Page 31 of Watch Me

“You’re right. Not the club.”

Now I’m really curious.

Sliding into the sandals I keep by the door, I grab my purse and keys off the nearby table. “Will this ‘talk’ take long?”

He raises a dark brow. “Hot date tonight?”

I can hardly wrap my head around my interest in him, much less imagine being attracted to anyone else. “With my pillow, yes. I’m tired.”

“You work too hard. Let me cheer you up first.” He holds out his hand to me again.

This time, I take it and let myself out the door. “Where are we going?”

“The nature of a surprise is that you should be surprised.”

“So you won’t tell me?”

He sends me a dazzling, unrepentant smile as we walk toward the condo complex’s parking lot. “That would spoil it.”

“You know that annoys me.”

“I know you’re used to being in control and making all the decisions. A little relaxation will be good for you.”

People have said that to me for years. Generally, I ignore them. “That’s your opinion.”

“And you can’t change it.”

“Okay, but you’re wrong.”

“How about humoring me, then? Pretend.”

I roll my eyes and hold in a smile. He’s persistent, if nothing else. “Whatever.”

Alejandro shoots me a victorious grin but wisely says nothing more.

When we reach the parking lot, he lifts his key fob and presses a button. A sleek, black Mercedes convertible, so new it still bears the temporary plates, beeps and flashes its lights a few feet away.

How nice to be able to afford the luxurious place that houses their business and four-wheeled trinkets like this.

He assists me into the car, then rounds to the driver’s side, and eases in. “My father was a wealthy man.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“No, but I saw the way you looked at my car. I’ll bet you had similar thoughts about the club. I’m answering your unspoken question. My father was a wealthy man, and he left me his fortune.”

“Not your mother?”

He shrugs and starts the car. “I’m the only part of him my mother will have anything to do with.”

“They divorced?”

“In the Catholic church, no. They separated when I was twelve.” He backs out and steers into the gorgeous summer night.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“You can’t like someone you don't know.”

Wait. He wants me to like him? Is this a…date?

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