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I watched her hand out plates as I laid out forks for the vultures who had already taken up almost an hour of our time together. I should’ve been pissed.
But it felt good to be here. To be the one who bumped into her when we both reached for the paper towels. Or the way she laughed when her brother burned his tongue on his pizza and chugged half a soda in an attempt to cool his mouth back down.
I’d laughed too.
Was I so desperate for affection or domestic bliss that I was channeling that onto this innocent, unaware woman?
And more than that. Did I care? Because right now, all I wanted to do was kick these kids out, haul her cute ass back to her bedroom, and become acquainted with every part of her, inside and out.
I sighed. But there was a plan. I loved plans. I thrived on plans.
“Are you ready to go?” I asked her as she shimmied by me again. I’d already caught on that she was taking the long way around the dining table so that she could brush up against me. I fucking loved it.
Margot wiped her fingers on a napkin, staring out at her living room. “Oh yes, let’s make a run for it.”
I had her hand in mine before she was even done speaking, and we were out the door and loaded into the black SUV in the next instant.
“Wow, Jamie, slow down.” She laughed as I hauled her up into the car. Dragging her across my lap was torture, but I made sure that she was buckled in and gave a nod to the patiently waiting driver.
“Where are we going?”
“You said you had the whole night off, right?”
“I do.”
“Perfect. Then we are going on a quick trip.”
Her eyebrows flew up.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be sure you are home safe by midnight.”
Margot peered out the window as Chicago flew by us. “Just like Cinderella.”
I gripped her slim thigh with one hand, comforted by holding her. “It’ll be way better than any ball.”
She laughed, and I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes as a smile glued itself permanently to my face. The plan would work. I knew it.
***
“We’re going on an airplane?”
I looked between Margot and the small private charter sitting on the tarmac. She looked horrified. “I mean, it’s a small one…”
Her face went even more white. “And that’s supposed to make me feel better?” She pressed a hand against her chest.
I closed one arm around her, raising a hand to the pilot where he stood halfway between us and the plane. No sense scaring her any more than she was already.
“Hey, what’s wrong, little one?”
“I said the library. I thought you meant we were just going to the big one downtown. Or maybe a bookstore. Why are we getting on a plane?”
“Because the best one out there is a bit of a drive. I thought a plane would be easier.”
“Easier?” Margot shook her head. “What are you doing with me? You could have anyone. You just offered to fly me around on our first date.”
“Second.”
She glared at me. “Fine, second. The point stands.”
