He must have felt my gaze on him, because he blinked once and looked back at me. The fierce expression was gone in an instant. He didn’t smile at me, but he wasn’t scowling, either. I realized that the neutral expression he usually wore must be his default. I’d thought he was trying to be intimidating when his face was carefully blank. But I’d just seen his actual intimidating expression, and the neutral one was practically a silly grin in comparison.
I fiddled with the napkin in my lap to hide my trembling fingers beneath the table. Mathew was even scarier than I’d imagined.
The server came by to take our order. Before I could look at the menu, Mathew barked out a list of dishes that could probably feed five people.
“That’s a lot of food,” I remarked when the server left.
He shrugged. “I’m hungry. And this way, you can try some of everything.”
“Oh.” He still wasn’t smiling, but that seemed like a nice thing to say. Like he cared about whether or not I enjoyed my dinner. “Okay. Thanks.”
He tipped his head in a slight nod, acknowledging my response.
Nicola’s fingers laced with mine beneath the table, stopping me from picking at my napkin. My anxiety mostly melted away at his reassuring touch.
“Emily was asking about the pool earlier,” Nicola told Mathew. “Any progress on that?”
Mathew’s granite jaw firmed, and his eyes narrowed on Nicola. I would have scooted away if he’d turned that glare on me, but Nicola didn’t seem affected. I supposed he was used to it.
“Well, keep me updated,” Nicola said when Mathew didn’t deign to answer. “It’s really important to Emily.”
Mathew’s eyes riveted on me again, and I shifted in my seat. He wasn’t glaring anymore, but his gaze was…intense. I wanted to look away, but that strange sensation of being trapped by his stare
Mathew’s onyx eyes flicked from my pursed lips to my flame-red cheeks, and a bright grin suddenly illuminated his rough-hewn features.
I blinked, dumbstruck.
Mathew was grinning. Actually grinning. And it wasn’t the scary, sharply amused smile I’d seen him wear before. This was a genuine smile, and it reached his eyes. They crinkled at the corners, and dark-chocolate warmth melted the hard, cold light that usually reflected off them.
I’d never appreciated how ruggedly handsome Mathew was. I’d been fully aware of his masculine physique, and I’d picked each of his harsh features apart in moments of fear. But when he smiled like this, he didn’t seem all that frightening. He was magnetic, compelling.
“I need the bathroom,” I said suddenly, almost surprising myself. Sitting so close to Mathew was too… Well, I didn’t exactly feel uncomfortable around him right now. It was more…intense. Sitting close to Mathew was intense.
“We’ll be right here, angel,” Nicola said, squeezing my hand one last time before releasing it.
I popped up out of my chair and hurried to the bathroom. Embarrassingly, I ended up getting a little lost looking for it. The brunette who’d showed us to our table directed me from the front of the restaurant back toward the kitchen. The ladies’ room was down a long hall to the left. Luckily, it was far out of sight from Nicola and Mathew, so they hadn’t seen me wandering around like an idiot. I’d already made enough of a fool of myself, talking to Mathew about unicorns.
Even though I hadn’t particularly needed to go, I used the facilities and washed my hands. When I’d dried them, I lingered in front of the mirror for a minute longer, willing the pink blush to subside from my cheeks. My body was hot, flushed. It was cold outside, but I’d been far too overheated when surrounded by Nicola’s and Mathew’s bulk.
Ice water, I told myself. I need ice water.
I unlocked the bathroom door and took a few more seconds to smooth my hair back from my face. I heaved in a deep breath, bracing myself to return to the table.
I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to brace myself. Nicola was there, waiting for me. He would make sure I was safe and happy.
The bathroom door swung open, and I jolted.
“Occupied,” I said, but the lady didn’t seem to care.
A man stepped into the small, tiled space. He was almost as tall as Nicola, even if he wasn’t as broad. He looked leaner. Scrappier. Meaner.
His lips were curled in a sneer, and a wicked scar on his right cheek puckered from his twisted expression.
“This is the ladies’ room,” I said, trying not to stare at his scar.
He shut the door behind him. Locked it.
“I wanted to talk to you, Emily.” He took a step toward me.
I jolted back, and my butt hit the wall. The space was too small, and the man was too close.
Before I could open my mouth to scream for Nicola, the man pulled aside his leather jacket to reveal a gun holstered at his side. He pressed his finger against his lips as he shushed me.
“What do you want?” I whispered, not daring to raise my voice any louder. “How do you know my name?”
“I know a lot of things about you.” He took another step toward me, but there was nowhere for me to go, nowhere to run. “Not as much as Nicola knows about you, judging by the pictures my friends took.” He reached up and brushed his knuckles down my cheek.