Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas) novel Chapter 533

Just as I was about to turn Nicholas down, the waiter knocked and brought in the dishes I ordered.

I frowned. "Did you bring the wrong dishes? This isn't what I ordered."

I was starving and had ordered butter-poached lobster tails, seared scallops, sous vide short ribs, and king crab legs with herb garlic butter. I had also ordered lobster bisque for both Douglas and me.

But what was in front of us was a spread of plain foods that I never ordered.

The room grew tense. The waiter, looking flustered, kept rechecking the menu. "No, madam, this is correct…"

"I changed your order," Nicholas cut in, his voice restrained. "The doctor said you just woke up. Your first meal shouldn't be so heavy."

I turned and looked at him intently. Had he come all this way just to monitor what I ate?

"Well, Mr. Hawk is being thoughtful. He is doing this for your health. Please, do try them," Douglas chimed in, eager to smooth things over.

"Ms. Jones, these are all nourishing foods—chicken and brown rice salad, oatmeal with berries, and pumpkin soup. These are excellent for recovery."

"Fine, I guess," I said, deciding that food was food as long as it filled me up.

Nicholas watched me, picking up on my reluctance. "I'll cook what you wanted for dinner."

The appetite I had mustered up vanished with his words. I put down my fork and stared at him, as if I could bore a hole right through him.

"Nicholas, I think there might be a misunderstanding. I'm grateful you saved me, and I'll repay you in any other way you suggest—just not in the way you seem to expect."

Nicholas's heart tightened. His voice was low as he said, "I want to talk to you."

Douglas stood up abruptly. He had wanted to leave for a long time. Being stared at by Nicholas like that, he couldn't enjoy his food at all. It was too awkward.

"You two continue, Ms. Jones. I'll wait for you outside."