Page 66 of Rectify

“Sorry, did you say something, because I’m still stuck on the gorgeous man putting on my shoes for me.”

If she looks at me like that for the rest of my life, I’ll put on her shoes every goddamn day. “I asked if everything was okay?”

She seems to frown at the reminder. “Dakota’s stomach has been hurting her. She left school early and now she’s sleeping it off at Jagger’s.”

“Do you want to cancel?”

She places a hand on my forearm. “God, no. Jagger will call me if he needs me.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I know you don’t, but I do. Holly sent me home early from work with a care package, and now I smell like a bath bomb.” She sniffs the top of her hand and then thrusts it in my face. “See?”

I do the same and tell myself to add thanking Holly for the bath bomb smell to the list. “I could get used to that.”

I throw out the comment just to see whether she takes the bait.

“You could, could you?” Her eyes narrow. “What else could you get used to?”

“You.”

“What?” She tries to school her features but it’s pointless, I see right through her.

“I could get used to you,” I say with a bit more clarity.

“Jay?”

“Mmmm.”

“What exactly are you saying?”

“We better get going so you can find out.”

“That’s not fair,” she whines.

“I know, but I promised you wining and dining.” I offer my hand and we stand together. “Now spin around and show me what you wore for me.”

Her dress is black and white, fitted at the top, flaring out at her waist, and ending mid thigh. With her loose blonde curls, trailing down her back and her strappy heels. She looks like a sexy tinkerbell.

When she finishes spinning, I catch her, and pull her to me. Her hooded lids, make me want to stay home and bury myself inside of her. “I’m going to kiss you now, but we’re not going to get carried away, because we have to go.”

She tilts her head up, offering me her lips. I take them, and devour the quick fix that I need. Just like every other time, I get carried away, and she pushes us apart. “We have to go.”

I growl and she giggles.

She’s my beauty, and I want to be her Beast.

* * *

It takes us almost forty minutes with traffic to get to where we’re going. Strategically parking underground, I know she has no idea where we are. Her gaze flicks from wall to wall, looking for clues, but it’s fucking fort knox down here.

“No hints?”

“You’ve lasted this long, what’s the point in spoiling it now.”

Helping her step out of the car, I tuck her arm in mine, and we walk toward the industrial looking elevator. It pings and I rub my hands together mischievously, amping up the anticipation.

“I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble.”

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