Page 219 of Remorseless
She grinned shyly. “I’m not bragging.”
“I can listen to you talk just to see your lips move. You were just speaking too fast. The slower, the better to entrance me.”
Her breath caught and happiness escaped her.
“Your laugh is like raindrops falling onto a velvet flower.”
Laughter burst from D. Elliot and Rebel glanced at him. The waiter bit down on his lip, then cleared histhroat, amusement twinkling in his tired eyes. “Would you like to start with appetizers? How about fried calamari, Reb? Your favorite.”
Unease slid into Kaia’s gaze. He looked at her. “How much is that?”
“I’m not sure,” Rebel admitted. “Daddy usually pays.”
Kaia opened his mouth, then nodded to D. Elliot. “If that’s what she likes, bring it to her.”
“You got it.” D. Elliot jotted on his notepad. “Drinks?”
Rebel didn’t like the anxiety marring Kaia’s handsome face. As D. Elliot waited expectantly, Kaia shifted in his seat, pulled out his phone and started typing.
Curious, Rebel leaned over, surprised to see a mobile banking app on his screen. He winced. Even she saw the red numbers behind a minus sign.
She didn’t want her date to end, but neither did she want to embarrass him by offering a solution. Straightening, she chewed on her nail, remembering too late that Momma paid for false nails since hers were so jagged and ruined. Luckily, the nails were glued to her nail bed and went undisturbed by her chomping.
She jumped to her feet, drawing not only Kaia’s and D. Elliot’s attention, but Bishop, Torrin, Narci, and Potter’s, too. She walked forward, glanced over her shoulder and paused when she realized D. Elliot hadn’t followed her. She waved him over.
Once he caught up, she headed to the bar. It felt as if all eyes were on her. But, mostly, it felt as if her date would wipe out before it really began. Sitting in a movie theater allowed close proximity. What itdidn’tfoster was conversation and getting to know each other.
That might be a good thing, considering how she chattered if given half a chance. Still, she didn’t want it to end like this.
At the bar, she waved at the bartender. She didn’t remember his name, but she recognized him from the many visits to the restaurant with her family.
Turning, she faced D. Elliot. “Can you call my dad? I would do it but I don’t want to embarrass Kaia.”
“What do you need?” D. Elliot asked, glancing over her shoulder.
Rebel turned but saw no one except the first handyman she’d spotted. His head was slightly bent, though his dark sunglasses and billed cap hid his features from view. Now that she was closer, she saw that he was unevenly pudgy. One side of him was much meatier than the other. Something about the handyman seemed so familiar.
“Reb?”
D. Elliot’s voice drew her away from her contemplation.
“Ask him if he can pick up the tab, then you come out and say you found a credit on my family’s account.Ordon’t call Daddy and just say we come to the restaurant so often, we have a free meal as a Valentine’s Day reward.”
The waiter hesitated.
“If you can’t do that, call my dad. If he needs an explanation, ask him to text me.”
Another glance over her shoulder, then he smiled at her and nodded.
“I’ll take care of it and talk to Outlaw, Reb,” he swore. “Go to your table and enjoy your date.”
Rebel managed not to squeal. She was still shocked thatshemade those sounds. She clapped, then remembered crucial information and threw a thumb in the direction of Bishop and company. “Thebikers by the window are Dwellers,” she rushed out. “If Daddy’s unavailable, talk to them. They’ll pay.”
He nodded.
Back at the table, Rebel thought about how Momma would handle the situation. No matter who took care of the bill on her behalf, it wouldn’t be Kaia since he couldn’t afford it. It had the potential to end with him never talking to her again.
On the other hand, Momma would follow Daddy’s lead and adjust accordingly. She’d pick up on his signals.Somehow.
