70

"Table for two under Hunter Makau."Hunter said to the concierge.

The immaculately dressed young woman typed in her iPad before looking up at us with a smile.

"Or course sir, right this way."She directed.

Hunter took my hand and guided me through the restaurant as we followed the concierge to our table.

"Here you are."She announced stopping at a beautifully set table for two next to the wall with a view of the Nairobi skyline.

"My lady."Hunter smiled as he pulled out my chair for me.

"Good sir."I teased back with a cheeky smile.

Hunter took his seat opposite me as I struggled with my bag, shoal and the bouquet.

"I can keep those for you and give them to you on your way out."The concierge offered seeing my struggle.

"Really? That would be so nice."I sighed feeling relieved.

"Of course it's my pleasure."She assured taking them from me.

I had no idea what I was thinking bringing them all the way up with me but I couldn't have let Brian take them away.

"Here's the menu, I'll give you a minute to decide on the drinks you want to start with."The concierge said giving us both menus and pouring us a glass of water each with the huge bouquet in her hand the whole time.

She was excellent at her job and I had to remember to tip her as we left.

"Excuse me, have a wonderful evening. Your waiter will be with you shortly."She excused herself bowing politely before leaving us alone.

It was now just Hunter and I seated across the table smiling at each other without saying a word. I had missed him so much and from the look in his eyes I could tell that he had missed me too.

"Fuck it."He growled getting off his seat and rounding the table to get to me.

I had no chance to ask what he was doing as he immediately kissed me making me swallow my words. I melted into his arms, moulding my lips against his own to match his hungry kisses. His warm hands on my face gave me the sense of security I'd been yearning for when he wasn't around.

He pulled away slightly to look into my eyes and in that moment I saw what Sonie had been talking about reflected in his brown orbs. Hunter didn't need to say the words out loud, his eyes and body language were enough.

He was in love with me.

I didn't want to freak out or overthink it so I smiled and leaned in for another kiss. I didn't know where I stood with him so I hoped that topic wouldn't come up anytime soon.

"Okay enough before we're kicked out for pda."I laughed pulling away.

"They wouldn't dare."Hunter grunted but nonetheless kissed my forehead before sitting back down.

I took a sip of my water to cool down but it did little to help. I looked around the restaurant and gave myself a moment to admire how beautiful it looked. It's deco was modern with half the wall and the roof made of clear glass allowing a beautiful view of the city. The lighting was romantic and there was some background piano music playing setting the mood. It was the most extravagant and expensive place Hunter had ever taken me so I really tried not to be intimidated. Outside I looked like I fit in but on the inside I felt like hiding under the table and crying. It was all good though, Hunter was with me and that was all the reassurance that I needed.

"What do you want to drink?"Hunter asked distracting me.

"Red wine, you chose which kind."I replied trying so sound confident as I took another sip of my water.

"Red wine it is."Hunter smiled.

A minute later a young man immaculately dressed joined us at our table and introduced himself as Dan, our waiter for the night. Hunter ordered a bottle of red wine and a few minutes later Dan was back and pouring it in our glasses.

"Have you thought about what to have as an appetizer?"Dan asked once he was done pouring our wine.

I hadn't even opened my menu so I looked at Hunter helplessly.

"Come back in five minutes."Hunter replied taking the pressure off me.

Dan excused himself and I immediately opened the menu to see what they had to offer.

"I can order for you."Hunter offered.

"It's okay, I've got it."I reassured him.

Hunter always ordered for me because I didn't understand most of the language five star hotels used but since I had known he would be taking me to an expensive place I'd done some research. I still didn't understand some of it but I at least had an idea of what I was looking at.

I set the menu down after deciding what I wanted as an appetizer. I looked up to find Hunter already looking at me fascinated.

"What?"I mumbled taking a sip of my wine.

It was actually really good.

"Nothing, just awed by how you never cease to amaze me."Hunter replied.

I blushed the compliment warming me up from the inside out.

"When did you come back?"I asked him trying to diffuse the situation and get the topic away from me.

"Yesterday. I badly wanted to see you but I was exhausted and I spent all day planning this so I couldn't see you until this evening."Hunter explained.

"It's okay, it's a really nice surprise and I'm glad to have you back."I assured him.

"Me too."Hunter smiled looking at me fondly.

Dan came back and took our appetizer orders before leaving us alone once more.

"You brought me here because of the talk we had about my dream date."I asked Hunter.

"Yes."He replied not even bothering to hide it.

He was so thoughtful and kind that I sometimes felt like I didn't deserve him but I didn't have the guts to let him go.

"Thank you, it's already perfect."I smiled feeling like a princess indeed.

"You're welcome. To this and many more."Hunter toasted holding up his wine glass.

"To many more"I echoed clinking my glass against his before taking a sip.

Dan brought out appetizers a couple of minutes later. I'd asked for crispy ebi which were deep fried marinated prawns, crunchy black rice while Hunter had Ika soba which was thin squid stripes, green apples, tenkasu, black caviar, siracha and soy.

"How is this an appetizer? It looks like the main course."I whispered to Hunter after Dan had left.

"It's the quantity baby girl, enjoy it. Have you ever has sea food before?"Hunter asked.

"No not really."I mumbled.

"It's okay, just a bite at a time. It's good and if you don't like it we can always have something else."He assured me.

I nodded and picked up my cutlery which I'd done some practice on how to use too. I took a skeptical first bite and my eyes widened when the variety of favors hit my tongue.

"Good?"Hunter asked.

I nodded with a smile earning me an approving look from him. I savored my food eating slowly and stealing a couple of bites from Hunters plates. It tasted good too but not as amazing as mine.

For our second course Hunter had a chicken salad while I decided to have a shrimp ramen chupe. We had to switch almost immediately when I didn't like the taste of my soup. Hunter had no issue with it and easily have gave up his salad.

"How were your final exams?"Hunter asked referring to my driving classes.

"Good, I was scared but it was actually easy. I passed and applied for a driving license, it'll be out in three weeks."I replied.

"I'm so proud of you baby girl. Maybe you and I can go for a drive soon. I can't wait to see you behind the wheel."Hunter suggested.

"I can't drive your car."I declined.

"Why?"Hunter challenged.

"What if I wreck it, I'm not that experienced and its a very expensive car."I tried to explain.

"Don't worry baby, I'll be right there with you."Hunter reassured me.

He sounded confident but it didn't reassure me. I decided to not discuss the topic further as it would only make him more determined to get me behind the wheel.

For our main course we had pollo ala brasa which was roasted chicken, crispy potatoes with assorted sauces and herbs. It was by far the most delicious part of my meal. It served to so Hunter and I were having the same thing.

"How was business in Ghana?"I asked enjoying the crispy fries.

"Successful. I was thinking about opening a branch there but instead decided to invest in an already existing business and put in the work. It's so much easier than starting from scratch."Hunter replied.

"I don't know much about business but I'm glad you had success in what you had gone to do."I replied with a smile.

"Thank you baby, it was torture being away from you for so long but it was worth it."Hunter answered smiling at me.

Hunter was born into money but he was a self made millionaire and for that I was really proud of him. He would have been well off spending his parents money but he had decided to make something of himself which was admirable. He was always so strong and mature with how he handled situations that it was hard to think he had a fault or a weakness.

"Bear can I ask you something?"I started trying to sound confident.

"Of course, ask me anything."Hunter replied meeting my gaze.

"It's extremely personal."I warned him.

"You and I are beyond personal, just ask me."He assured me.

I took a deep breath and proceeded since he had told me it was okay.

"The day we argued about the ride I got from Eugene you said that you have insecurities about us. What are they?"I inquired.

Hunter didn't look surprised by my question which meant he had expected it. I had told him we would discuss it, I just hadn't said when.

"My insecurities lie with the fact that you're younger than me. We've already talked about the age difference and yes as much as I try not to, it does concern me sometimes."Hunter started.

"What do you mean?"I cajoled trying to get more out of him.

"I mean that being so young means you haven't lived. I'm scared than one day you'll wake up and realize that I'm too old for you and leave me. On the night we met you also asked me to be your sugar daddy and I agreed. It was a joke and you were drunk but if you really look at the situation that's what I am to you in a way. Sometimes I think that the day you realize that you've gotten all that you need from me, you'll leave and I'll be left with all these feelings I have for you that I can't do a thing with. And worst of it all, I can't do anything to stop you because you have bee nclear with me about your feelings from the start."Hunter confessed.

His voice was hurt, raw and broken as if he was already living in a reality where I wasn't his. It broke something in me to see him so vulnerable.

I held my hand out for him over the table and he threaded his fingers with mine linking us as one.

"Bear before I met you, I had my life all planned out. It didn't include a man in it because I'd already been disappointed by one. The goal was independence, have my own money, take care of myself, enjoy life, travel, make friends and just live. Running into you and your friends was unexpected but it was the best thing that happened to me. Yes you were not in my plans but life doesn't always work out the way we want it to. Now you're here and as much as I craved that freedom, what I wanted more was for someone to see me as Nala not the overachieving first born daughter but just a girl who wanted to be loved and taken care of. You do that for me Hunter. You were my birthday wish in disguise and now I'm hooked. I'm here to stay because you're not getting rid of me that easy. There isn't a version of my future that doesn't have you in it so no I'm not leaving. You're not too old for me and I'm all yours. We might be in different places emotionally but I'm not that behind. We're reading the same book, we're just in different chapters. The ending is the same for both of us."I ranted on trying to reassure him.

Hunter's eyes were glowing by the time I was done with my little speech.

"I love you."Hunter confessed and surprisingly enough his words didn't surprise me because I already knew.

"I know you can't say it back yet but I've been holding it in long enough. I wasn't a big believer in love at first sight but from the moment I saw you I knew that you were it for me. You're my baby girl, the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. It's like you've said, we're reading the same book but in different chapters and when you're ready to say those words, I'll be right here with you."Hunter declared.

This time I was the one to get out of my chair to kiss him. Our lips were a little sticky because of the food but I didn't care. I kissed Hunter to let him know that even if I couldn't say it yet, I wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon.

I sat back down feeling better that Hunter and I had had that discussion. We both needed to lay all our feelings on the table so that we'd know where we stood with each other. Now that it was all out there we could both relax in knowing that we were in it together without the intention of hurting me each other.

"Okay finish your food."Hunter commanded refilling my wine glass.

I smiled taking it from him and taking a sip. Our talk got lighter and more playful as we finished our food.

For dessert Hunter didn't order anything but I had the Inka Gold which was a 24 Karat Gold Semi-sphere of chocolate filled with red fruit cullis on a bed cream cheese. It was accompanied with peanut butter, almedras, pistachio, black forest balls and cold pisco sour sauce.