Page 35 of Chasing Lyric
How did I not know this place existed?
A young waitress garners my attention as I approach the front-of-house podium. “Good evening, ma’am. Welcome to The Grove.How may I help you tonight?”
I can’t see anyone—not a single patron in fact. The place is empty, which has me a little concerned.
“Ahh… I’m meant to be meeting someone.”
She dips her head politely. “Oh, yes, you must be Lyric. Nice to meet you. I’m Sammy. If you have any issues tonight, please don’t hesitate to call. For now, though, please, follow me.”
Her formality makes me blink, my brows pulling tight. It feels more like I’m being ushered into some secret society than a restaurant, but I nod, deciding to roll with it.
Sammy glides ahead, her heels clicking softly, and I trail after her, nerves spiking with every step. The air shifts as we pass into the back garden, and the world seems to open up into a private dreamscape. Joy sparks through my nerves, because this place isn’t just beautiful—it’s enchanting, almost unreal.
And it’s empty.
No chatter, no clinking glasses, no strangers stealing pieces of the magic. The whole place is hushed and glowing, as if it has been set aside just for me.
Sammy leads me farther down the path, where the scent of woodsmoke curls warm and sweet. A log fire burns steady,flames painting the stone and glass in amber, and at its heart is a table set for two.
My breath stutters.
Because he’s there.
Chase.
He’s already seated.
But when his gaze lifts and collides with mine, my stomach free-falls like I’ve stepped straight off a cliff. The fairy lights, the fire, the whole breathtaking garden, it all fades, slipping into nothing.
There’s onlyhim.
His eyes, that sharp muscari-blue, lock onto me with an intensity that steals the air from my lungs. Goose bumps pebble across my skin despite the fire’s heat, every nerve in my body tuned to the quiet gravity of him watching me. He doesn’t move, just waits, steady and sure, like he’s been sitting in this dream world all along, waiting for me to walk into it.
And as I take that first step toward him, it hits me—we really are the only two people in the world tonight.
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
My heart beats heavily, just like it did the first time he looked at me. Chase has this way of making me feelsomething,even if I don’t know what that something is just yet.
We approach the table, and he stands. His hand reaches out to Sammy, giving her something. I don’t know what. I’m too busy staring at Chase while his face is alight with happiness. He walks around to position my chair for me like the gentleman he is.
But I pull it out, sitting down before he can. “It’s okay, the lady can manage on her own. Got it?”
His lips slowly pull to the side. “Got it.” He moves back to sit.
I exhale.Wow! That came out way more defensive than I was aiming for.
“I’ve been on my own for a while, Chase. I know how to take care of myself anytime the need arises.”
The most devilish of looks appear on his face.
I gasp. “Oh, crap! That soundedwaydirtier than I meant it to.”
“It’s fine. You can talk dirty to me anytime you want.” He leans over, picking up a bottle of champagne that’s sitting off the side of the table in a chiller. Chase pours us both a glass, and I can’t help but notice the single red rose in a small vase in the middle of the table. I let out a slight snicker, and he peeks up at me.
“By the way, Chase, I said I wanted flowers, notaflower.” I point to the sorry attempt in front of me and chuckle.
