in towards him. We’re at a perfect vantage point to see Macy in the play area, but we’re also sitting tight together, his thigh pressed against mine, and our arms touching on the table. My heart kicks up in response, and I look up into his intense eyes as he looks down at me.
“Hi,” he says again, before leaning down and pressing his lips quickly to mine.
“Hi,” I murmur back when he pulls away. I glance over towards Macy, but she’s fully engaged in some kind of battle on one of the arcade games with a little boy about her age.
“Will she freak if she sees me kissing you?” Shadow asks.
I shrug. “I don’t know, honestly. I haven’t dated anyone since Bobby, so this is going to be a first.”
“She’ll have to get used to it because I plan on kissing you as much as you’ll let me,” he murmurs in my ear, making me shiver.
I swallow hard and thank all that is holy when our waitress comes to our table, a wide smile on her face and an order pad in hand. “Hello there,” she says brightly, taking us in. “What can I get you and the little ones you have running around?”
I smile at her. “Just a water for me, and do you have apple juice? We only have one child with us, so one is fine.”
“Sure do, honey,” she says, writing down on her pad. “And for you, handsome?”
Shadow smiles. “Water for me too,” he answers.
“I’ll be right back with those drinks,” she tells us before she’s back on her way.
“I wonder if she goes home with a splitting headache every day,” I wonder aloud. “I would go insane if I worked here.”
Shadow chuckles. “I would wager she does. Maybe she doesn’t have kids and knows she’s going home to silence so she’s okay to handle it here.”
Before I can say anything, someone stops in front of our table, and I look up in surprise to see Rose and another woman standing there, grinning widely. Shadow groans.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here, Leonora?” Rose asks the other woman. Her caramel eyes are bright with amusement and delight as she winks at me. She’s wearing her cut, with a plain dark green tank top underneath and a pair of dark wash jeans. Her hair is up in a ponytail, with only a little makeup on her face. I swear, I’m going to have to ask her for her skincare secrets. It looks fantastic.
Next to her, the other woman just looks giddy. She looks somewhat familiar, but I can’t place her. She’s an inch taller than Rose, with honey blond hair that she has down in soft, artful curls, with bright blue eyes tastefully lined in dark liner and mascara. She’s wearing a silky white blouse with pearl buttons and a pair of jeans that probably cost more than my mortgage. This woman screams money, but there’s nothing but kindness in her eyes as she looks at me.
“I think we’ve interrupted Shadow’s date, Rose,” Leonora drawls back. “I’m not sure whether to be proud or shocked. I thought for sure I was going to have to intervene.”
“You and me both,” Rose agrees.
“Bloody hell,” Shadow mutters under his breath. I can’t stop the smile that pulls at my lips. “Who let you out of your cells? I thought the guards were putting you in the padded ones this time.”
My eyes widen at his words, but both women just laugh. “We bribed them with lots of money and interesting favors,” Leonora jokes. She looks at me. “I’m sorry, honey. I’m Leonora Lincoln.” She holds out her hand for me to shake, which I quickly do, and it clicks.. She’s the wife of one of the richest men in the state, if not the country. “We love to tease this man.”
“More like you love to drive me crazy,” he retorts, but his lips are pulled up into a half smile. “Now, are you two going to leave me to my date, or do I need to call your men?”
“Aww, but we thought you might want to join us,” Leonora says with a mock pout. “You know, just to make sure you don’t screw this up.”
I laugh, and Rose grins at me. “I’m Quinn Holt,” I say back to Leonora. “Nice to meet you.”
