Page 30 of Dance for the Dragon
She shrugged. “I didn’t sleep much last night, but I’m glad you’re here.”
Her words warmed his heart. “Is Irish food okay? I know this great little place on the outskirts of the city. It’s small, but this great family owns it, and it’s never crowded. Even on a Saturday night.”
“It sounds perfect. Let me get my coat.”
While he waited, he glanced around her place again, wondering if she’d agree to have cameras installed, at least out here in the main room.
They took her car this time, as the temperature had dropped during the day and this night was much colder than the last, and the restaurant was a bit of a drive. Kohl gave her directions, and they talked more about her previous job and what she was doing to make ends meet now. It was easy to see she was wasting her intelligence, but she assured him she was content to have work where she didn’t have to double guess every move she made.
Somehow, he didn’t quite believe her, but he let it go.
They arrived at the restaurant, a little stone house with a green roof set back away from the road, and Devon gasped when they pulled into the parking lot. “It’s just like a little cottage! How charming!”
Kohl got out and ran around the front of her car to open her door for her. “It is a cottage. A perfect replica of one you’d find in Ireland, and everything inside is authentically Irish. The dishes, the lace tablecloths and curtains…even the owners. And the food is all made from scratch.” As they walked up the stone walkway, he filled her in on what little history he knew of the place. “The parents came over from Ireland in the late seventies, if I remember right. They opened this place and the entire family runs it. The original owners are gone now, but the kids—all, like, in their forties or so—have taken over.” He opened the door for her and followed her into a small entryway decorated with photos of their guests over the years. Beyond the entryway was the first room of the cottage, filled with little tables covered in white lace tablecloths. Another room opened up through an archway to their right, and there was one more room toward the back near the kitchen.
A middle-aged woman in a flowered dress with a lace collar and coral lipstick greeted them. She was still pretty, with long dark hair and bright blue eyes in a fresh-looking face, and her soft voice had a lovely Irish lilt. “Hello, Kohl! How are you now?”
He smiled at her. Though he didn’t frequent the restaurant for the food, he’d gotten to know the family who owned it rather well. They were good people who minded their own business. “I’m good, Margaret, thank you.” With a nod to Devon beside him, he said, “This is Devon. Devon, this is Margaret. The eldest daughter.”
Devon smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Oh, and what a lucky guy you are to have such a pretty date,” Margaret told him with a twinkle in her eyes, then she turned to Devon. “He’s never brought a lady friend here, I’ll have ya know.”
Kohl grinned back at her. “Do you have a private table?”
“Of course. Come with me.” With a smile, their hostess grabbed a couple of menus and led them to the room at the very back of the house. The place was nearly empty. Only one other couple was there, and it looked like they’d already eaten and were enjoying an after dinner coffee. Seating them at a table for two in the far back corner, Margaret lit the candles in the center of the table and promised them her brother would be right over with some soda bread and homemade butter.
Devon looked around at the wallpaper with its little green flowers and then felt the lace of the tablecloth. Traditional Irish music with soft flutes played quietly in the background. She smiled at him. “This is so quaint. I love it, and I haven’t even had the food, yet.”
“It’s quite an experience,” he told her. “They’re very into the presentation. Oh, and make sure you order the French Onion Soup if you like that kind of stuff.”
“I love French Onion Soup,” she told him.
Their server arrived, a man in his late thirties or early forties who looked much like his sister, only with shorter hair and a little extra girth, greeted them with the same soft, lilting voice and open smile. He took their drink orders and left.
Kohl watched the candlelight dance across the dips and hollows of Devon’s face. The soft lighting did nothing to diminish the glow of her skin, and highlighted the shadows beneath her cheekbones. When she turned her head to the side to admire the knickknacks on the windowsill, the diamond stud in her nose sparkled prettily. But it was nothing compared to the glitter in her eyes when she looked at him. Kohl knew he was staring, but he couldn’t help it. She was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever had the privilege to lay eyes upon. “Are you okay, Devon?”
Her eyes flicked up to his with surprise. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“After what happened at the club the other night, I just want to make sure you’re doing okay. We can leave at any time. Just say the word.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a small smile. “But this is nice. I really just want to not think about it.”
He studied her. She really did seem all right. “Okay.”
Their waiter came back with their wine and Devon ordered the soup Kohl had recommended along with the lobster dish, then handed the waiter her menu with a smile.
When he left, she picked up her glass and tried the wine. “Mmm. This is really good.”
Kohl watched her lick a drop from her bottom lip, and his gums tingled, releasing his fangs just enough to taste the air.
Delicious scents came from the kitchen. It smelled good, even to someone like him. But not as good as the woman who sat across from him. The tantalizing aroma of her blood mixed with the earthy warmth of sunlight soaked into her skin was nearly enough to send him over the edge. He loved the smell of sunlight.
A sudden vision of Devon writhing beneath him, nude and warm from the sun, filled his head. The image was so clear he could feel her skin heating his.
“So, why can’t you mess with my head?”
Her question took him by surprise and succeeded in distracting him from his lusty thoughts. “I’m sorry?”
