Caught. It had been neatly done, and Damen couldn't even really be upset about it. Laurent insisting on interactions with him, no matter the motivation, was some kind of victory.

"Well, since you insist..." He rumbled, tapping meaty fingers against the tablecloth. "A performance in the library, tomorrow? With copies on hand? Better than me stumbling through a half-memorized line or two before getting stage fright and running off to the jeers of my critics."

Despite his light tone, Damen hardly dared hope that Laurent would actually agree to it in seriousness.