Page 27 of Big Deal Sweetheart

He didn’t want to have a conversation outside where it was cold, and they’d be overheard. Luckily, when they’d been spotted exiting the room with their coats, the limo had been summoned. Keifer steered her toward the back door that was held open by the same man who had driven them there after getting a nod of approval from his head of security. “Let’s talk in here where its warm and less open.”

Nova looked around the sidewalk where several people were staring at the both of them. “Do they think we’re celebrities or something?”

He grinned, loving how unaffected she appeared to be of her looks and her wealth. His wife, god rest her soul, had loved to shout from the roof, or cars, that she was a rich woman. She expected everyone to cater to her at all times.

“I think they know there is something up with the security teams and the two of us, yes.”

NOVA WASN’T SURE WHATto say to Keifer or how she felt about being in such close quarters with the man who had taken up so much of her thoughts. For weeks on end, when she wasn’t working on her show, she’d done nothing but think of the man, and yes, she’d wished for a chance to see him again.

“It’s supposed to warm up in a week I’m told,” she said, scooting across the seat as soon as she got inside.

“I don’t want to talk about the weather, Nova.”

“What do you want to talk about then, Keifer?” She wiped her damp palms down the front of the leather pants, keeping her eyes downcast in case he said something that was along the lines of the two of them hooking up. Although it was the best sex of her life, she wasn’t cut out for those types of...entanglements.

“Look at me, Nova.” He reached over, lifting her face up with his finger under her chin. “I want to talk about that night.”

She shook her head, her eyes stinging with the threat of tears. Sucking in a breath, she fought for composure. “What’s there to talk about? You made it perfectly clear by your actions that you were—finished. I left. End of discussion. Why the moratorium?” God, it hurt saying it out loud.

“I was far from finished with you, dammit. I was an asshole, and I fucked up. But finished was the last thing that I was or am,” he growled.

“You hurt me that night, Keifer. Watching you jump up and slam the bathroom door then hearing you shower like you couldn’t stand to have my scent on you. If the floor could’ve opened up and swallowed me whole, I’d have jumped in headfirst,” she said, sniffing.

“Don’t say that. God, baby, don’t. That night with you was the most sublime night of my life. I’ve replayed it in my mind over and over again. I wake up wanting you. Go to bed needing you. Hell, I’ve done nothing but think of you. My need has grown to epic proportions. I was going to send out an all points bulletin in another twenty-four hours. Hell, I think Delilah was getting ready to leave me for parts unknown.”

She didn’t point out that only the police could send out the all points thing. Heck, he was rich, so he could probably do it. “I’m pretty sure your daughter wouldn’t do that.”

“You haven’t heard me snarling all day.” His face scrunched up comically, making her laugh.

“I actually can see you doing that.” She sobered, tangling her fingers in the silk ruffles of her top.

Keifer reached over, taking both of her hands in between his. “I want to start over. I know you have no reason to trust me or think I’m not an asshole. Hell, I’m probably too old for you with way too much baggage...”

Nova put her lips over his, silencing his words. It felt too good to hear him apologize for his actions. Yes, she could be a bitch and make him grovel or even not accept his apology, but that would serve no purpose except to hurt them both.

“Damn, you undo me.” He gripped her ponytail. “I really like this,” he said, giving a tug.

“Thank you. I was really shocked to see you and Delilah sitting there. I...I’ve thought about you a lot.” She didn’t look away from him at the admission, letting him see the hurt and need that had filled her.

“When your name was announced, I didn’t think anything of it until you walked out. I thought for sure it had to be my mind playing tricks on me as you sauntered down the catwalk. You outshined every other woman who came before you. Delilah actually gasped and had to put her hand on my arm to keep me in my seat. I didn’t realize until then that I’d started to get up. If we hadn’t secured tickets to go backstage, I’m pretty sure I’d have been arrested when I snuck back there.” He lifted her onto his lap as if she weighed nothing before continuing. “Am I too old for you or did I fuck up too badly for you to give me a chance?”

She cupped his cheeks in her hands, marveling at the absolute beauty of this man. Yes, he’d hurt her, but was it enough for her to throw away any chance they could have? The answer is no, not for her. “You’re not old, silly man. I like this little bit of silver at your temples.”

He turned his head and nipped her palm. “I don’t have any silver or gray. Besides if I do I happen to know a really good hairdresser. Or rather, I think I do. Shit, you’re a big deal, sweetheart. Maybe I’m the one who can retire and let my woman take care of me from now on.”

Nova pressed her lips to his, laughter bubbling out of her at his words. They broke apart at the sound of someone tapping on the window. “Oh, I think we forgot some people.”

She took a deep breath and tried to move off his lap.

“I like you right where you are,” he growled, stretching his arm out to knock on the window.

“But they’ll see us...me, on your lap,” she gasped.

“Trust me, I don’t think they’ll be that surprised. Besides, if things go the way I want them to, I’ll have you in places that are a lot more intimate than my lap. And no, I don’t mean just my bed.”

She didn’t get a chance to respond before the door was opened and Delilah’s face filled the doorway.

“Dad, really? Oh, it’s like that, huh? It’s about time you found someone I like.” Delilah moved into the car.

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