“Did you enjoy it, Kitten?” Liam dabbed her mouth with the corner of his napkin. “Did you really experience the perfection of that last bite?”

She sighed. “Well if I’d known it was going to be the last one…”

“But we never know, do we?” His words were profound and opened her heart immediately, moving her nearly to tears. Over dessert, for pete’s sake! She chided herself for her overreaction, but she couldn’t help the emotion welling up.

“Open your eyes.”

Katie did, meeting his, trying to discern what he was thinking, feeling. Then she became aware of the noise around her, far diminished. Had everyone gone? Glancing around, she found herself sinking lower in her chair. It was as if the entire restaurant had stopped eating and drinking and talking just so they could turn and watch them. She’d never felt so on display in her life.

Liam stood, tossing his napkin on the table, and leaned in to whisper one word into her ear.

“Worthy.”

Katie looked at the remains of the tiramisu-he hadn’t fed her all of it, there was about a quarter of the dessert left on the plate. She realized, looking up at him, that he’d actually stopped when he felt she was full. How?

“Come with me,” Liam said.

“But…where are we going?”

He cocked his head at her. “If you come with me, you’ll probably find out.”

“Don’t we have to pay the bill?” she inquired, looking around for the waitress.

“I have an account here.” He sighed. “Come with me, Katie. I won’t say it again.”

She practically jumped out of her chair to follow him.

“Do you ever wear appropriate footwear for the weather?”

Katie shivered, hugging her coat around her, eyes closed as directed. They’d been closed the whole way in the car, and now that they were out of it, she found it even harder to keep Liam’s surprise a real surprise. She wanted to peek!