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The man was a perpetual-motion machine, never taking a break. When one task was complete, he immediately moved to the next.
After the elevator door closed, I tried again. “Where to?”
“You’ll see.”
I gave up trying to crack the shell. I shifted away. In the enclosed space, his scent reminded me of the kiss, the kiss I couldn’t forget if I wanted to. I’d decided it had been an act on his part, since he’d not mentioned it and had studiously avoided getting anywhere near my personal space.
Downstairs on the street, he opened the door to a waiting town car.
I stood back. “This is yours?”
“The company’s.” He was all short answers today. He held the door for me.
I slid in and across to the other side, which I found out was a mistake when he rounded the back of the car and opened the street-side door to let himself in.
I slid back to the right. “Sorry.”
He closed the door. “Apologies for the short notice, Karl.”
Somehow it didn’t strike me as odd that this particular billionaire apologized to his driver.
The driver nodded. “Anytime, sir.” He pulled us out into traffic.
I decided against asking a third time about our destination and tried another tack. “Who are we meeting with?”
Dennis smiled. “Some very nice people. I think you’ll like them.”
He was enjoying this little game.
If he was going to be mum, I could be too.
We didn’t speak for the rest of the trip.
Karl navigated to Santa Monica Boulevard, and I watched the buildings go by for a few minutes. I settled back in the seat, closed my eyes, and enjoyed the new-car scent of fine leather.
Karl finally pulled to the curb on a side street.
Dennis opened his door, and I followed his lead by opening mine. “Don’t you move.” He rushed around and held the door for me. “A gentleman holds the door for a lady.”
I couldn’t tell what had gotten into him, but it was cute. “I’m not always a lady.” I accepted his hand climbing out, and instantly regretted it. That same electricity flowed between us that had scrambled my brain before.
He poked his head in the door. “Karl, I’ll buzz you when we’re done.”
Done with what?I didn’t bother to ask. Instead I looked around to get my bearings. The storefront said Bulgari, and the street sign on the pole read fuckingRodeo Drive. My mouth dropped. I hadn’t recognized it because everybody knew you had to have a dozen zeros on your bank account to shop here, so I’d never even driven by.
I jumped at Dennis’s touch. He had put a brain-fog-inducing hand to the small of my back.
“Let’s start across the street.”
Thankfully he removed his hand as I started to walk.
We crossed the street, and he guided me into the Vera Wang store on the other side.
I thought it was time to ask again. “What are we doing here?”
“I want you to look gorgeous when you walk into the gala.”
I stopped.
