HIS CONVENIENT BRIDE
he said quietly, "you don't."
Fair enough.
The waiter appeared. Ethan ordered without looking at the menu. Cara ordered the second cheapest thing on it out of habit, then immediately wondered if that was a tell.
When the waiter left, Ethan looked at her directly.
"I have rules," he said.
"So do I. You agreed to mine already."
"These are operational," he said. "No unnecessary physical contact outside of required appearances. No personal questions beyond what we've agreed to share. No contact after midnight unless it's an emergency."