Only when we get inside and the door shuts behind us do I take a deep breath.
“Are you alright?” he asks.
“Uh yeah, I think so,” I say.
Threading his fingers through mine he lays a kiss on the back of my hand as we approach the desk. A man in a white button-down shirt and black pants steps from behind the counter with two menus already in hand.
“Mr. Trace, welcome back sir. Your table is ready. Right this way.”
As he leads us to our table, I take in the interior of the restaurant. Dark wood table covered in black tablecloths, high chandeliers, wood floors. It’s beautiful.
He leads us to a secluded table near the back of the restaurant.
“Your waiter will be right with you.”
“Thanks Marcus.” Liam says
Marcus smiles easily at us before departing and leaving us with our menus.
“Wow this place is beautiful, how long has it been open?” I ask looking around.
“My dad opened it about ten years ago. It started out as a family style restaurant, but it slowly morphed into a place for celebrities and more famous people to be able to come and get away.”
“Ah, I see.”
Looking at the menu, everything looks good.
“Do you mind if I order for you? I think there’s something you’ll really like.”
“Not at all. Good for it.”
The waiter returns and Liam orders our food.
“So, this was the first restaurant your father opened up right?
He’s just about to answer when I hear a deep voice say.
“Well, well, well look who’s here.”
I look to my left and she a man that bores a striking resemblance to Liam. If it wasn’t for the beard the other man is sporting, they could almost pass for twins. The woman standing next to him also has a white chef jacket on and a big smile on her face.
Liam’s face breaks out into a smile and he stands up to give the man a hug and the woman a hug and kiss on the cheek. Then three pairs of eyes settle on me.
My cheeks instantly heat up. Liam comes over to my side of the table pulling me up out of my seat and wrapping his arm around my waist.
“Ava, this is my older brother Gavin and his wife Natalie. Nat and Gav this is my girlfriend Ava.”
Holy shit, that’s the first time I’ve heard him call me his girlfriend out loud and it sends a burst of pleasure through me.
I look up into his eyes to see him smiling down at me. I can’t help the smile that lights up my face before turning back to Gavin and Natalie. I hold out my hand.
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
Gavin shakes my hand. “The pleasure’s all ours. Believe me.”
I go to shake Natalie’s hand but instead she pulls me in for a hug. Initially I stiffen, not really used to physical contact with strangers, before I loosen up and hug her back.
“Oh I’m so excited to meet you!” Natalie says squeezing me one more time before stepping back.
She has a wide infectious smile on her lips that makes me smile back at her. Her energy and obvious happiness making it easy for me to loosen up.
“It’s really nice to meet you too,” I murmur back.
“So, is this your first time here?” Gavin asks me.
“Yes, I’ve passed by here several times, but I’ve never actually been inside. Sorry,” I say apologetically. I don’t want them to think I’m a snob or something. This is Liam’s family. The people he cares about the most.
But Gavin and Natalie just smile and wave me off.
“No worries. We’ll just have to give you a reason to come back,” Gavin says.
“Oh I’m sure she has plenty of reason to come back” Natalie says dividing a look between Liam and me.
I look up at him to find him staring at me with the focused look of intensity that I’ve come to adore.
“Well we’ll let you two get back to your dinner. It was nice meeting you Ava,” Gavin says.
“You too.”
“Yes, we have to get together soon,” Natalie says.
“I would love that.” And I would.
They leave and I can’t help but notice how Gavin holds Natalie close. They really are sweet, and I tell Liam as much.
“Yeah, they’re the best. They’ve been married for about seven years now.”
Just then the waiter comes back with our food.
Two plates with large, juicy steaks, loaded mashed potatoes and green beans are set out in front of us. The waiter tops off the champagne and water before leaving just as fast as he came.
We dig in. The first bite of steak has a blissful sigh slipping from me.
“This is so good.”
A low growl has my eyes snapping open and I see Liam looking at me with his jaw clenched.
“What’s wrong?”
“You can’t make sounds like that and expect me not to get hard. I’ve been walking around with a hard on since I saw you in that dress. Have pity on me please.”
A blush hits my cheeks. “Sorry.”
His eyes narrow. “You’re not even a little sorry, are you?”
Unable to keep the smile off my face I reply “Nope.”
The truth is the fact that I can make a man like Liam react the way he does to me is something I never thought would happen. It makes me feel beautiful, sexy and desired.
Feeling bold I fork a bite of my mashed potatoes and hold it up to his lips
He opens up for me never taking his eyes off mine. The desire that shoots through me, has me clenching my thighs together. God, I want this man.
We continue to play this
