Page 26 of Bling

“No need, Sir. I’ve been before. Miss Alvarado is right, it’s quite good.”

Garrett lifted one shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. Who was he to argue with them? It took twenty minutes to get to the small restaurant. It wasn’t going to be in any food magazines any time soon, but he liked the rustic feel of the place. An old woman took them to their table and plopped down a basket of assorted breads. Isabelle wasted no time devouring a breadstick.

Garrett sat back in his chair and watched her, amused, as he sipped his water.

“What?” she asked a minute later when she saw his eyes on her.

“I just like watching you eat.”

She blushed and set the second breadstick down. “Sorry. I was just hungry. I fed the girls and forgot to eat something myself.”

Garrett scowled. How could she forget to feed herself?

Wanting to see where they stood, he leaned forward and narrowed his eyes at her. “I consider failing to eat putting yourself in danger, Doll. Do we need to have a refresher on the rules for my subs?”

Her mouth formed a slight o shape and her eyes grew round with surprise. After a beat of silence, she shook her head and said, “No, Sir. I’m pretty sure I remember them all.”

He relaxed his stern gaze and flashed her a grin. “Good girl.”

When the waiter arrived with bowls of pasta for both of them and a pizza to share, they focused on their meals. After several minutes of enjoying the food, Garrett dabbed his napkin to the corners of his mouth and leaned back.

“How long have you lived in that apartment complex?”

She paused, her fork midair. “Most of my life, except for a few years in college. Why?”

He cocked his head to one side. “Just curious. They look small, and the place could use some work.”

Isabelle closed her eyes. “Please don’t. This is why I didn’t want you picking me up.”

Garrett frowned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I just worry about you is all.”

Her smile was forced. “We’re fine, I promise. Can we just finish our food?” She dropped her head and focused on her pasta.

Garrett sighed and clenched a fist under the table. This was not going well for him. “Isabelle, look at me.”

Her eyes lacked warmth when she lifted her gaze to meet his. “I’m sorry. Forgive me for prying. I don’t want to ruin our night before it gets started. How do I make things better?”

Her gaze softened and she offered him a half smile. “Maybe stop trying to make things better? I know you think money fixes most things, but it’s not always necessary or helpful. We live in two different worlds, you and I, and they only come together at Solitaire where I don’t have to worry about anything else. Can we just focus on that for a while?”

He reached across the table and picked up her hand, thankful he hadn’t completely ruined their evening. “That sounds good, Doll. I promise to make you forget everything but Solitaire for the weekend,” he said with a wink.

Her blush told him he’d won her back and he watched as she nervously twirled her fork in the mountain of spaghetti still in her bowl.

“Do you have to go home tonight, or can you spend the night?”

Her blush turned scarlet and she gave him a lopsided grin. “The girls are spending the weekend with friends and won’t be home until Sunday.”

Garrett leaned into the small table and tucked a hand beneath her chin. “So, if I’m hearing you correctly, I believe you’re saying you’re all mine for the weekend.”

She tried to turn her head away from his piercing gaze, but he wouldn’t let her.

He could feel her swallowing as she stared back at him. “Yes, Sir,” she finally whispered. Garrett loved watching the submissive switch inside her brain flip on. There might still be some awkwardness between them, but he knew if they were able to shut out the outside world for the weekend, he could make that disappear and things would be right between them again.

When they finished their meal, Garrett stood and offered her his hand. Her slender fingers felt good nested between his thicker ones. It was such a minor thing, but it was intimate. Isabelle had been slow to warm up to him when he’d first taken her on as his trainee, and sex had been off the table, but as the weeks went by, they grew closer and there had been definite sparks. Things had come to a screeching halt last weekend, and Garrett was grateful for the opportunity to pick things back up with her.

In the car, he wrapped an arm around her, and she didn’t shy away.

“I’d like to kiss you,” he murmured against her ear.

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