What We Do in the Night (Day to Night #1) - Stylo Fantome Page 0,84

across her bottom lip, picking up some stray powdered sugar she hadn't known was there. His lips quirked up in a smile, then he leaned in and kissed her.

It was shockingly gentle. She was pretty sure he'd never kissed her like that before; he was usually aggressive when his mouth was on hers. Not this time, though; now it was just his closed lips pressed against hers for a long, almost sweet, moment. It was so unlike him, so unlike them, she wasn't sure how to feel about it.

So she just closed her eyes and kissed him back and tried to stop her heart from flip flopping around in her chest.

No, no, no, no, no, this isn't how this is supposed to be. He's not allowed to make me feel this way. It's not in our contract.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Scott's voice did interrupt them, and Valentine leaned away first, breaking the kiss.

“No, no, I'm sorry,” Ari said, sitting back in his seat and straightening out his tie.

“Aw, don't be sorry about that,” Scott laughed. “I was young once, too. Take love when and where you can find it, kids, that's my suggestion.”

Ari and Valentine glanced at each other. Once again, she was the first to turn away, trying to hide her blush from him.

Evans returned a few moments later, and they wrapped up the dinner over coffee. The check was delivered and argued over briefly, with Ari of course winning. Then they all trooped outside, making plans to meet at Caché – it turned out Scott was already a member, cheeky fellow, and Del had given the okay for Evans to come inside.

Both Scott and Ari went to collect their cars from valet, leaving Valentine alone with Evans.

“You're a very refreshing person, Valentine,” he commented. She smiled.

“How do you mean?”

“I'd hate to sound rude,” he chuckled. “But in my experience, when girls look the way you do, usually they don't have anything else to add to the moment, you know? So when Sharapov walked in with you, I was expecting something ... else. Something shallow.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” she teased.

“You are far, far, far from a disappointment,” he murmured. “Can I ask – how long have you and Ari been dating?”

Valentine held her smile while she tried to think of what to say. She and Ari had never really worked out any sort of back story. In fact, technically, he'd never actually said they were dating – he hadn't even introduced her as his girlfriend. He'd just offered her name, and that had been it.

“You know,” she finally sighed. “Ari and I, we're ... we're really fresh.”

She felt it was the best response she could give without completely lying.

“Fresh is fun,” Evans nodded. “But sometimes the freshness wears off, right?”

“I suppose,” she said, glancing over at the valet, wondering where the other guys were.

“I'm a very direct person, so I'm sorry if I'm offending you,” he added, and she shook her head.

“Trust me, Evans,” she laughed. “You're idea of 'direct' and mine are probably very different. You can't say or do anything that will offend me.”

“Good. Because I'd very much like to see you again,” he said bluntly. She blinked rapidly in surprise. “I'm not trying to steal another man's girlfriend, and I'm not trying to mess up this ADM deal with Sharapov before it's even happened. But when the dust has settled, if some of the shine has worn off your relationship with him, I hope you'll answer my call.”

“Who said I'd give you my number?” Valentine asked in a light voice, falling back on her old friend teasing to get her through this tense moment. Evans laughed, then closed the distance between them.

“My job is figuring people out, and I may not have you completely figured out, but I feel pretty confident in saying I know you'll give me your number. Maybe not tonight, but some day.”

He had deep, dark brown eyes, they stood out against his light tan and his soft brown hair, making his gaze look very intense. Valentine's job also involved figuring people out, and she knew that Evans Daniels was exactly the kind of client she loved at Caché. Under normal circumstances, she would have most definitely given him her phone number.

Thankfully, she was saved by the cars pulling up to the curb – Ari in his zippy little Porsche, and Scott in a sleek looking Audi. An attendant ran out to open Valentine's door for her, and before she could slide fully into her