Bound (Mastered #1)(63)

"No."

"That's okay because I do. But I'll warn you, baby, I will push your boundaries tonight." 

Amery managed to stop the spinning in her head long enough to place her hand on his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Should I be scared?"

Ronin just bestowed that "Hallelujah Chorus" grin. "Probably. But I promise I won't do a thing you don't like."

The table jiggled and they both looked up.

Amery couldn't help her shock. Tyler and Chantal were seated at their table. Out of nine hundred and ninety-eight other possibilities for dinner companions, they ended up with these two?

Tyler offered a smarmy grin. "Well, isn't this a coincidence?"

Chantal didn't seem any happier than Amery about the seating arrangements. But she managed a cool "Hello."

Three other couples joined them. The foursome barely acknowledged anyone outside their group. The other couple, an elegant pair in their early sixties, were sniping at each other and then fell into glaring silence as they knocked back glass after glass of champagne.

"Good thing we like each other's company," Ronin said.

"No kidding."

The waiters kept the bubbly flowing in addition to bringing bottles of wine to the table.

Amery picked up the linen card-embossed in the exact same color of the tablecloth-that announced the evening's five-course menu:

Butternut squash soup with chive oil and radish seedlings

Pan-fried trout croquettes, breaded with blue corn flour and topped with tomatillo relish

Roasted beet carpaccio with seared goat cheese and mâche greens

Grilled filet of beef with caramelized shallot/red wine reduction, truffle-infused potato rösti, white asparagus, and morel mushrooms

Golden Colorado dessert, ripe Colorado peaches soaked in Colorado's gold-medal-winning red wine, topped with yogurt sweetened with honey

This menu was a little different than Applebee's.

Ronin leaned closer. "Problem?"

"Not exactly sure what some of the ingredients are in these dishes."

"Me either. I'm just glad one of the courses isn't sushi."

After the soup course was delivered to everyone in the room, a man stepped up to the raised dais and began to speak.

She tuned him out and talked to Ronin. "So, the guy earlier that monopolized your time? What did he want?"

"To convince me to teach a private kickboxing class for new Bronco recruits."

"What'd you say?"

Ronin looked affronted. "No."

"Why not?"

"I am not a kickboxing instructor."

"Saying no should've taken, like, two seconds. Why'd he keep you so long?"

"He mistakenly assumed everyone has a price and all he needed to do was charm me, or throw more money at me. Or threaten me and I'd fall in line."

Her eyes widened. "He threatened you? Was he just an idiot or did he have a death wish? Did you demonstrate jujitsu pressure points so he understands why ninjas like you don't teach kickboxing?"

"I said something like that, but more diplomatically."

"Darn. I'd like to see you in ass-kicking mode." Amery turned her head. Their mouths were only a breath apart.



       
         
       
        

The moment lingered and became even more perfect when Ronin murmured, "I am so crazy about you."

As the second course was delivered, Amery glanced up to see Tyler studying her. His gaze flicked to Ronin and then back to her.

That's right. This hot, successful man is crazy about me. So suck it.

More boring speeches were given by more people she didn't know while the third course arrived.

During a lull in the festivities, Tyler addressed Ronin. "Has the Platte Valley restoration project affected your business at all? That's where you're located, right?"

"We've been there ten years, so urban renewal is finally catching up to us. It's always good to have other businesses-regardless if they're retail or service or entertainment industries-in any area. But I haven't seen a direct impact positive or negative on my business."

"There is one negative thing about people flocking to the area," Amery said, shoving aside her salad plate only to have it immediately whisked away by a server.

"And what's that?" Tyler asked.

"Parking. It is impossible to find a decent parking place around the dojo. Wednesday night I swear I had to park six blocks away."

Ronin kissed the back of her hand. "I'm glad limited parking choices aren't keeping you away from me."

So what if Ronin poured it on a little thick in front of her ex? She'd do the same thing if she crossed paths with Naomi.