They walked in, and Ara was sitting with Lucca. He was cutting the meat into small pieces for Aracely, while Kate and Bastien’s plates were set in front of them. Lucca looked up with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

“Better?”

“Much better,” Bastien smiled.

“Were you sick, Mr. Bastien?” Ara asked.

“Yes, something like that. I was having withdrawal symptoms and going crazy.” He looked at Kate with a smile that made her blush. He pulled out her chair for her to sit and kissed her knuckles. Then he leaned into her cheek and whispered in her ear, “Behave, and maybe I’ll give you your panties back.”

“Bastien…” Kate whispered his name while he turned to Ara.

“Aracely, don’t call me Mr. Bastien, just Bastien, okay?”

“But Lucca calls you that.”

“Yes, because I’m his boss. And if he doesn’t call me that, I’ll dock a month’s salary. But you? You’re different. You’re Kate’s friend, and I think Lucca’s too. Don’t call me Mr., just Bastien. Every time you do, I’ll dock a month’s pay from Lucca, s