Page 16 of His Daughter

She didn’t see that coming.

"Tsk, tsk, Mr. Hale. You just met me. Don't you have dreams that have lasted more than five minutes?"

"I'm a businessman, Ms. Calloway. I always get what I want."

"So you think you'll get me?"

I shrugged and leaned back. "The night is young. Why don't we leave that to the forces above to decide?"

I cut a piece of the branzino, pressed it into the herbed butter on the plate, and held my fork across the table toward her — an offering, not a theft — my eyes on hers the whole time.

"Try this," I said.

She looked at the fork, then at me. Then she leaned forward and took the bite. She chewed and nodded slowly. "That's very good."

"Mmhmm." I set the fork down and picked up my wine. "You're welcome."

The heat rising up her neck was worth every cent. She reached for her wine and took a sip.

"Tell me," she said. "You know what I do. I know what you do, or what the Internet says you do. Tell me something the Internet doesn't know."

I swirled my wine. "The Internet knows everything about me. That's by design."

"Oh, come on. There has to be something."

Grinning now, I lifted my glass and took a long, easy drink. Well, if she insisted. I would never deny a lady what she wanted.

"I play piano," I said. "No one knows that. I learned as a kid. Blame my mother—she wouldn't let me drop it. I could play a pretty sick tune for you, if you'd let me."

She tilted her head. "So you still play?"

I shrugged. "Occasionally." I turned the glass in my fingers. "What about you? Do you play?"

"Oh, no!" She raised her hands. "My talents lie elsewhere."

Our gazes met. "Really? And where would that be?"

The wicked glint in her eyes was gone. Her eyes darted to the side. I wondered why. She acted with confidence all evening, but that could be a front. Maybe she was running from something, and this was her one night away from it.

I was more than happy to help her forget.

My knee pressed against hers under the table. She pressed back.

"Do you ever play for anyone?" she asked after a beat.

"No."

"Would you play for me?"

"I said I would but you have to tell me what your talents are."

I knew it was a long shot, but damn it, I enjoyed pushing her buttons. I wanted to see her unravel, watch her come undone.

Twenty minutes. That's how long we danced around what I'd said before Thea diverted the conversation. We spoke about random things, she was good with conversations. Soon, the check came, and it felt like the night had come to an end too quickly. She reached for her bag, but I covered the bill without looking at it and held her gaze while I signed.

We stepped outside. The air was cool, damp with mist that hadn't committed to rain. She wrapped her arms around herself.

"I'm not ready to go home yet," she said.