Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 20818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
It’s all perfect. Perfect and waiting. Just like me. It feels like every tick of the clock echoes through the room, my anticipation building with each passing moment until the anxiety and excitement intertwine into something electric.
I check my watch for what has to be the tenth time in about five minutes, then look up at the sound of footsteps approaching. It’s only one of the servers passing through, but my heart leaps all the same, and I realize I have turned into a pussy-whipped moron just like Marco did when he met Tabitha.
Finally, I hear Romi’s heels clicking on the stone steps and realize she’s bringing my kitty to me. I take a moment, my heart doing a little drum roll of its own, as I prepare for her appearance, feeling a thrill unlike anything I’ve experienced in years.
And then she walks in. Holy hell. I nearly swallow my tongue.
Kat descends the stairs, each step deliberate and graceful, and I’m pretty sure the world grinds and shudders to a stop. She’s wearing a figure-hugging red dress that clings to all her luscious curves. Black heels click softly against the floor as I stare at her bare legs and forget how to breathe.
Her hair is artfully pulled up in a fancy twist that leaves a few tendrils loose to brush the nape of her neck. The very sight is enough to make any man want to forget everything else and focus solely on her. When I notice her candy apple red lips, I have this overwhelming urge to kiss the lipstick off, to see if it tastes as sweet as it looks.
“Wow,” I manage to say when she reaches the bottom of the stairs, flashing her my best attempt at a casual smile as all my polished sophistication flies right out the goddamn window. “You look stunning.”
She gives me a soft laugh, a sound as delightful as ever. “Thank you. You look pretty good, too.”
“Thank you, kitty.” I lean over and place a soft kiss on the vein pounding at the base of her elegant throat. “Why don’t we have a seat?”
I take her silky hand in mine and lead her over to the table. After I pull out her chair, she sinks into the buttery soft leather. Staring down at this curvy kitty, I feel a strange sense of rightness wash over me like everything is exactly where it should be in the universe tonight.
We settle in, the soft jazz wrapping around us like a warm embrace, and I watch as she takes in every detail, her gaze moving from the flickering candles to the intimate coziness of the room.
The waiter brings us each a glass of wine and quickly disappears.
“So, how did you even end up here in Midnight Falls?” Kat asks, reaching for her glass. “You seem way more suited to a city like New York or LA, not a small Halloween-loving Texas town.”
“It does sound odd when you put it like that,” I concede, smiling at her curiosity. “Believe it or not, after all those years in Vegas, I needed something different, something that felt a little magical and, sure, quieter.”
“Vegas? You’re serious?” She leans forward, eyes twinkling with intrigue. “Now that’s a story I’ve got to hear.”
I chuckle, aware I need to tread carefully. While I want to lay all my cards on the table, the entire unvarnished truth might be a little too much for our first date. “Let’s just say I was involved in a world that had a lot of excitement, but maybe not the healthiest type. I got the chance to turn the page and start fresh and jumped on it. Midnight Falls gave me that opportunity with its charm and peculiar traditions.” I pause, meeting her gaze meaningfully. “Plus, a gorgeous little kitty walked into my bar and turned my world on its ear.”
“Oh.” She bites her bottom lip, blushing. She breaks eye contact and changes the direction of our conversation. “This place is really incredible.”
“I’m glad you approve.” While the staff sets up our dinner, soft music plays in the background, and I decide I need to feel her soft curves pressed against my body. Now.
Taking her soft hand in mine, I lead her over to the private dance floor and pull her against my body.
Chapter 4
Kat
When he extends his hand and invites me to dance, my heart skips a beat. I mean, if it isn’t every little girl’s dream to have a dashing, tall, and infuriatingly charming man lead her in a dance under soft, flickering candlelight, then I don’t know what is.
I take his hand, and as he pulls me closer, I swear I’m experiencing one of those cinematic moments you always see in rom-coms—music swelling, hearts thumping, everything around us blurring into oblivion.
The atmosphere in the speakeasy is perfect for this. I can’t help but notice how the soft notes of the jazz band seem to float around like they’ve come from some bygone era, wrapping us both in their spell. The place is decadent in the subtlest of ways. Shadows dance along the walls and highlight the aged brick, giving the room this mystique that makes everything about being here with Tony feel even more special.