Page 35 of Tributary

“Well, thank you,” I say, fidgeting with my phone, not really sure what to do next.

He grins. “No smart comeback? You’re not going to yell at me about something?”

I clear my throat and thrust my phone toward him. “I don’t have a bag, so you can hold that in your jacket pocket for me.”

I pick up the pashmina I got to wrap around my shoulders and my heart skips a beat when he steps behind me to help me with the scarf. He gently lifts my hair and plants the most delicate kiss on my neck. When I shiver, he rubs his big hands down my arms, the heat of his body emanating into my skin. “We’d better eat before you do any more of that,” I tell him, and step into the elevator.

It doesn’t occur to me to ask where we’re going as he opens the back door of the town car for me to slide inside. He nods at the driver and we pull out into Manhattan traffic. The sky starts turning colors as the sun begins to set along the Hudson River and Asa toys with the skirt of my dress, saying, “I never thought the moon goddess would look so good wearing the colors of the sunset.”

“Cheeseball!” I swat at his arm, and he snatches my hand, planting a kiss on my knuckles. He’s thoughtful and charming and handsome as hell, and I need to be careful or I’m going to open myself up to something far too vulnerable. I have to remind myself not to get used to this. “Where are we going anyway?”

The car slows outside a gorgeous stone and brick building with balconies and porches. “This doesn’t look like a restaurant…”

The driver climbs out and opens the door before Asa can get around the car, so I can’t see his face when he says, “This is my parents’ house.”

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