The waiter returned to take their order. “Do you know what you would like, or would you prefer for me to choose?” Shayne asked Anna.
She was silent as she glanced at the menu. “Could you, please?” she replied, sweetly. “It all looks delicious, and I can't decide which one to pick.”
He took in the sight of her and decided nothing could look more delicious than she did. It was amazing how much he wanted her. He was willing to do almost anything to have her, and this was his way of showing her what she could have, should she choose him.
Shayne swallowed hard, as he casually ran his fingers underneath his suddenly tight collar. Anna watched him with a puzzled expression on her face. Quickly, he gave their order to the waiter before turning his focus back to her and asking, “Would you like to dance?”
He’d been without the feel of her for long enough. She gave him a nod, and he escorted her to the ballroom. It generally wasn’t open, but Shayne had been able to make special arrangements for its use.
At her first sight of the ballroom, Anna gasped. He stopped and gave her time to take it all in. The ballroom was beautiful, with high ceilings, murals, and a gleaming floor. Leaning in, he whispered next to her ear, “It doesn't compare to you.”
Shayne led her out on the floor as music began to play. Grasping her hand, he pulled her close. The musicians had been instructed to only play love songs. Anna and Shayne moved in time to the music, letting the lyrics wash over them. Her face was pressed to his chest, and he loved the feel of her in his arms.
“This is perfect,” Anna murmured, in a languid voice.
Shayne's eyes started to close in pleasure, until he saw movement. His eyes popped back open to the sight of Luke and Nate, caging them in. They were standing on each side of them, their arms crossed with scowls on their faces. Idiots! He glared at the two of them. They didn't budge.
Shayne made a hand motion, behind her back, for them to get lost. “Get the hell out of here,” he mouthed, glancing at Anna, in fear she would notice. He didn't want anything ruining their night.
Nate shook his head back and forth slowly, a stubborn expression on his face. Shayne shot the endurers a look that promised great retribution, then he tried to block them out.
They danced to a few more songs. Anna, finally noticing the other two, gave them an odd glance but remained silent. Shayne escorted her back to the table, just as the first course arrived.
“This smells heavenly,” Anna said, her eyes taking in the food. Shayne knew how much she enjoyed eating. She actually made it erotic.
He held her chair out and then pushed her up to the table. In his need to impress Anna, he had ordered every appetizer the restaurant offered. Her eyes rested on a platter of crab legs. “I love seafood,” she said, with an impish grin on her face.
He smiled back at her and grabbed a pair of crab crackers. “Allow me,” he said, his voice strained. He made quick work of the shell before dipping the meat in the hot butter. Leaning forward, he offered it to her with his fingers. Shayne wanted to feel her as she took it into her mouth.
She opened her plump lips, and his fingers slid right in. It was scorching hot. The tip of her tongue worked against his fingertips as lust speared through him.
“Mm,” she said in a husky voice, as his fingers slid away. Her eyes slid closed in pleasure. “That was delicious.” She dabbed at her lips with a napkin.
“Damn,” one of the endurers muttered, from behind Shayne. “I have never seen anyone eat crab like that before.” Shayne's back went ramrod straight, as his face tightened with anger. Did these goons not have any sense?
At the same time, directly behind Anna, he noticed the glint of lenses. Ian was on the roof next door, with the moonlight illuminating him in the darkness, as he watched their every move with a pair of binoculars. Shayne's face felt uncomfortably flushed. He was surrounded by peeping Toms, and it was all he could do to not turn around and smash a few heads.
Shayne stood up. He was furious, but somehow he managed to give Anna some semblance of a smile before saying, “I’ll be right back.”
He gestured for the two endurers to follow him. Once they were out of Anna's hearing range, he turned to face them. “Morons!” he hissed. “What in the hell is wrong with you two? You’re here to patrol and keep her safe, not chaperone her.”
His cheekbones were red as he realized how hard it was to seduce someone with an audience. “You’re ruining my romantic evening,” he added, in a sullen voice.
A look passed between Nate and Luke before they burst out laughing. Shayne knew they would never let him live it down. The story of his evening would move through the ranks by morning, and everyone would hear an exaggerated version of his date.
Shayne glared at them. “Go find Ian and work out a patrol plan. We don’t need the two of you breathing down our necks. And tell Ian to get rid of the binoculars, or I’ll give him another shiner.”
The two burst out in another round of laughter, holding onto each other to keep from falling down. Wiping the tears away from their eyes, they took off.
Shayne watched them leave, shaking his head. “Assholes,” he muttered. There was nothing he’d like more than to take them outside and kick their asses.
Straightening his tuxedo, he took a deep breath and went back to the table. He had something much more important to attend to. His moronic comrades
