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- Herausgeber: December Drake
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Sprache: Englisch
It’s Valentine’s Day, and Luke can’t believe who’s sitting in his hotel’s restaurant alone: Alicia. Fighting tears, as she waits for her idiot of a boyfriend to make an appearance.
But her boyfriend isn’t here, and unlike him, Luke knows exactly what he wants. Now, he has one hour. One dinner. One night, to show Alicia she belongs with him.
And he’s up to the challenge.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
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Stolen Valentine
December Drake
Copyright © 2025 December Drake
All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
This book is a work of fiction. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
Contents
Appetizer
Twenty-six minutes. That was how long she’d been sitting alone.
It was the best table in the house, looking down upon the stark, snow-blanketed city below the upscale hotel. Yet, Alicia visibly fought to maintain her composure.
Luke beckoned his maître d’. “Has Table 15 ordered yet?”
Fernando glanced at Alicia, and shook his head. “Looks like her date is a no-show. Do you want her moved to the bar?”
“Let her stay.”
Luke took out his pen and scrawled quick instructions on a napkin. “Send this order to the kitchen. You can start serving us in ten minutes.”
The headwaiter watched curiously as Luke shrugged back into his suit jacket and adjusted his cuff links. “Table 15 is only reserved for another hour. Shall I extend the reservation?”
Across the restaurant, Alicia fiddled with the stem of her cocktail glass. The reality was surely setting in with each passing moment. She studied the clear liquid in her nearly untouched martini before lifting it to her lips with a trembling hand.
He’d seen that look on her face too many times. But he would never let her wear it again.
“Mr. Warren?” Fernando prompted.
“No,” Luke murmured. “An hour is all I need.”
She was staring with such determination into her glass that she didn’t notice when he approached her table.
“A gin martini can be a bit harsh on an empty stomach.”
Alicia looked up in surprise. “Mr. Warren.”
“Luke. I think we’ve known each other long enough for first names.” He held her gaze. “Don’t you?”
Several seconds passed before she finally nodded. “Yes,” she whispered.
Luke gestured to the empty seat. “Mind if I sit?”
“Of course not.” Alicia set aside her martini as he sat across from her. “I didn’t know you’d be here tonight.”
“This is our premiere location. Holidays are always booked up.”
Her laugh was bitter. “And here I am, taking up a table without eating. You haven’t heard from Kevin… have you?”
He ground his teeth at her tentative, vulnerable words. There was no universe in which she should need to ask the whereabouts of her boyfriend, thirty minutes after he’d stood her up for dinner.
On Valentine’s Day.
Luke managed a tight smile as he swallowed his fury. “I haven’t, unfortunately. But I can keep you company, while you wait.”
“That’s not— I’m mean, you must be busy, Mr. Warren.”
“I think I’ve worked enough tonight.”
Indeed, the second Alicia had walked into the restaurant, work lost all meaning. She was a feast for his eyes on any day, whatever she wore. In a red cashmere sweater dress and matching heels, she’d stopped him in his tracks.
It was a simple dress, but she could have been draped in sheets and still drawn his attention. Especially with her striking, heavy-lidded dark eyes that always hinted at more sensual experience than she could possibly possess at twenty-two. Those eyes were enough to incite the imagination of any man with a pulse.
They’d certainly incited his, over the last year.
Of all the places to eat in town on Valentine’s Day, she’d booked his flagship restaurant. As he’d watched her from an unseen alcove, her eyes had swept the dining room a little longer than needed to determine Kevin wasn’t there.
Perhaps she hadn’t worn that dress for Kevin only.
Now, Alicia’s gaze roamed the crowded dining room once more, as if afraid to settle on him directly. She took another conservative sip of her drink and tried to hide her grimace.
“I don’t recall you being a martini enthusiast. You also don’t seem to be a fan.”
Her eyes finally returned to his when she gave him an embarrassed smile. “Is it that obvious? This restaurant is so classy. I wanted to seem like I belonged. So, I ordered the most classy drink I could think of.”
“A martini is certainly classy, but its strong taste takes some getting used to. I can order a drink you’d probably enjoy a little more. Only after you’ve had something to eat. A round of appetizers won’t hurt, while we wait.”
Alicia searched his face, then fiddled with the folded cloth napkin before her.
“I think we both know Kevin isn’t coming,” she said quietly. “I guess he didn’t remember. It feels like he forgets all kinds of things lately. Or, maybe he only forgets about me. I knew it would happen one day. I just thought it’d be after we settled down.”
A fleeting look of pain crossed her face. “Had kids,” she whispered. She absently rubbed her bare ring finger.
Luke’s jaw flexed. “My son is an idiot.”
“You can’t mean that.”
“I mean every word.”
Her hands stilled. She ducked her head to swipe a stray tear from the corner of her eye.
“Kevin’s my son, and I love him. I’d give my life for him, and forgive him for anything. Except for the way he’s treated you.”
Alicia’s reddened eyes rose slowly to his.
“You should be cherished.” Luke held her stare. “And protected. Always.”
As she would be, starting tonight.
She looked over, startled, as two waiters appeared to set the table and pour sparkling water. A third wheeled over a tray with covered domes.
“I think there’s been a mistake.” Alicia smiled at Luke in teary confusion. “I haven’t touched the menu, yet.”
“You’ll have to forgive me.” He draped his napkin over his lap. “I ordered a few things sent to the table. This is our appetizer.”
“But—”
“You came all the way here to enjoy a meal. We’re both already seated. The least we can do is eat. If you’ll have me as your company, that is.”
“Of…” She looked away and nodded. “Of course, I will.”
He caught the attention of one of the waiters, and nodded to the forgotten martini. The man swept it away from the table without a word.
Alicia brightened in surprise when the domes were removed, revealing golden, seared mushrooms in cream sauce. “Chanterelles. I never seem to catch them in season. These are my favorite.”
“I remember,” Luke murmured.
She toyed with her fork. “Despite what you say, I know you’re busy. It can’t be easy to run a restaurant. A Michelin-starred one, even. Thank you for doing this for me, Mr. Warren.”
“Luke.”
