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“You did.” I smiled back. “But where tonight? We could go out to Chelsea, maybe?”
“Or not,” he said. “We could go somewhere closer.”
“Closer?” I asked, confused. In an effort to stay subtle, we had been going out of town on the rare few occasions we’d had a chance to go on a date. And in an effort to take things a bit slower and not rush it, we had kept ourselves from doing anything more than making out when he dropped me back off at the bar or home.
“Yeah, closer,” he said.
“We don’t have to do that,” I said. “I know it’s risky. I got a Friday night off at the bar, so we can go anywhere you want. I know you mentioned a place out in Salem. I know that’s a bit of a hike, but it would be nice to have that time with you.”
“It would,” he said, “but I was thinking about going out to one of Sean’s places.”
“Sean?” I asked. “Sean Rusk? Of Rusk Hotels?”
“And restaurants,” he said, seeing where I might have been going with that and nipping it before I could even pretend to be offended.
“What restaurants?” I asked. “Does he own chains of those too? I’m not really in the mood for Olive Garden.”
He laughed.
“No,” he said. “Nothing like that. Well, think of the kind of place that millionaires who want to be billionaires go to get a steak and look more important than they are.”
“I literally cannot even imagine a place like that,” I said evenly. “For some of us—most of us, I might say—have no clue about that kind of life.”
“Well, tonight, you will get a glimpse of it,” he said. “I want to absolutely spoil you tonight.”
I felt my cheeks warm and I looked away to gain composure. I could think of several ways I would let him spoil me. But we were going slowly. Right?
“Alright, well, I am not dressed for any of that,” I said.
“Is it too forward of me to say I already took care of it?”
“Excuse me, what?”
He grinned.
“Wade is waiting on you downstairs. He’s going to take you to a place to get something to wear tonight. I already called them and they have my credit card on file. Pick anything you want.” He crossed the room and didn’t stop until our lips were tantalizingly close. “I mean anything. I don’t care what the bill is. Understand?”
“I…” I began, but I couldn’t seem to breathe, much less respond. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted him to take me, right there.
“Anything,” he repeated.
Softly, he pressed his lips to mine and then pulled them away, just as fast. He stepped back, pulling the door open for me.
“Okay,” I said, trying my best to maintain myself and not jump him right there.
“Wade knows where to take you,” he said. “He’ll bring you wherever you want, and then to dinner at nine.”
“Nine,” I said. “So, he will take me home to get a shower.”
“Home?” I asked. “No. I got you a room just for getting ready at the hotel next to the restaurant. I don’t want you late.”
I knew I was biting my bottom lip, but I couldn’t stop it any more than I could just stop breathing. I slipped out of the door feeling completely overwhelmed, and giddy, and when I reached Wade downstairs in the parking garage, I hopped into the backseat with a giggle.
“Alright, Miss Julia,” Wade said. “Sounds like you’re in for a hell of a night. I put some champagne on ice back there for you at Mr. Erickson’s request. If you don’t mind, I already popped the cork, just so it doesn’t scare the hell out of me while I’m driving.”
“Champagne?” I asked.
“A’yup,” he said. “Seems like you guys are going to be celebrating tonight, all right.”
