Page 31 of Bargains with Benefits
“Right.”
She bit her lip. “I have an idea. I can’t do it tomorrow—I’m needed at the library. Day after?”
“Thank you, Evelyn. That sounds perfect.”
Seraphina’s gaze drifted over my shoulder to the door. I felt his wind slip around my shoulders before I saw him.
Vincent had arrived.
Seraphina held my gaze again before he got close enough to hear. “Be careful, Luna.”
I pressed my lips into a thin smile, hoping I would be but fearing my heart had plans of its own.
Seraphina’s lingeringworry fresh in my mind made me even more on edge as we walked to the restaurant. The darkened streets didn’t help my nerves, this close to solstice meant the sun had already set.
“Everything alright?” Vincent asked, pulling open the door to Timeless Classics.
“All good,” I said, a little self-conscious, feeling eyes on me as we entered. Could they tell I wasn’t comfortable in this dress? Did they know it wasn’tme? A part of me felt they must be able to, no matter how well it matched the expected appearance of those dining here. “I think it’s these slippers. The flimsy fabric is much less comfortable for walking than my boots.”
His smile didn’t meet his eyes, like maybe he knew that wasn’t the real problem—but he didn’t press.
Candles lit the entry, and every table in the small restaurant somehow appeared private. Any hope I’d had that the early meal wouldn’t signal a quiet romantic evening was lost when I saw the room. This place screamed romance with every detail. The proprietor had grown walls of plants to set between the tables, which meant the room was a maze, but the servers seemed to know precisely where they were going. Candles hung from chandeliers on the ceiling and were set on every table. The warm glow created a mood I was having a hard time ignoring.
I glanced at Vincent, but his stony exterior gave nothing away. This was probably a standard evening meal for him. He probably wasn’t thinking of romance at all.
We were greeted quickly and with perfect manners, the host telling us our table would be ready momentarily. It was no surprise they knew Vincent here. Not only had he put the restaurant on the map, but this had been one of his first recommendations to take off with the fae. It was now almost exclusively reserved by fae families, which was interesting considering they comprised less than half of the city’s population.We’d talked about that sense of belonging that his articles created. Whether he intended it or not, something about his writing, or the quiet places to hide in plain sight had appealed deeply to the fae of Sandrin.
Seraphina had tried to get reservations a few months ago to celebrate the new Norden Point and our place in fae society, since half-fae were now openly accepted in fae courts. The bookings had been filled for the rest of the year.
“Mr. Andiveron. This way.” The host no more than glanced at me. Clearly, he knew who to cater to. “We have your table ready.” He led us through the maze of greenery with practiced ease. “Your server will be by shortly. Do you require anything else?”
Vincent shook his head and pulled out my chair. Surprised, I sat, and my fingers fidgeted under the table. This was too much. I didn’t need to be here to know this would never be Cliff House. If we had to make such a formal and exclusive experience for Cliff House to survive, it wouldn’t.
“Luna.” Vincent glanced at me, setting aside the written menu they’d left on the table. Something about his voice pulled me back from the edge of panic. “You’re quiet tonight.”
I nodded. There was no denying that. He probably found it strange, given my ability to ramble. I took a deep breath. This was part of what I’d signed up for. He wanted us to go through his successes together to decide what to do about Cliff House. If this was his process, I wouldn’t complain about it. I simply needed to ground myself, and thinking about the exclusive fae nature of this establishment wasn’t helping. My fingers stretched like they were reaching for some dough to knead. I had nothing. Like when I met with Darius, I had to wield what was available. I needed to remind myself why I was here.
“We’ve spent a lot of time on the inn,” I said. “We should talk about your side of the deal.”
He straightened in his chair. I hadn’t realized how relaxedhe’d seemed until I broached the subject of our bargain. Doubt coated my tongue, weighing down any following words, but I couldn’t regret bringing this up. This room was too intimate. After the other day together, I’d realized he was nothing like he initially seemed. He looked too good. My palms were sweating. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been on a date like this.
This isn’t a date.
“What do you want to discuss?” he asked.
I focused on the conversation. This would put the necessary distance back between us. “Tell me why you think Darius is guilty.”
“I am not sure he is.” He cleared his throat. “That’s why we must investigate.”
“But someone thinks he is. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.” I lifted my hand to gesture to the room around us.
Vincent frowned at the comment. “My boss has a tip that shows a rather large transfer of money from his accounts to the governor’s. Some rough notes indicate a school was in the discussion.” He paused, fixing me with a glare I wasn’t sure I’d earned. “I also overheard him talking with her in the records office stairwell last week. He was pressuring her for information about the school’s development. Asking why nothing had been announced yet.”
I leaned away, letting my back hit the rest of the chair. “Whenexactlydid you hear that?” Last week, we’d made the deal, and he’d said nothing about having overheard his own evidence, only that he had a tip.You didn’t ask,the quiet voice in my head called out.
He pressed his lips into a thin line. “The same day I came to the inn.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? You made it sound like you didn’t believe the tip, but you had your own proof?”
