worry about it,” Ryan said. “Worry about your case. You owe me an update. Tomorrow.”
That backed Steel into the elevator. “I’ve got a photo shoot, boss.”
“We’ll talk.” Ryan said. “Don’t get arrested tonight.”
“Not in the plans.” Steel waved as the doors shut.
“How could he get arrested?” Was that even an option for superheroes?
“You’d be surprised.” Ryan led me down the rows of cars. “Last time he went after a girl who didn’t mention a boyfriend. Guy punched Steel, broke both his hands, then his buddies all took swings. Not such a good idea against the dude with the super strength.”
Ryan’s door locks chirped. The car was some super luxury brand, so flash I couldn’t tell the maker. Whoever it was, they liked leather and chrome.
He held open the door for me. I slid inside and smoothed my skirt. I hadn’t been this nervous since my audition for Giselle .
What role was I gunning for now?
Red Ruin
A photographer snapped pictures of us while we walked into the restaurant. I shifted my body so he couldn’t get a good shot of Belle, but his cell was out by the time the doors closed. He’d have friends when we left.
The waiter situated us at our table and I was glad for the guy’s help because it was hard to stop staring at Belle in that dress. This was the first time I’d seen her cleaned up, and everyday Belle was gorgeous enough, but this…
The sexy curls and smoky eyes, with that dress? I wasn’t the only one staring, and at the other tables, more than one wife glared at a transfixed husband.
“Can I make a proposal?” She adjusted her napkin on her lap.
“Sure.”
“You do the meaty tasting menu, I’ll get the vegetarian one, and we can share.” Her eyes lit up. “I want to taste every blessed thing they can put out of this kitchen.”
“Good plan.” It was the worst when a girl picked at a salad and eyed my dinner. Belle wasn’t shy.
We ordered the food and wine and the first course arrived right away. Belle’s eyes widened like a little kid staring down a sundae.
I chuckled. “Enjoy this a little?”
“Did I not tell you I’ve always wanted to come here?”
“You did.”
Belle closed her eyes as she bit into her pile of vegetables. “Mmmf.”
She killed me.
If she were going to make that noise for every bite, I’d take her fine dining every night. I took a bite of my “meaty” version of her meal, and it was good, but watching Belle was better. I slid the plate across the table to her. “Try this one.”
Her eyes closed again as she chewed. “Amazing.”
I could watch her eat forever. It was such a simple thing, but so…intimate.
“You’re distracted.” She licked sauce off her bottom lip and I almost groaned.
“Wonder why?”
“Don’t know.” Now Belle gave her lips a demure pat with her napkin. Like I could unsee that slip of tongue. “Maybe you’re struggling to come to terms with this ridiculous life of yours.”
“What’s ridiculous?” One waiter took away our plates and another set down our next course.
“This.” Belle waved at the plates with her fork. “You can go anywhere. Do anything. Do you even have a budget?”
“There’s a budget.” It was more than the GDP of a few countries I could name, but we did have one.
“It’s not reality.” She turned her plate around, pondering the best way to attack a layered stack of vegetables.
I took a swig of my wine. “It’s my reality. And you know it’s not all perks.”
“Your hours might be worse than mine.” Belle bit into the latest forkful and her eyes rolled back. “I really never thought I’d eat here.”
“Why not?”
“I’m always dancing or training or rehearsing performances. I haven’t been out to dinner in months.”
Good thing she wasn’t seeing anyone. That would be…complicated. “How long have you been in New York now?”
“Hmm.” Belle took a sip of her wine. “I got into the dance academy
That backed Steel into the elevator. “I’ve got a photo shoot, boss.”
“We’ll talk.” Ryan said. “Don’t get arrested tonight.”
“Not in the plans.” Steel waved as the doors shut.
“How could he get arrested?” Was that even an option for superheroes?
“You’d be surprised.” Ryan led me down the rows of cars. “Last time he went after a girl who didn’t mention a boyfriend. Guy punched Steel, broke both his hands, then his buddies all took swings. Not such a good idea against the dude with the super strength.”
Ryan’s door locks chirped. The car was some super luxury brand, so flash I couldn’t tell the maker. Whoever it was, they liked leather and chrome.
He held open the door for me. I slid inside and smoothed my skirt. I hadn’t been this nervous since my audition for Giselle .
What role was I gunning for now?
Red Ruin
A photographer snapped pictures of us while we walked into the restaurant. I shifted my body so he couldn’t get a good shot of Belle, but his cell was out by the time the doors closed. He’d have friends when we left.
The waiter situated us at our table and I was glad for the guy’s help because it was hard to stop staring at Belle in that dress. This was the first time I’d seen her cleaned up, and everyday Belle was gorgeous enough, but this…
The sexy curls and smoky eyes, with that dress? I wasn’t the only one staring, and at the other tables, more than one wife glared at a transfixed husband.
“Can I make a proposal?” She adjusted her napkin on her lap.
“Sure.”
“You do the meaty tasting menu, I’ll get the vegetarian one, and we can share.” Her eyes lit up. “I want to taste every blessed thing they can put out of this kitchen.”
“Good plan.” It was the worst when a girl picked at a salad and eyed my dinner. Belle wasn’t shy.
We ordered the food and wine and the first course arrived right away. Belle’s eyes widened like a little kid staring down a sundae.
I chuckled. “Enjoy this a little?”
“Did I not tell you I’ve always wanted to come here?”
“You did.”
Belle closed her eyes as she bit into her pile of vegetables. “Mmmf.”
She killed me.
If she were going to make that noise for every bite, I’d take her fine dining every night. I took a bite of my “meaty” version of her meal, and it was good, but watching Belle was better. I slid the plate across the table to her. “Try this one.”
Her eyes closed again as she chewed. “Amazing.”
I could watch her eat forever. It was such a simple thing, but so…intimate.
“You’re distracted.” She licked sauce off her bottom lip and I almost groaned.
“Wonder why?”
“Don’t know.” Now Belle gave her lips a demure pat with her napkin. Like I could unsee that slip of tongue. “Maybe you’re struggling to come to terms with this ridiculous life of yours.”
“What’s ridiculous?” One waiter took away our plates and another set down our next course.
“This.” Belle waved at the plates with her fork. “You can go anywhere. Do anything. Do you even have a budget?”
“There’s a budget.” It was more than the GDP of a few countries I could name, but we did have one.
“It’s not reality.” She turned her plate around, pondering the best way to attack a layered stack of vegetables.
I took a swig of my wine. “It’s my reality. And you know it’s not all perks.”
“Your hours might be worse than mine.” Belle bit into the latest forkful and her eyes rolled back. “I really never thought I’d eat here.”
“Why not?”
“I’m always dancing or training or rehearsing performances. I haven’t been out to dinner in months.”
Good thing she wasn’t seeing anyone. That would be…complicated. “How long have you been in New York now?”
“Hmm.” Belle took a sip of her wine. “I got into the dance academy
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