Chapter 136: More than Sex

Dante stared at Amie.

He was used to women throwing themselves at him. In fact, he usually welcomed it, but this was different.

He wouldn’t mess up all their plans just for sex. He needed to do better.

He wouldn’t make Amie feel like that was all he desired from her.

He wanted more from her.

Way more than casual sex.

"Is that why you called me?" he asked, taking a sip from his drink.

His face remained as expressionless as ever.

Amie couldn’t tell if he was pleased or annoyed by her request. But then again, she was past the point of caring.

She nodded without saying anything.

Yet, Dante could tell something had happened.

He had expected her to call, but the call had come too soon.

"Who made you upset?"

Just as Amie was about to respond, the waitress who had come to take their order returned, balancing a tray of food.

She placed the tray on the table, putting one of the plates in front of Amie and the other in front of Dante.

She gave a small bow and excused herself.

Dante opened his plate. He had ordered rice and chicken. He didn’t want anything complicated.

Following Dante’s lead, Amie also opened hers, but the moment she saw what was on the plate, she almost covered it back.

The plate was filled with chicken feet soaked in what Amie wouldn’t even call properly cooked soup.

How could they offer this sort of meal at a high-class restaurant?

She looked up to see Dante staring at her.

Immediately, she forced a smile onto her lips.

"You said you loved it," he said, with what looked like the beginning of a smile on his lips.

"Of course I do," she responded and took a spoonful of the soup.

All she wanted to do was push the plate aside and take Dante’s instead, but she couldn’t.

Looking away from her food, she faced Dante.

"What do you say to my offer?"

Dante nodded slightly. "I won’t make a promise until I know what’s actually wrong with you."

"There is nothing wrong with me," Amie responded so quickly that she gave herself away.

"You look pretty upset to me," he said. "Though still very pretty. And I wouldn’t want to take advantage of your current state."

Seeing there was no way she could escape Detective Dante, Amie decided to throw caution to the wind and give him her own version of the story.

She told him how, recently, she had felt like she needed to do more. She explained that she had grown up without knowing her mother, only for her mother to find her recently, and now she was trying to prove that she was capable.

She didn’t mention her father.

She didn’t mention Arnold.

And she certainly didn’t mention the file.

"Is that all?" Dante asked when she was done with her narration.

"Yes." She nodded to emphasize her point. "I just need someone to make me feel calm and relaxed without the pressure of everything going on at home."

Dante chuckled.

"So, are you trying to tell me you’re planning to use and dump me?"

Amie’s eyes widened. "No, I wouldn’t do that."

"Then what do you intend to do?" Dante continued.

It was fun teasing her, especially when he knew she wasn’t telling him everything.

Confused, Amie’s gaze darted around.

If she had ordered reasonable food, she would have hidden her face by eating more of it, but Amie would rather stay hungry than take another spoonful of whatever was in front of her.

"I’m attracted to you too, but I want something more from you," Dante said, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Amie finally looked up.

The expression on Dante’s face was unreadable, but she was going to hold him to his words.

Yet, regardless of how handsome Dante was, Amie had no intention of involving herself with someone beneath her.

"What’s your surname?" she asked instead.

If she planned on dating him, she needed to know everything about him.

Dante cocked a brow at her.

"How about you go on a second date with me? Then you can learn more about me."

"Really?" Amie asked in surprise.

That was the last thing she had expected.

Dante nodded. "Of course."

"Will you tell me your surname then?" she asked.

Silence.

Then Dante said, "I’m sure you’ll learn a lot more about me by then."

Amie’s heart quickened.

She still couldn’t believe he was willing to meet her again.

There was no way she would miss such a golden opportunity.

"Fine. I’ll go on a date with you. But this doesn’t count."

By the time they concluded their discussion, Amie was already feeling better than she had when she arrived at the restaurant.

She pushed the almost-full bowl away.

Dante glanced at it.

"I thought you loved it."

Amie nodded. "I do. I just don’t have an appetite."

Dante’s lips twitched, but he didn’t expose her lie.

Since they were both done with their food, Dante decided to walk her to her car.

It was hard to wipe the smug look off Amie’s face as Dante led her towards the parking lot.

She noticed how the staff bowed respectfully to him as they passed.

It was the complete opposite of how they had treated her.

Dante placed his hand lightly against her back as he guided her out of the restaurant. In his usual manner, his gaze darted around the place.

Although the restaurant was one of the most secure places in the country, Dante was always careful wherever he went.

And that was when he saw him.

He recognized Rauf immediately from the pictures his right-hand man had shown him.

But he had no idea if Rauf knew who he was too.

Suddenly, their gazes met.

Rauf’s eyes narrowed as he watched Dante lead Amie out of the restaurant as though they were close friends.

Or perhaps something more.

He knew how desperate Amie could be.

But he had no idea Amie knew Dante Monterrio.