Chapter 12 - THE FIRST ORDINARY DINNER
Six months later, Dante invited Khloe to dinner.
She agreed on one condition.
“No private rooms.”
He smiled.
“Understood.”
They met at a small Italian restaurant.
The tables were close together.
The music was too loud.
The waiter spilled water.
Dante looked completely out of place.
Khloe loved it.
“You're uncomfortable,” she observed.
“I'm accustomed to more space.”
“You mean people being afraid to sit near you?”
He considered.
“Yes.”
She laughed.
They talked about ordinary things.
Books.
Travel.
Childhood memories.
Bad movies.
Dante admitted he had never learned to cook properly.
Khloe confessed she hated doing laundry.
By dessert, they had stopped discussing the investigation.
Dante looked at her.
“I'd like to see you again.”
Khloe smiled.
“Then ask.”
“Khloe Bennett, would you have dinner with me next Friday?”
She pretended to consider.
“Maybe.”
Dante raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe?”
She laughed.
“Yes.”
May you like
For the first time, the man who had once controlled an empire looked genuinely nervous.
And Khloe realized she liked him better this way.
