Page 29 of Bound By Crimson
Sliding her phone back into her clutch, she steadied her breath.
The past is behind me. I’m not letting it ruin tonight.
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They passed through the outskirts, then onto a highway toward a lakeside district known for high-end dining and old-money estates.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the sky blushed shades of coral and gold.
Finally, they turned down a private drive lined with lanterns. At the end stood a grand, historic restaurant—all white columns and ivy-covered stone, overlooking the still, glassy waters of the lake.
Thomas parked smoothly and opened her door.
Kai was already waiting at the entrance.
No suit this time. Just a perfectly tailored charcoal dress shirt, open at the collar, and black trousers. He looked both effortless and impossibly handsome.
The moment his eyes found hers, the rest of the world seemed to vanish.
“You look…” His voice trailed off, as though words failed him. “Breathtaking.”
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles, lingering a second too long.
“Come. Our table is waiting.”
They were led to a terrace overlooking the lake. Crystal lights wrapped the railing, their reflections dancing on the waves.
Lyric smiled nervously. “This is too much.”
“It’s not enough.”
They settled in. The waiter brought wine, and conversation flowed easily—about the shop, her drawings, and little pieces of her life she hadn’t shared with anyone in a long time.
Kai listened intently.
When she mentioned her insecurities about not fitting into his world, she tried to brush it off with a laugh.
“There’s probably a million other women in New York who would be a much better choice than me.”
Kai’s gaze sharpened.
“No. There isn’t.”
He reached up, brushing his knuckles lightly along her jaw.
“You’re wondering why I didn’t come sooner,” he murmured. “Why I stayed away.”
She didn’t speak, but her silence was answer enough.
Kai turned away for a moment, looking out the window like he was searching for the right words. When he spoke again, his voice was roughened at the edges.
“You look exactly like someone I once loved,” he said quietly. “She used to hold me when I was a boy… I remember the way she smelled. How her voice made the world go quiet.”
His jaw tightened.
“I was just a child, but even then, I knew she meant something to me. Like… a part of me never forgot her.”
He turned back to her, eyes blazing.
