Vane gave her a hot, searing look. "Yeah, it is nice, isn't it?"
"Would you like your usual wine?" the waiter asked.
"Sure."
They looked at Bride.
"Evian, please."
"You want some wine?" Vane asked.
"No, water's fine. Really."
He frowned while the waiters went to get their drinks.
Bride picked up her menu and noticed that Vane didn't bother looking at his.
"Just how often do you come here?"
He shrugged. "A couple of times a week. They have a really good breakfast and I've become addicted to their Bananas Foster. What about you? Do you ever come here?"
She squelched the pain she felt at the thought of Taylor and his date, and Taylor's refusal to bring her here. "I haven't in a long time, but yeah, I love their food."
Vane looked relieved by that.
Bride tried to read the menu, but it was hard since he didn't take his eyes off her. There was something extremely animalistic and powerful about the way he treated her. The way he watched her.
It was flattering and, at the same time, almost scary.
She glanced up at him. "What?"
"What?" he asked back.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"I can't help it. I keep expecting you to not be real."
His words floored her.
The waiters came back with their drinks. "Are you ready to order now?"
Bride set her menu down. "I'll have the Brennan salad with no cheese, please."
He wrote it down.
"And?" Vane asked.
Bride looked up at him. "And what?"
"What else are you eating?"
"Just the salad."
Vane frowned at that. "Bernie," he said to the waiter. "Could you please give us a minute?"
"Sure, Mr. Kattalakis. Take your time."
Vane waited until they were gone before he leaned forward. "I know you're hungry, Bride. What did you eat for lunch? Half a deli sandwich?"