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Pearl’s deep brown eyes looked at her with concern. “Is everything okay?”

She had to get a better poker face than this. Especially if she was going to be playing poker with her. “Thank you, everything is fine.”

Pearl took her at her word. “Well, I’m glad I caught you. I’m inviting some of the residents for cocktails from midday tomorrow. I hope you and your friend can make it.”

“Umm, thank you. I’ll have to see what Colin has planned on the advent calendar, but we’ll be there if we can.” She could just imagine Luke’s reaction.

“Good. And what are the pair of you up to today?”

Anna swore silently. This was not going to help stop Pearl’s meddling one little bit. “Colin booked us a restaurant for tonight.”

Pearl’s eyebrows rose. “Interesting. Where are you off to?”

“Per Se,” Anna mumbled

“Oh my.” A delighted chuckle rolled out of Pearl. “I wonder what your brother had in mind when he booked one of the most intimate, romantic restaurants in New York for the two of you to eat in?”

Me too, Anna thought as she trudged out to find something to wear with a high neckline and long skirt/trousers. Me, too.

* * *

Luke did a double take when Anna came out of her room.

“Christ, are you trying to make me lose my mind?”

She blinked. “Sorry?”

Agitated, he drew a hand down his face, his dick already excited at the thought of spending an evening with the sexy goddess in front of him. Along with her seductive smoky eyes, she wore a short purple velvet dress that showcased the curve of a pair of breasts he desperately wanted to bury his face in. “I thought I said no legs and no cleavage.”

“You did. But this is a dress I had back at my place.” She swallowed. “And anyway, I like the way you look at me. You make me feel good about myself when the guys I’ve dated made me feel the opposite.” She met his gaze with a defiant tilt of her chin. “So you’ll just have to suck it up.”

His dick gave another unhelpful twitch. “Using the word suck in this conversation, or any conversation, isn’t going to help,” he muttered.

She snorted and he had to wonder if she was enjoying torturing him, just as her brother was probably enjoying watching his mate get all twisted into knots from his perch in heaven, or wherever the really good people went.

His discomfort didn’t matter though. Anna had just admitted that, far from wanting to keep her distance from him, like he’d worried this morning, she wanted his attention. As long as he didn’t cross a line, didn’t take that attention to a place where he could hurt her, his ogling was giving her something.

She’d given him free reign to enjoy her.

He helped her into the rideshare he’d booked. When he placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her, her body gave a little shudder. It matched his own response to feeling the warmth of her skin through the soft velvet of her dress.

“We usually go by train,” she commented softly, crossing those sexy legs in their strappy sandals.

He forced his gaze up to her face. “I figured this was more appropriate when turning up to a fancy restaurant.”

Not that he knew the first thing about fine dining. A fact he became painfully aware of half an hour later when they were shown to their table. Their very formal waiter explained that they were about to have a dining experience. Whatever the hell that was. And it would happen over 9 courses.

“Isn’t this amazing.” Anna positively glowed as she looked around her. “Look at that view.”

“I am doing.”

Her eyes found his and when she realized he was still staring at her, she smiled shyly. It made his throat tighten. “I meant the view of Central Park.”

“I’m happy with the current view.”

A flush pinked her cheeks. “You’re very good at flirting.”

“You make it very easy.”