Page 145 of Dance of Madness

He just nods, his jaw steely. I almost want to laugh.

What, is he nervous too?

I place the present on the table and step toward him, wrapping my arms around his body in a warm hug.

His arms don’t leave his sides, which only makes me smile even more.

He’s seriouslynervous.

For some reason, that makes me feel better.

I get up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, still smiling as I pull back.

“So did the health department find a problem, or did you book the whole place?”

He dips his chin, lifting a shoulder. “I wanted us to be alone.”

I waggle my brows as we take our seats. “Veryballer move, Mr. De Luca.”

Nero’s already got a glass of red wine sitting in front of him, half gone. It's truly adorable that Mr. Dominant and Cocky has a case of the nerves he doesn’t know what to do with.

I chew on my lip, drinking him in, my pulse picking up.

I mean, the man isgorgeous. He’s in a dark charcoal gray linen suit, rocking a very European style—crisp white dress shirt underneath, unbuttoned, no tie. The combo makes his tanned Mediterranean skin pop and his green eyes glimmer in the low candlelight.

He looksincredible. Extra broody, for sure, but freaking incredible.

My eyes drag over his chiseled jaw and cheekbones, his dark hair swept back from his face. The vein pulsing in his neck.

…The tattoo peeking out from under his sleeve and snaking over the back of his hand.

Krakatoa.

Be heard.

I fidget nervously for a moment before I exhale and put my hand on the wrapped present in front of me.

“I, uh…this might be dorky, but I got?—”

“Is that new?”

His eyes pierce across the table, looking right at my chest. A smile creeps over my face as I finger the pendant.

“No, actually.” My smile widens. “I’ve had it for years. It was actually an earring that belonged to my mother. It’s a?—”

“Louis Monte Noir diamond.”

I blink in surprise. He says it so cooly, like he already knew. My brow arches as the grin curls even wider on my face.

“Yeah, actually.” I laugh lightly. “What are you, a secret jewelry expert?”

He says nothing.

“So full of surprises, Mr. De Luca,” I grin, blushing.

I take a shaky breath and put my hand on the present.

It’s time.

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