When we pull into the valet of Thorsten’s Restaurant, my door opens and I reach for the hand that awaits me. I smile at the valet and then glance over to see Declan right there, his arm out for me to take. I want to giggle from the sheer chivalry of it all as I take his arm, but I push that giddiness away as he leads me inside. This place is like a castle, so huge and beautiful, stone walls with golden furniture. It’s super fancy and a part of me feels like I didn’t dress nice enough. I also think that if I touch anything it’d break, so with my other hand, I reach over to hold on to his wrist. He sends me a sweet grin before looking up at the host.

When he sees us, he stands up straighter than before and comes to meet us. “Mr. O’Callaghan, it’s wonderful to have you tonight and your beautiful date, of course.”

“Thank you,” Declan says very sternly, but when he looks over at me, his eyes dance as he says, “She is beautiful, huh?”

My lips curve into a grin as I lean into him, wanting to hide my face but before I can, we are being led to our table. I want to take in the fancy décor, the beautiful, large windows and gold tablecloths, but as we walk, people who are walking too, stop to look at us. Even people who are eating stop to stare. Even some of the waiters and waitresses pause to glance at us too. Well not us, but Declan.

When we come to our seat, he pulls my chair out for me and I sit down, placing my clutch on the table as I met the gaze of all the people in the restaurant. Nervous, I push my hair off my shoulders before clasping my hands in my lap. My heart is knocking into my ribs, and I can’t help but look around as everyone stares.

“Amberlyn?”

I glance up to meet Declan’s gaze. His eyes are narrowed, his cheeks flushed, and his beautiful lips are in a straight line. His nervousness is coming off him in waves, and I hate that he is nervous. I wonder if it is all the watchful eyes because I know they are making me nervous. “Yeah?”

“Would you like wine?” he asks, nodding his head towards the waiter that I didn’t realize was standing there.

“Oh, what are you having?”

“Whiskey.”

Of course. I smile as I nod. “Well, I guess I need to have a glass too.”

That makes his lips twitch as he nods and the waiter is off to fill our orders. Taking in a deep breath, I try to look at the menu but I can feel eyes on me, and it has me clumsily flipping through the menu. When I knock the candle over, I groan as I reach for it, putting it back up. When I glance up to see if Declan saw me do it, I find that he did and his lips are curved up at the side as his eyes dance with laughter. I bit into my lip, as my face reddens. I shrug and then look back down. Letting out an annoyed breath, I try to read the menu but all I can think of is the people staring at me.

When a glass is laid down before me, I reach for it, downing the bitter liquid in one gulp. I want to puke afterwards but as the liquor warms my throat and chest, I keep it down with the hope it calms my nerves. Placing the glass down, I look over to find Declan with his glass paused at his mouth. Even the waiter is staring at me, and shit, so is the rest of the fucking restaurant. Damn it!

“Sorry,” I breathe, with my hands tucked in my lap and my shoulders falling forward in embarrassment.

Declan smiles, and I swear that I’m in a Taylor Swift song because all I see are sparks flying. There is something about those ice-blue eyes plus that smile that make me feel like I’m soaring through the air. Soon I forget about everyone in the room. The only person here is him.

“Don’t apologize,” he says before downing his glass too. He lets out a gasp and then grins over at me. “Future advice… it’s meant to be sipped, not knocked back.”

“I’m nervous,” I admit.

He nods. “I am, too.”

“Everyone is staring.”

He nods again but doesn’t take his eyes off me. “I know. I hate it.”

It’s at that moment that I actually realize that since we’ve been here, he has only looked at me and the menu, never around us. He is wound tight, his shoulders taut, the veins in his hands and arms showing. I hate that, and the fixer in me wants to make him feel better. Without really thinking, I reach over and take his hand in mine. It’s clammy, but I don’t care as I lace my fingers with his.

“It’s always like this, huh?”

He nods. “Yeah, but tonight I have someone so beautiful to look at I don’t even know anyone else is here.”

That sends the butterflies in my belly into a frenzy. I squeeze his hand as the waiter comes to our table again. “Are you ready to order, Mr. O’Callaghan?”

Declan nods, his eyes still on me as he asks, “What would you like, Amberlyn?”

I order a chicken dish because it was the only thing I thought I’d like, while Declan orders something crazy. With his fingers still locked with mine, I watch as the waiter lays new glasses of whiskey on the table before taking a small sip. He winks at me before saying, “Better. Savor it. It’s a beautiful age, this one. I think it’s a 1966.”

“Wow,” I say and he is right. It is pretty good just sipping it rather than just throwing it back like a madman. “It’s really good.”

“I’ll take you on a tour at the distillery… have you sample the best whiskey in the world,” he says with his eyes shining with pride.

I smile. “I can’t wait.”

“Me neither.”

Biting into my lip, I grin but before I can say anything, someone appears at our table. I look up to see the tall blonde with her breasts falling out of the front of her dress and hips and legs that could make a grown man cry. She is hot. I can admit that if I were a guy, I’d do her. That’s how hot she is.

“Declan, I am shocked to see you after so long. How are you?”

Declan reluctantly looks up and the smile is gone, replaced with a straight line. “Fine, Marci, thank you, and yourself?”

“Fine, it’s wonderful to see you.”

“Yes, you too. How are your parents?”

“Fine, thank you.”

“That’s good. Give them my best.”

“I will,” she says, and then an awkward silence falls over the table. It’s like she doesn’t see me and that’s fine, but I wish she’d go away. “Oh, well, I just wanted to stop by, say hi, maybe get a picture with you for old times’ sake?”