The Grand Pact (The Grand Men #1)(86)

This time I’m the one laughing as the waiter walks away.

“How mortifying. Can we leave?”

“No chance. And for the record, there isn’t anything in my ass now, and there won’t be anything in my ass ever.”

She shakes her head and eyes her lap, mumbling something I can’t quite hear.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

I tilt my head, loving the naughty glint in her eye. I’ve never had this side of her before. She used to shut me down any chance she got. I was flirty, and she loved it, but since that night in the restaurant, she gives it right back.

I don’t even think she can control it anymore.

This is different.

Us.

“The power you wield with those fuck-me eyes, princess.”

“Excuse me?” she asks, foreign offence with a hand to her chest.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t.”

“No? Then why didn’t you ever look at me like this before?”

“You think I want to fuck you now?” she whispers, looking over her shoulder this time.

“Do you?”

The little vixen fucks me with her eyes, and I have to take a sip of my wine to drown the inappropriate words I was about to spew.

“I have an entire evening planned. How about we shelve this conversation?”

“You can’t handle it?”

I point at her. “You won’t handle it.”

“We’ll see.”

I blow out a breath, needing to cool it before I do something I’ll regret. “What do you want to eat? You can have anything you want.” I try to change the subject.

“Anything?”

I lift my head from the menu to find her eyes still on me. I nod, swallowing down the adrenaline fighting to the surface.

She makes me feel unhinged.

“Can we skip straight to dessert? I want cake.”

“I tap up a Michelin star chef for the night, and you want cake.”

She bites her lip and nods her head. “Chocolate cake.”

“I—” Fuck it. If she wants cake. “Sure. Why not?” I call the waiter over and ask him for the best chocolate cake he can get his hands on.

She sips her wine, watching me over the rim of her glass. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”

“You thought I’d miss your birthday?”

“I was surprised Mum and Dad were so agreeable when they told me it was fine I wasn’t coming home. I guess I should’ve known.”

“We wouldn’t have let you be alone. You know that.” The need to explain myself weighs heavy on me. “I am sorry for what happened, Luce. The way it happened more than anything. I didn’t want to hurt you, and I hope you know I only did it for you.” I itch to reach out and pick up her hand. “I wanted you to have some time without me getting in your way. And look at what you’ve achieved. That award was for something you’ve been working on.”

She nods, her face growing conflicted. I can tell she’s listening to me, but her mind has gone elsewhere.

I smooth a hand down my chest and lean back, doubting if now is the time to talk about it. Maybe I should have let her have her say down in the restaurant like she wanted. “Do you want your present from Ellis?”

Her eyes light up, and it sparks stupid, irrational jealousy deep inside me.

He’s just a kid.

I pull out the envelope and place it in the middle of the table. “He wrapped it himself.”

Lucy slides out the terribly wrapped, small parcel. It’s a little smaller than the size of her palm. She treats it like it’s a bomb that’s about to explode, gently picking at the edges of the paper.

“You won’t break it.”

She looks up, and I catch the glint in her eyes.

“Already?”

“I miss them so much.”

I sigh, leaning forward and reaching for her arm. I brush my thumb over her wrist, wishing I could be closer. “I know you do.”

She opens the present, a huge smile transforming her face when she finds the bracelet in the paper. But then her smile drops. “Wait. This is Nina’s.”

“What?”

“This is Nina’s bangle. Mason bought it for her when they first met.”

“Let me see.” I hold out my hand, and she passes it to me.

I inspect the bracelet, noticing some words engraved on the inside. “That little shit!”

“Nina will die.” She laughs. “Oh, bless him. He’s the sweetest little boy.”

“Sweetest little boy? He stole this.”

“From his mother,” Lucy deadpans.

“So. He told me he went shopping with Nina to get it.”

“He’s three years old. And he wanted to treat me.” She grins.

“I can’t believe he lied to me.”

“And all to make his Auntie Luce happy….” She arches a brow, tipping her head to the side. “If we ever needed to settle who the favourite is...”

“We know it’s me.”

She shakes her head, her eyes fixed on me with the warmest look in her gaze. Something feels different, and I can’t put my finger on what. The way her eyes consume me as if she needs something. As if she is asking for something.