Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 182

Night leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Coincidence my ass. Your boy is stalking you.”

“This is Princeton’s most expensive hotel, I muttered back.

“Don’t defend him,” Night growled.

Olivia approached us, elegant in her designer dress. “Ethan has reserved a private dining room to welcome me back. Since you’re here, why not join us?”

Before I could decline, Night stepped forward with a charming smile. “We’d be delighted. I love lively company.”

I shot him a glare that he pointedly ignored.

In the private dining room, Night pulled out my chair with exaggerated gallantry, then sat so close to me our shoulders touched. He picked up the menu and began ordering without consulting me.

“My darling will have the seared scallops to start–she loves seafood but hates shellfish except for scallops. Then the rare steak, no sauce on the side. And bring us your best Cabernet.”

“Darling, what do you think?” Night asked.

I shrugged. “Sounds fine.”

Night reached for the red rose in the table’s centerpiece and tucked it behind my ear. “A beautiful flower for a beautiful woman. Perfect.”

I removed the rose and stuck it into Night’s perfectly styled hair. “There. Much better.”

Anyone else would have been furious–Night was obsessive about his hair and spent ridiculous amounts of time styling it. But he just beamed at me like I’d given him the greatest gift.

I caught Ethan watching us, his jaw clenched tight. When he noticed me looking, his expression softened into a slight smile.

“Stop looking at him,” Night demanded. “Look at me. What’s so interesting about him anyway?”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “You’re quite straightforward, Mr. Night.”

“My darling appreciates directness,” Night replied, his eyes never leaving my face. “She hates the convoluted games businessmen like you play. All that pretense and façade.”

Ethan’s smile didn’t waver. “For someone who’s clearly dated countless women, you seem to understand this one particularly well.”

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8:17 Thu, Sep 25

Chapter 182

“Just passing flings,” Night replied with a dismissive wave. “What I feel for my Shadow is genuine.” He turned to Ethan, his smile sharp. “Though I wonder if your reluctance toward women might indicate… certain issues? My darling is an exceptional doctor. For the right price, I’m sure she’d be willing to examine your problem.”

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I looked at Night, unimpressed. “Being selective means there’s something wrong with him? Don’t let Chris hear you say that.”

Night snorted. “Chris might prefer men for all I know. Perhaps Mr. Haxton shares that preference?”

Ethan’s eyes darkened, but his smile remained in place. “Dr. Morgan seems quite familiar with my preferences. Perhaps you should ask her.”

The waiter arrived with our food, breaking the tense moment. “Dinner is served.”

Throughout the meal, Night was attentive to my every need, refilling my water glass before it was empty and making sure the best cuts of meat were on my plate.

“I’ve brought something special,” Night mentioned casually. “A 1932 Domaine de la Romanée–Conti. It arrives in two days. We should share a bottle, for old times‘ sake.”

As we left the restaurant, Night carried the rose in his hair, completely ignoring Ethan’s presence. In the car, he finally spoke about our dining companions.

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