A Date

Eva's POV

“What is between you and Luke Hayes?” Gavin finally asked, his tone casual. His piercing eyes flicked up at me over the restaurant menu.

“Nothing,” I replied sharply. A clear sign that the topic was unwelcome.

Gavin refused to take the hint. “What I saw was beyond nothing. I witnessed a whole lot of emotion between you two. You and Luke Hayes seem like past lovers, or are you his mistress?" he pushed, observing me curiously.

I forced myself to appear calm under his gaze. A waiter approached, giving me a moment to collect my thoughts. Gavin ordered for both of us without consulting me. Arrogant as always.

As the waiter left, I noticed them exchange a knowing grin. I looked around and realized why he’d brought me here. We were in a private section of a super expensive restaurant, away from every eye. The lighting was soft and romantic. The whole place screamed extravagance. This was his den, and I had a feeling I was his new prey.

He returned his eyes to me, nudging them at me for answers.

“What is it to you anyway?” I snapped. Despite my better judgment, I remained. Something about him both unsettled and intrigued me.

He set the menu aside, his eyes locking onto mine with the intensity of a predator stalking its prey. “You’re going to be my new pet, Eva,” he said, sounding unpleasantly serious. “So you can’t be anyone else’s.”

My breath caught. His confidence was unnerving. I tried to appear confident as well. “I never told you I was going to be your pet or whatever. Last I checked, I looked nothing like a kitten."

He laughed, a gentle, mirthless laugh. “You are going to be my pet, Eva. I have a way of making sure I get what I want."

"And what way is that?"

His grin widened again. "You will find out," he said.

The waiter returned, wheeling a trolley carrying food and wine to us. He set the table and left.

I reached for the wine, desperate for something to occupy my trembling hands. My phone vibrated in my purse for the hundredth time, rattling the table. I had no doubt it was Luke again.

“Why don’t you answer that? The caller seems quite determined,” Gavin said, his voice dripping with mockery as he poured us wine. His eyes glimmered with a knowing look.

Damn Luke for making everything so obvious.

“It is no one important,” I told him, taking my wine glass from his manicured fingers. I poured the wine down my throat in one gulp, hoping to drown the tension in me.

The phone vibrated again, and this time Gavin leaned forward, grabbing my purse before I could stop him.

A smug grin filled his lips as he read out the caller’s name. “Luke heart, heart, Hayes,” he said, deliberate with each syllable. “Twenty-four missed calls. Wow! And I thought I was persistent."

My blood boiled. The arrogance, the smug satisfaction on his face, irritated me beyond words. Fury surged through me, and I grabbed my purse, standing abruptly. “This was a mistake,” I muttered, heading for the exit.

I stormed outside, the cool evening air doing little to calm my nerves. As a cab pulled up, a firm hand grabbed my waist, stopping me in my tracks.

“Leaving so soon?” Gavin’s voice was smooth, his grip possessive.

I turned, ready to unleash my anger, but my words caught in my throat when I met his gaze. I couldn’t tell why, but for that moment, my fury faltered.

Get a grip, Eva. My inner voice snapped me back to reality. I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.

“Let me go, Gavin,” I said, my voice trembling with anger.

He leaned in, whispering in my ear, feeding me his strong, pleasant, masculine scent. “You don’t want a scene, Eva. Neither do I. Come willingly with me. I’ll drive you home, and we will both be happy."

“And if I don’t?” I challenged, my eyes narrowing.

His lips curled into a sly grin as he traced his thumb over his lower lip. “Then I’ll create a scene big enough to have your pictures splashed across every gossip column in the state.”

“Is that a threat?” I asked, my voice low with defiance.

“Not at all,” he said. “It’s simply my way of showing how much I want you and how far I’m willing to go to make you my pet.”

He released me, stepping back with an infuriating smile. “Shall we?” He gestured toward the parking lot.

Against every ounce of reason, I followed. I had initially thought he was just a playboy. Now I knew he was something more. Something I couldn’t put a name to.

He opened the car for me to step into the opulence of his Rolls Royce. Then he veered the car into the road.

“Is this where you live?” he asked curiously when he pulled up before my block.

“Yes,” I snapped. “Doesn’t it meet the standard for your so-called ‘pets?’”

He gave me a mirthless chuckle and dropped down from the car.

Somehow, Luke appeared, descending the stairs to us with an angry scowl on his face. My heart sank.

“What are you doing here, Cole?” I demanded, still reeling from the shock of his presence.

Luke didn’t answer. His furious gaze zeroed in on Gavin. He seized Gavin by the collar, slamming him against the car.