***

They arrived at The Den, the place Abel had mentioned would be interesting. It was. While it was obviously a restaurant, it was unusually dark with most of the light coming from the candles that adorned the small intimate tables. And although waiters walked around with trays of food and patrons were enjoying their dinner, the atmosphere was more like a swanky underground club. There were dramatic drapes that covered the walls and matched the linens on the tables and chairs. Throbbing dance music was coming from another room, though their maître d’ led them into the dining area.

“My agent told me about this place,” Abel whispered in her ear as they walked behind the maître d’. “I have no patience for the paparazzi or overzealous fans. When I signed up for this fight, I knew it would be bad, but I had no idea it’d get this crazy. He pretty much said that I should get used to it, so places like this are best if I wanna keep my social life on the down low.”

Social life? She nodded, refusing to comment on that. Did he really consider their booty calls part of his social life? Just then, their waiter lifted the drapes against the wall that actually opened up into a very private booth.

Abel smiled as their eyes met. “I’ve been here a few times, but this is the first time I requested this much privacy.”

Feeling a rush of excitement laced with a bit of sudden nervous energy creep up her spine, Nellie turned back to the waiter and smiled as she slipped into one side of the large booth.

To her surprise, instead of slipping into the seat across from her, Abel slipped in right next to her, immediately taking her hand in his. The waiter took their drink orders then walked away, closing the drapes behind him. They now sat there in complete seclusion from the rest of the restaurant patrons.

Nellie had heard of restaurants like this in Los Angeles for the many celebrities and VIPs who cherished their privacy. She just never would’ve imagined being at one of these places and sitting next to such an intimidating yet tantalizing specimen of a man.

From the way he’d acted the moment he arrived at her house that evening and being in such an intimate setting, she naturally expected him to start driving her insane with his kisses and tasting her neck the moment the waiter left them alone. To her surprise, he took a sip of his water and sat back. He did bring his big arm around the back of the booth, the playful touch of his fingers to her hair alone making her quiver with anticipation.

Regardless of what a small gesture it was compared to how he’d behaved earlier, Nellie’s heart sped up anyway. She knew there was no way he’d asked for this much privacy just so he could play with her hair.

She took a sip of her own water, sucking in a small piece of ice in the hopes it would cool her burning insides at least a little.

“So how’s the cocktail mixer coming along?” he asked, his fingers still playing with her hair. “Last I heard, Noah said you had some heavy hitters lined up. That’s pretty awesome. The last coordinator we had for these things wasn’t nearly as successful at getting this kind of stuff together.”

Nellie smiled, looking up into those usually very sensual eyes. They now looked genuinely pleased. They’d done little talking during their previous steamy encounters. And of what little they had done, zero of it was personal. Now he seemed ready to chat.

“Are you ready for your drinks?” The waiter asked from the other side of the curtain.

“Yes, we are.” Abel replied.

The waiter opened the curtain and set down Nellie’s glass of wine first then Abel’s rum and Diet Coke. “Are you two ready to order, or would you like some more time?”

Nellie and Abel hadn’t even opened their menus. “We’re gonna need a little more time,” Abel said as his fingertips grazed Nellie’s nape ever so softly.

In an effort to conceal her shivering, she reached for the menu that still sat unopened in front of her. It was insane how his touch alone could nearly send her over the edge.

Clearing her throat, she attempted to sound as collected as possible. “Actually, we’re all booked and ready to go. A winery from up north decided to take all the booths left, and they were very generous with their donation. Now it’s up to me to get it all together, and with the budget we have now, it should be a huge success.” She sipped her wine then smiled at him. His eyes hadn’t left hers since he’d asked the question. They twinkled with pleasure, and his eyebrows were now raised in reaction. “I’m very excited about it. It’s what I was working on when you dropped by today.”

Abel smiled big now as she lifted her glass to her lips, making her gulp down the wine harder than she’d anticipated. The man she not too long ago referred to as a boy because of their age difference was absolutely a man in every sense of the word and a beautiful one at that. How in the world had she scored getting this man in her bed? He was eye candy for crying out loud!

He lifted his glass in the air. “Well, that’s awesome,” he said as she lifted her own glass again. “I say this is cause for a celebration.” They clinked their glasses together and each took a drink. “Does Noah know yet?”

Nellie nodded. “He should. I told Roni about it on my way home today, and she said she would tell him.”

Glad that talking about the cocktail mixer was not a personal subject, she filled him on some of the details and plans she had for it. He listened intently, at times unnerving her when his eyes would leave hers and make their way down to her lips, staying there a little too long. He’d smirk every time he noticed that she lost her train of thought because of this but didn’t comment.