ver her. If she had to go on this ridiculous date, she would control the narrative. She deliberatel

at a Michelin-starred restaurant. She pulled her long brown hair back into a tight, unforgiving bun at the nape of her neck and put on

rf

ing back was drab, severe, and utterly unapproachable. She

ushed to open her door. The restaurant's interior was even more opulent than its exterior, al

ght feeling of unease beginning to creep up

as far too warm, far too deferential.

r down a quiet, carpeted hallway, away from the noise and the other patrons,

with a banker from New York didn't warrant this

ogany doors at the very end of the hall. He pushed

n her clutch. She stepped inside. The door clic

ded the only illumination, its flames dancing and casting long, flickering shadow

looked the glittering D.C. skyline, sat a man. His face was lost in the shadows, but

ounding small in the large room. Sh

down on the table, the crystal making

cked out the city lights, plunging the room into deeper shadow. He be

er up his body, illuminating expensive shoes, the p

tepped fully i

ushed from her lungs as if she'd

't Davi

The man from

went completely blank for a full second bef

d fumbling for the doork

me from right behind her, a low, amused drawl t

round the heavy bras

in, harder, rattling it in its

ed just a few feet from her, his hands in his pockets, watching her with an unnerving intensity.

d, his eyes glinting with dark humor. "But I hav

eact, he reached up and plucked the glasses from her face. He loo

tracing the sharp line of her jaw. His t

g to a husky whisper that vibrated th