Elliot

Her eyes suddenly slide toward a nearby table occupied by two blond people, a man and a woman.

"Do you know them?"

Mira jumps.

"Who?"

I stare at her pointedly. She knows exactly whom I mean. Shoulders hunched, she surrenders.

"Yes."

"Who is he?"

"The blond guy with the little hands and huge forehead is Victor."

You've got to be fucking kidding me. Of every place in the city, he chose to eat here? This would never happen in Chicago. The population is far too large for me to run into someone I hate.

If there were more restaurants around here, we wouldn't be in this mess.

Maybe I could have one built on the Wondervale property to keep this from happening again.

Again? You won't be here after the vote!

I take a long drink of wine to soothe the unpleasant sensation that has settled in my stomach.

Her eyes move once more from my face to that damned table in the middle of the room.

"Do you want him back?"

Where the fuck did that come from?

"What?" Mira exclaims loudly enough to attract a few diners' attention. "Oh God, no!"

"Then forget him."

"Easier said than done. He's right there in front of me, with her." She stresses the last word. "I hate seeing them. It reminds me..."

That he broke her heart, I finish silently.

I hate seeing Mira so distressed. Usually, she has more spirit in one finger than an entire team of cheerleaders. Her misery unsettles me. I want to fix the situation, but I don't know how, especially since I have no idea what it's like to have an ex.

"Let's play a game."

What the fuck are you doing?

Mira perks up and finally puts down her menu to give me her full attention.

"You're really in the mood to play tonight, aren't you?"

"Would you rather skinny-dip in the middle of the ocean or run naked through Wondervale at night?"

"I hate running, but I hate sharks even more, so definitely run naked through Wondervale."

"Naughty. Security would catch you."

"Yes, but since I know the boss, the consequences wouldn't be too severe."

She smiles, and my heart races. Whenever I'm with her, it's as if my whole body goes haywire. Whether it's itching skin, a tight chest, or a sudden urge to kiss her, I'm constantly battling a host of strange sensations. Sometimes all at once.

"Your turn."

I take her hand and stroke her fingers. Her breathing always turns uneven when I do this. I think it's already my favorite way of touching her in public.

"Would you rather never read another book or never check the stock market again?"

"You know exactly where to hurt me," I say, placing my free hand over my heart.

"The fact that you need to think about it breaks my heart."

I give her a conspiratorial smile.

"I'd have to give up reading. Sorry."

"Well, it was nice while it lasted."

Teasing, she pulls her hand away. I catch it again in less than a second.

"You said read books. Audiobooks are listened to, so they don't count."

Mira's mouth falls open.

"You... that's cheating!"

"Life is all about semantics."

"Dating a businessman sucks!"

I want to kiss her until her pout disappears.

"I take it this is a change from the wonderful men you met through dating apps. The electrician?"

She points at me.

"Chip was a very nice man."

"Who brought his mother to your first date."

"I thought it was sweet."

"She asked whether you owned a fertility monitor," I say before taking a sip of wine.

Mira throws her head back and laughs. Making her laugh fills me with a deep sense of pride. I like knowing I can brighten her day, however little.

Another realization suddenly strikes me: for the first time on a date with a woman, I'm having fun. There are no hidden motives or cold exchanges about business. I'm genuinely interested in what she has to say.

Deep down, I wish I could be like her. Live lightly and leave behind the worries of the past that always seem to resurface at the worst possible moments. Unfortunately, for a man like me, that's impossible. I've become jaded over the years. That's why being with Mira feels so refreshing.

I know I'm playing a dangerous game with this woman, because we're on the verge of becoming more than two people casually seeing each other. Given how little time I have left here and my plans for the future, I can't try to build anything with her. My life is in Chicago, while hers is rooted in the very foundations of Wondervale.

That doesn't mean we can't enjoy the present. That much I can promise her.

"Hello?" she says suddenly, waving a hand in front of my face. "Your turn."

I refocus on our game. We take turns offering choices, and Mira asks increasingly absurd questions. I don't know where she gets ideas like skiing in boxers or crossing the ocean on a Jet Ski. Her imagination is limitless.

That's why you hired her.

We spend the entire dinner playing our little game, branching into different conversations depending on our answers.

Mira is considering the next insane choices she'll give me when Victor suddenly approaches. He looks from one of us to the other in astonishment. Lost in thought, she hasn't noticed him yet.

I stare him straight in the eye as I lift Mira's hand to my lips and kiss it. She lets out a tiny "oh," and her cheeks turn a lovely shade of pink for me. Her ex, gawking at us with wide eyes, looks like a crushed tomato topped with a tuft of blond hair. He's thoroughly average in every way, from his Brooks Brothers shirt to his poorly pressed trousers. I'm certain I could find a dozen men just like him at the local mall.

I return Mira's hand to the table and rise to my full height. Victor has to tip his head back to look at me.

I button my jacket before speaking.

"Victor Baker. I've heard about you."

He puffs out his chest like a rooster.

"Mr. Vale. I was just stopping by to say hello. Mira and I have known each other a long time."

I see red. Victor offers his hand, and I merely look at it with all the disgust he inspires in me.

"She told me about your proposal for Nebula Land."

His hand drops.

"Oh, yes. I was surprised when it was selected."

I'd very much like to introduce him to my fist. Does this bastard truly think he'll get away with stealing Mira's idea? Does he believe she stayed silent about his betrayal? What an asshole. He probably assumes she's too kind to expose him. Since he's never been caught, he sees no reason to worry.

Fuck that. I'm going to avenge Mira.

"Oh, Victor. Hi. It's strange seeing you here," she says neutrally.

"We're celebrating our anniversary."

Mira stiffens at the news. I keep my face impassive despite the urge to send him away immediately.

"Isn't it considered poor taste to celebrate the day you began an affair with your mistress?"

Victor's eyes widen with surprise. His cheeks darken further.

Mira straightens and glares at him. I'm proud of her: she's standing up to him the way she stood up to me.

I wrap an arm around her waist and draw her to my side. I'm tempted to protect her from idiots like him by hiding her away for the rest of her life.

A wave of possessiveness comes from nowhere. I should be shocked, but I'm not. I've always defended my territory, whether toys, money, or business. Now I feel the need to protect a woman. The idea may be new, but the feeling isn't.

"Mr. Vale, I'm sorry to interrupt your dinner. I didn't realize you and Mira were working tonight."

"This isn't a business meeting," I answer coldly.

I trail my fingers along Mira's arm. She shivers. Victor's eyes follow the movement and stop on my hand at her waist.

"Well, I'm sorry for intruding on... this outing."

"Then why did you?" I shoot back.

His mouth opens and closes. I don't bother waiting for his limited brain to devise a pathetic excuse. Instead, I catch the hostess's attention with a gesture. She positions herself between Victor and us.

"Mr. Vale, what can I do for you?" she asks professionally.

"I'd like to send a bottle of Dom Pérignon to this man's table. Put it on my bill."

She beams.

"Of course. What occasion are we celebrating?"

"His promotion."

The hostess disappears with a broad smile.

Mira's body goes rigid against mine. I stroke her hip, playing with the lace band through her dress. Despite her ex's scrutiny, her body melts into mine.

"A promotion?" Victor repeats, his voice rising.

"It has come to my attention that you've been a devoted Wondervale employee for years."

He nods, grinning. When his eyes slide from me to Mira, I'm tempted to shield her from his gaze. He seems to think she said something favorable about him.

He disgusts me.

"You are officially being transferred to Wondervale Shanghai to join their creative team. Effective immediately."

"Shanghai?" he asks, suddenly ashen. "In China?"

"You have two reasons to celebrate tonight. Congratulations."

He stammers a few words. His embarrassment makes me want to smile, but I restrain myself. Only one person deserves my rare smiles, and it certainly isn't this piece of shit.

I turn to Mira, who is already watching me. A small smile adorns her lips, but her eyes tell me everything. She rises on her toes and gently kisses my cheek.

Then her lips find my ear.

"You are getting laid tonight."

Her warm breath heats the back of my neck. Suddenly, all I want is to get out of here.

Restaurant dates are extremely overrated. I don't know what I was thinking, bringing Mira here when she's the kind of person who likes sitting on the floor and devouring takeout.

In answer, I squeeze her hip.

"Congratulations on Shanghai, Victor. You should be proud of what you've accomplished."

Mira gives him one last little wave over her shoulder before sitting down again.

I'm pleased she doesn't even offer him a smile. They're all for me. That bastard can go to hell.

Victor stares at her, mouth hanging open. I want nothing more than to punch him squarely in his crooked nose.

Instead, I clap him hard on the shoulder. To everyone else, the gesture looks friendly.

"There's a reason men like you hurt women like Mira," I murmur. "It has nothing to do with her and everything to do with what you sorely lack."

I take a moment to look him up and down without bothering to conceal my disgust.

Still pale, Victor seems to fold in on himself. Affecting him this much gives me enormous satisfaction. I'm sure it's nothing compared with the discomfort Mira must feel in his presence, but I'm glad to inflict this humiliation on him.

I give his shoulder one last pat before turning my back.

"Are you really sending him to China?" Mira asks once I'm seated across from her again.

"That will be up to him."

"What do you mean?"

"Either he moves to Shanghai or he quits. As long as he gets off my property, I don't care."

She rests her hand on mine.

"Why are you doing this?"

I merely shrug.

"You like me," she suggests, fluttering her lashes.

"I've already told you that."

I give her a small smile, and in return she shines like the sun.

"Actions speak louder than words," she says, taking the dessert menu from the center of the table.

"And what do my actions say?"

I lean forward, catch the end of her hair between my fingers, and draw her toward me until our mouths are only inches apart.

"They say I matter more to you than you pretend."

I kiss her.

"Don't start wishing for things that can never become real."

Her eyes soften, reflecting an emotion I've never seen in them before.

"I'll dream enough for both of us."

Her answer hits me like a cold shower. Mira has summed up my greatest fear in a single sentence.