Chapter 406

I had chosen Rita’s date night destination with a purpose. It was an immensely popular see-and-be-seen steakhouse that had endured as a destination for Houston’s glitzy crowd. It was also the place Rita’s husband had taken her after he proposed. Going there was a bit of a risk. Rita had told me about her history at the place. But I rolled the dice. So when we pulled up to the valet, I looked anxiously for her reaction.

"Baby," Rita said and took my hand as I brought the Maserati to a stop.

I looked over at her. She had a huge grin on her face.

"You are such a bad boy," she said. "You want to show me off at my husband’s favorite place."

"That might have been on my mind," I said.

"And a good boy," Rita said. "You want to replace the bad memories with good ones."

I took her hand, and we walked inside. The hostess put us at a table in the center of the dark, clubby room. Rita still stood out,