Serena's POV
Ryan's eyes sparkled with amusement across the dinner table. "Feeling better now?" he asked, watching me finish the last bite of my chocolate dessert.
"Much better," I admitted, licking the spoon clean. The tension from earlier had melted away during our impromptu dinner at this cozy restaurant Ryan had chosen. It was small, private, and somehow exactly what I needed after the stressful confrontation at LUXE Jewelry.
"You know," Ryan said, his voice dropping lower, "you still haven't properly compensated me."
I raised an eyebrow. "The dinner wasn't enough?"
"Not even close." His gaze darkened slightly, sending a familiar warmth spreading through me.
The waiter appeared to clear our plates. "Will there be anything else, Mr. Blackwood?"
"Just the check, th
