King of Greed (Kings of Sin #3) by Ana Huang

My breath escaped in a painful rush.

“I’m sorry about that.” I faced Aiden again and attempted a smile. “He can be a little…intense.”

“That’s all right.” Concern and a hint of amusement glinted in his eyes. “I’m guessing that was the infamous ex-husband.”

“What gave it away? The rude interruption or the weird fixation on kitchen items?”

“I don’t think it’s the items he’s fixated on.”

I hated the tiny jolt that followed his words. I’d begged Dominic to let me go, and he had. In the long run, it was a good thing, but in the short run, part of me twisted uncomfortably at the prospect of him moving on. It was hypocritical, considering I was the one on a quasi-date, but emotions weren’t rational.

Aiden rubbed a hand over his mouth. “I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable with what I said earlier. I meant it, but I’m also not expecting anything from this dinner other than a nice evening out with someone whose company I enjoy. You just went through a divorce and I’m, well, I’m in no place to start a relationship either. Maybe things will change down the road, but for now, let’s take things at face value. How does that sound?”

He had an uncanny knack for saying exactly what I needed to hear. “That sounds perfect.”

Without the expectations that’d tainted the first half of dinner, I finally relaxed. Conversation flowed easily, and by the time dessert arrived, I could almost ignore the dark blue stare burning a hole in my side.

Aiden excused himself to use the restroom while I finished my tiramisu. He hadn’t been gone for more than thirty seconds before a familiar clean, woody scent filled my senses.

I stiffened again, my eyes locking with Dominic’s as he took the other man’s vacated seat. Aiden filled it naturally, but Dominic overpowered it. Broad shoulders, cool eyes, sculpted jaw. Every inch of him oozed arrogance and intensity.

“That seat is taken.”

“Was that your new landlord?” Dominic ignored my pointed remark.

“How…never mind.” Of course he knew Aiden was my landlord. He probably knew the man’s Social Security number, home address, and preferred breakfast items too. Dominic was meticulous about digging into the people in his life, no matter how peripheral. “Whether he is or isn’t is none of your business. We’re not married anymore. I can go on a date with whoever I want.”

“Is that what this is?” The tiniest flicker passed through his eyes. “A date?”

“Yes.” A platonic one, but he didn’t need to know that. I lifted my chin, challenging him to push back.

“He’s not your type.”

“I’m trying new types. The old one didn’t work out so well for me.”

He tried to hide it, but I didn’t miss the fissure in his cool expression or the trickle of hurt that leaked through.

Don’t feel bad for him. He deserves it. I curled my fingers around the edge of my chair so hard they hurt.

“You can go on as many dates as you want, amor,” Dominic said softly. “But no one will love you like I do. Você e eu. Não tem comparação.”

The words curled through me, warm and aching and filled with nostalgia for days past.

My smile hid the painful thrum behind my ribcage. “That sounds like a good thing to me.”

“Is there a problem?” Aiden returned, his expression decidedly less friendly when he saw Dominic in his seat.

“No problem.” I didn’t take my eyes off my ex-husband. “He was just leaving. Weren’t you, Dominic?”

The curve of his mouth lacked humor. He stood, his body unfurling with a lethal grace that drew several admiring glances, both male and female.

“Enjoy the rest of your dinner.” He tapped the spot next to my wineglass on his way past. “He should’ve ordered the cabernet.”

The intimate murmur brushed a shiver down my spine. I held my breath until Dominic returned to his seat across from Sebastian, who appeared unconcerned that his dinner partner had abandoned him halfway through the meal.

“You okay?” Aiden touched my shoulder.

“Yes.” I forced another smile. “I’m done, so let’s get out of here.”

As expected, he tried to pay for the meal, but I’d had the foresight of paying ahead of time. I really did need to thank him for his help with the contractors, and after so many years of depending on Dominic for money, it felt empowering to pay my own way.

Aiden and I parted ways with a friendly, semi-awkward goodbye, and I managed to hold myself together throughout the ride to Sloane’s apartment. I’d found a new place near her, but my lease didn’t start until January, so I was staying with her through the holidays.

It was only after the cab dropped me off in front of her building that I sagged. I leaned against the exterior and sucked in a lungful of cold air as I tried to clear my senses of all things Dominic. The sound of his voice, the smell of his cologne, the soft brush of his suit against my skin.

I was trying to get over him, but that was hard when everything reminded me of him. The city was a monument to our relationship—our first getaway, our home, our demise.

Tu e eu. Não tem comparação.

The streetlights cast a warm glow over the sidewalk. People hurried past, dressed up for a night out or eager for a night in. Across the street, a line stretched outside a new Brazilian steakhouse. It made me think of my brother, who was busy living it up in São Paulo. I envied him. He wasn’t married, he wasn’t dating, he wasn’t heartbroken. He was free and enjoying life the way he deserved. If only…