Page 63 of A Smooth Operator

She took the glass, her fingers trembling slightly. "It's beautiful here, Remi. I just...I got scared."

"I know." I settled next to her on the cushions, our shoulders brushing. "And I'm sorry for pushing you. I just wanted everyone to see how amazing you are, how lucky I am."

Echo smiled weakly, her eyes meeting mine. "It's just a lot for someone like me, coming from where I have, to being seen as your date."

Someone like me! Those words stung, reminding me how unfairly she'd been treated. She deserved to be seen as the incredible woman she was, not through the lens of her social status based on uncontrollable things like who gave birth to her.

"Echo, there's no pressure, no timeline," I said gently. "Whenever you're ready, I'll be right here."

She nodded, leaning her head against my shoulder. "Thank you, Remi. For this" — she gestured around the gazebo — "and for understanding."

We spent the next hour talking, nibbling on snacks, and sipping champagne, the distant sounds of music and laughter from the house drifting out to us like echoes of another world. In this secluded, softly lit gazebo, Echo could be herself, and I could be the man who loved her, not a Drake.

As the night drew on, I wrapped a blanket around her shoulders, and we watched the river move silently under the moonlight. It was perfect, this quiet moment away from it all, where we could simply enjoy being together.

Echo needed time. I got that. But I also worried that she was getting too much into her head, letting fear take away her joy.

"Are you going to London for Thanksgiving?" We were nestled against one another, watching the stars, and listening to the muffled music and laughter from the house.

"No. I decided to stay home."

"I can't let you spend Thanksgiving alone, Doll."

I could immediately feel the shift in her. "I don't want to talk about it. Can we just enjoy ourselves, just be?"

I nuzzled her hair and kicked myself in fifty different ways. If only I'd had the better sense to have publicly claimed her that first time around, she wouldn't be so touchy about the whole thing now. But I'd done to her what I did to all women I slept with—made sure they understood my boundaries.

"We'll talk about it later," I conceded.

Chapter 23

Echo

"Stay the night, please." I wasn't ready for him to leave me, not after the wonderful evening we'd had. He drove me home, not allowing me to take an Uber, and now that he was at my doorstep, I didn't want to be alone.

"If that's what you want."

I felt his heart beat faster, and it made me smile. He was as nervous as I was, and there was comfort in that.

All the previous times we had sex, Remi left right after. This time, I didn't even know if we'd have sex, but I did know that he'd stay the night, not leave in the middle, kissing my forehead, saying he'd see me later. He hadn't said he wouldn't leave, I just knew he wouldn't. It was one of the things we'd talked about. He had explained how he didn't stay the night with women and didn't let anyone stay the night at his place either.

We got into bed, him in his boxer shorts, me in a tank top and panties. I felt a surge of warmth, and some of my concerns were dispelled. He was here with me. He was going to stay the night. A few hours ago, he was ready to tell the world we were together. Remi was serious about us. He wasn't playing with me.

We lay on our sides, facing each other, having tacitly agreed which side of the bed belonged to each of us. There was a relief in the ease of our wordless communication, just like before.

"Why did you date Marina?" I asked after I turned off the bedside light, needing the darkness to ask the questions that invaded my heart and made it go cold.

"She was after me, a lot. We had sex, and it was good. I knew Mama wanted me to date her. And, I thought, why not give it a try."

He stroked my cheek gently.

"You stayed the night with her?"

He traced my upper lip with a finger. "No. We always slept at her place, and I left, didn't stay the night."

I frowned. "But she was your girlfriend."

"I wasn't comfortable sleeping with her."

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