Page 79 of The Sweetest Devotion

I rolled my eyes. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad had I been marrying a man I loved. My father came to mind and I buried my discomfort and unease. Once more, I turned to Cain, now serious. “Can’t you and Phil do your business at the office and leave my father out of it?”

Cain frowned. “Damon doesn’twantto be left out. To sit by while his company is run by other people would kill him.” He looked out the window, at the passing scenery. “Until he’s physically unable to communicate and run things on his own, then he’s still very much calling the shots.”

That sounded like my father’s wishes. To keep working until the death of him.

I reached out and ran my hand down Cain’s chest, something that caught him by surprise until I was fisting the material of his undershirt and grabbing a hold of him. His curious eyes met my angry ones. “You let him overexert himself, and I willneverforgive you.”

Cain’s hand came down on mine, taking and entwining our fingers as he nodded. “I won’t.”

For the rest of the ride, we were silent, but he never let me go.

Just as I’d feared, The Sheridan was surrounded by paparazzi when Vino pulled into the valet lane. Someone big and important was dining tonight and that had the paps crowding the entrance.

Shit.

Cain grimaced at the cameramen. “We could go somewhere else.”

The idea was tempting, but I was too hungry to go elsewhere at this point.

“Let’s just make it quick,” I suggested.

Cain got out first and extended his hand for me to help me out next. At once, the lights were flashing and the spectacle began.

“Kennedy!” a man was heard shouting my name as I rushed to conceal my face with my clutch.

“Kennedy, congrats on the engagement!” another called next.

“Kennedy, have you been in contact with Gaius? Do you think this news will knock him off his game?” a female photographer yelled.

Just as we’d made it to the front door that last remark caused me to turn back, gutted. Guy and I, we’d talked about a marriage a few times after our first year. I hadn’t been ready at the time. Thinking of his text, I knew this news was probably taking a toll on him. If he were single and hadn’t moved on.

Tugging on my arm had me facing forward and ducking inside the restaurant with Cain.

“Good evening, welcome to The Sheridan. What’s the name?” A hostess approached us as we neared her podium. She had on matte magenta lipstick, the color complementing her smile as she greeted us with bright eyes and a politeness that reminded me of how positive Jadyn could be.

“Carter,” Cain responded. He leaned close to the woman whose name tag readDrayaand dropped his voice. “Is there anywhere private we can sit, away from the swine?”

Draya craned her neck and looked past us, out the front door where the paps were waiting and some still snapping away. She returned to Cain and nodded vigorously. “Our enclosed rooftop dining area is the perfect spot.”

“Perfect.” Cain looked over at Beans, who had gotten out with us. “Text Vino where we’ll be.”

Beans did as instructed as another host began leading us away from the hostess station.

I stole a glance in the main dining room as we walked the corridor. There were a few famous faces in the room, some rappers, some ball players, and a few singer/actresses. I even spotted that up-and-coming pop girl group Souletté seated around a large table with who was probably their manager and team. They were young, probably still teenagers, but the lone Black girl in the group, Jehlani, was already my favorite from the glimpses I’d seen of her performing on social media.

We boarded the elevator and rode it up to the rooftop dining area.

It was another world compared to the main floor of The Sheridan. The view of the city at night and LA in the distance took my breath away as soon as we stepped off the elevator and were immersed in the atmosphere. More famous faces jumped out at me as our host continued guiding us to a table. The stars were out tonight, no, not in the sky above, but in the mix around me. People were coming to and from the outside balcony to sneak cigarettes or truly take in the night air and sky. Strings of lights were wrapped around beams overhead creating an ambiance, and the sound of chatter littered the air amongst the mid-tempo Beyoncé song that was playing from the DJ booth.

“Okay, I’m also a Beyoncé fan,” I had to note as we settled down at a table in the corner of the roof. Immediately, I noticed that was Cain’s way. Quiet corners, eyes on the entire scene, and a bodyguard nearby covering him and me, always. Something told me he was a chess player.

Cain took in my comment with a small smile. “Beautiful woman.”

“Can I start you off with something to drink?” the young man asked as he deposited menus before us. Beans had taken a small table across from us.

“Your best bottle of red, please,” Cain said before he looked to me for my order.

“A glass of water.” I was feeling too antsy to anticipate eating as it was.

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