Against the Edge (The Raines of Wind Can - By Kat Martin Page 0,61
and so far he was doing great. She had copied the email to Ben, who had also been checking on him.
“I went shopping yesterday,” she said. “If you remember, I lost my heels in El Paso. I didn’t expect to be gone from home quite so long so I needed a couple of other things, too.” She’d bought a pair of jeans and a couple of T-shirts for Sam. He was bound to need clean clothes by now. “Are you sure you feel well enough to go out?”
“I’ll feel the same whether I’m here or somewhere else, and the house is beginning to feel like a prison. I need to get back on my feet and this is a good way to start.”
“It isn’t my cooking, is it? I know I’m not great, but I thought I made a pretty decent spaghetti dinner last night.”
He walked over, set his hands at her waist, bent his head and lightly kissed her. “You’re cooking’s fine, angel. I’m just not used to staying cooped up.”
“What about Sam?” She felt guilty for even thinking of doing something that might be fun. It wasn’t fair when Sam was in so much danger.
Ben clenched his jaw. “We’re doing everything in our power to find him. Going out for something to eat isn’t going to change that.”
“I know, but—”
“If we don’t come up with something concrete by tomorrow night, I’m taking the photo of the brothers down to Converse and showing it around. It’s not much of a town, but maybe somebody there will know who they are.”
“Aryan Nations—white supremacists. That’s a good idea.”
“Don’t get your hopes too high. They’re not a particularly friendly bunch. Even if we can get them to talk to us, they might not tell us the brothers’ name.”
“If they know, they’ll tell you. I saw you with Eddie Jeffries, remember?”
His lips twitched. “I guess that means you’re coming along.”
“You bet.”
“So then, how about dinner?”
What could it hurt? And the truth was, she was feeling cooped up, too. “All right, if you’re sure. Where are we going?”
“Capital Grill. It’s a nice place. I’ll think you’ll like it.”
“Okay, then I’d better go change.”
She was ready half an hour later in a little black sheath dress and a new pair of black high heels. The dress had cap sleeves and a low back, and she was wearing it with thigh-high black stockings. She told herself she hadn’t bought the outfit with Ben in mind, but she knew it wasn’t true.
She made a slow turn, showing off the dress, enjoying the way his eyes went from blue ice to hot flame.
“Maybe we don’t need supper,” he said a little gruffly. “You look good enough to eat.” Sliding a muscled arm around her waist, he drew her close, bent his head and kissed her. For an instant, Claire thought maybe he was right and dinner could wait.
Then she came to her senses. “I thought you wanted to get out of the house.”
“I do.” He kissed her lightly one last time. Claire collected her sweater just in case. Ben took her hand and led her out to his Denali.
* * *
The Capital Grill was an upscale restaurant done in an elegant forties-style with dark wood-paneled walls, black-and-white tile floors and huge frosted-glass lamps suspended from the high ceilings.
“Good evening, Mr. Slocum.” In a black tuxedo, the maître d’, a thin man with silver-tinged dark brown hair and glasses, seemed well acquainted with Ben. “It’s good to see you. I have your table ready.”
“Thanks, Tommy.”
As the man seated them at a linen-draped table in a quiet area of the restaurant, Claire tried to hide her surprise that Ben would be a regular in a place like this.
Ben cast her a glance. “What? You didn’t think I liked nice places? Or maybe you thought all I owned were jeans and T-shirts.”
Her face went warm. “I saw you in a tuxedo, but I figured it was rented. I think of you more as the rugged he-man type. Not Mr. GQ, though I have to say you look amazing.”
He chuckled. “Thanks. The tuxedo is actually mine. There are times my job requires formal dress. But the truth is, I don’t come here that often. Mostly just special occasions.”
She arched a brow. “So what’s the occasion tonight?”
Ben caught her hand and brought it to his lips. “I’m going to seduce you tonight, Claire. All the way through supper, I want you to think about what I’m going to do to you when we