Chapter 17: Dinner Date with Kieran...
"Come on," Emerald said. "Let’s go."
Kieran didn’t respond with words; he just stepped forward, falling into step beside her as they moved through the halls.
They stepped out into the cool twilight. The estate grounds were peaceful, with the courtyard glowing softly in lavender light. A black SUV waited near the edge of the path.
"I must say," he murmured, glancing sideways at her as they walked, "you look... stunning."
Emerald’s lips twitched. "Trying to outdo Adrien already?"
"No," Kieran said plainly. "I don’t compete. I just tell the truth."
She didn’t know how to respond to that, so she didn’t. But her heart thudded harder in her chest. She tried to ignore the flutter in her chest. Viola, however, did not.
"Say that again," her wolf whispered inside her. "Slower."
"I’m sorry I didn’t come earlier," Kieran added as he moved ahead to open the passenger door for her. "I wanted to, as that would give me more time to spend with you. Alone. But I needed to make sure tonight was perfect."
Emerald slid into the leather seat, surprised by how gentlemanly it all felt. She’d expected a patrol ride, maybe a walk around the border. Not this.
"You planned something?" she asked, intrigued despite herself.