Just One Dare (The Kingston Family 5)

He chuckled. “The champagne came with the tour. It was billed as a romantic flight. The flowers were all me and you’re welcome. They remind me of you. They’re gorgeous.”

He winked and her stomach fluttered as it only did for him.

“You’re a charmer.” Suddenly exhausted, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

“We have an hour ride back to the city, so you have time for a nap, if you want.”

She lifted her head up in surprise. “We’re not going back to my house?”

He shook his head. “No. Now put your head back down and rest. I have more planned for you. And you’re going to need your strength.”

Dear God, his words and actions were a potent combination.

He patted his shoulder, indicating she should do as he asked. When she complied, he wrapped his arm around her and held her close. She dozed off, her senses overwhelmed by Nick’s masculine scent and his strong embrace.

She wasn’t sure how long she’d slept, but she woke to find the car coming to a stop and Nick saying her name.

She lifted her head and stretched the kink in her neck. “Where are we?”

“My hotel. But it’s not what you think.” Nick’s grin sent butterflies bouncing in her stomach.

The driver opened the door and let them out.

Curious, she let Nick take her hand and lead her into the building. He greeted the doorman, then walked through the beautiful marble lobby to the elevator. A few minutes later, they were in his suite.

Inside, they kicked off their shoes and he led her to a small dining area where a table had been set up. Candles had been lit, and a man wearing a white professional chef’s coat walked out of what she assumed was a kitchen. Another man in a suit stepped up behind him.

Nick kept a hand on her back. “Aurora Kingston, I’d like to introduce you to Max Savage and Sebastian Del Torro, owners of Savage Soho, a three-star Michelin restaurant. Max is married to my cousin, Lucy Dare.”

“Lucy Savage,” Max said in a low, possessive voice.

Aurora smiled. “So, you must be related to the Prescotts, too?”

Max, an extremely good-looking man with dark hair, reached out and shook her hand. “Yes, we found out we’re related.” He shrugged, an amused smile on his face.

Aurora grinned. She’d heard the sperm donor story from her friends Braden and Willow Prescott.

“It’s great to meet you, Aurora,” Max said.

Sebastian, also an attractive man, stepped forward and shook her hand, as well.

“A pleasure to meet you both,” she said.

“So what are you doing here, Max? Did you take up cooking in your spare time?” Nick asked his cousin.

“When I heard you’d asked Sebastian to put together a special meal, I couldn’t resist stopping by to say hello and see who’s got you pulling out all the stops.” Max glanced at Aurora and winked.

She blushed but understood.

Nick shrugged, unrepentant. “Well, you’ve said hello.” He slapped the man on the back. “And now you can say goodbye. We’ll get together for drinks sometime soon. But tonight, I want to be with my girl.”

Aurora opened her eyes wide at that claim but possessiveness seemed to run in the Dare family.

Max burst out laughing. “I love it. Have a good night and enjoy. I hope to see you again,” he said to Aurora. “I’ll let myself out.”

“And I’m heading back to the kitchen,” Sebastian said. “Are you ready to begin dinner service?”

“Yes, please.” Nick waited for the chef to walk back into the kitchen before pulling out the chair at the head of the table. “Have a seat.”

She settled in and he sat next to her.

She was touched by the lengths to which he’d gone for their date. It couldn’t be easy for Sebastian to cook in what had to be a very small area, yet he was here.

“Thank you, Nick. This has been an incredible night.”

His eyes gleamed with pleasure. “I know you’ve had the Kingston money for a while now, but I’m sure the fact that you grew up without much is never far from your mind. I just wanted you to feel special.”

“I do,” she whispered. She took a good look at him, in his white-collared shirt, unbuttoned enough to reveal a sexy sprinkling of hair. His sleeves were rolled up, his forearms muscular. And his intense gaze bore into hers. He’d never made her feel anything but special.

Sebastian chose that moment to interrupt their mutual scrutiny with a bottle of wine.

Aurora and Nick enjoyed a dry white with Sebastian’s Chef’s Experience menu, which he’d described in detail. Through their tastebuds, they traveled through Spain, sampling the cuisine of the area. It was by and far the best food Aurora had ever had. Eventually, Sebastian said goodnight and left them alone.

Nick kept the conversation light, with most of their talk centered around Leah and her antics. Aurora loved telling stories about her daughter and Nick soaked them up, sometimes laughing. But other times, she caught a sad expression on his face that seemed like longing for all he’d missed. The look was especially evident when she’d given him her phone so he could scroll through old photos.