Shattered (Anderson Special Ops #4) - Melody Anne Page 0,44

worth so much more than that, but it certainly didn’t cost him that when he built it a thousand years ago,” he added with a laugh.

“The economy sure has inflated,” Amira agreed.

“That neighborhood your parents live in has a reputation. Even I’ve heard about it. It’s known for its tiered streets which offer stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island,” he said.

“Yes, I used to go to Catalina Island for an entire month each summer, and sometimes in the winter with my gramps,” she told him. “It was magical. We had this small house he’d bought in 1970 for sixty thousand dollars. It’s worth well over two million now. There was a patio on the back with a view of the water, but it wasn’t a premier location. It was only one block from town, and let me tell you, with all of the hills on the island, it’s a real treat to only be a block from town. But we’d fish all day, walk around, have lunch on the beach, and for one month each summer I got to be a normal kid where no one knew my parents were multimillionaires, and I’d laugh and be free. I didn’t get scolded if my clothes got dirty and I didn’t change them.” She missed that time so much.

“I’ve never been to Catalina Island,” he told her. “But after that description I definitely have to go.”

“Oh, do it,” Amira told him. “You won’t regret it!”

“Maybe we should make it a date,” he said.

“Smoke . . .” she began, not wanting to break the magic of this moment, but knowing it was the wisest thing she could do. She sighed, took a sip of her wine, then looked him in the eyes.

“I like you. You’re fun, you’re sexy, you’re persistent, and . . . you’re completely wrong for me. I’m focused on my career, and when I do step into a relationship, I make sure we both know faithfulness is important, and that I’m busy and sometimes can’t see him for a solid week, maybe two. I make sure to not go longer than that because the faithfulness thing really does matter to me. I also let him know if he wants to move on, I’ll be fine with it. I don’t think any of this is a fit for you,” she said.

There was a part of her that hoped it was, and another part of her that would be disappointed if he agreed. He didn’t seem the type of man who’d let a woman dictate a relationship. He actually didn’t seem the type of man who’d be in a relationship of any kind.

“You know what you want,” he said, leaning back as if he wasn’t upset at all with how the conversation was going. She didn’t know what to think about that.

“Yes, and some men find me very scary,” she said with a shrug.

Smoke leaned back and laughed. “I don’t find you even remotely scary,” he assured her, easily holding her gaze. Amira felt her heart pound as she melted a bit into her seat. He had this way of looking at her as if he was seeing straight into her soul. How in the world did he do that?

The waiter brought out their main course, and another bottle of wine, and she barely caught it when Smoke told him they wanted privacy for the rest of their dinner. She wasn’t sure what that meant, but it sent a tingle down her spine. It wasn’t as if something could happen in that room. It wasn’t that she wanted something to happen in a public restaurant. But it did send all sorts of little fantasies through her uncooperating brain.

What would it be like if he leaned across the table and stole a kiss from her? Would it make her forget her lecture to herself about how this wasn’t going to happen? Being with the man was intense and exhilarating at the same time. It was both the best and the worst of feelings.

They continued chatting about her earlier life, and she found the pressure easing on her chest. He was so easy to be around. Without realizing it, three hours passed. She needed to use the restroom and was so full she’d probably be in a food coma for the rest of the evening. She didn’t care — the food and the company had been worth the pain of overstuffing herself.

When she came back from the restroom, Smoke was there