Page 36 of A Sip of Sherry

He shifted in his seat.“And if I do have something to hide?”

“Then I hope you’re better at keeping secrets than you are at flying under the radar of small town gossip.”

He let out a chuckle.“I actually like the gossip.Did you know I’m apparently a divorced billionaire, hiding out from scandal involving a Russian supermodel?”

“A Russian supermodel, huh?Should I be jealous?”I teased.

He shot me a sideways glance, one hand on the steering wheel, loosening its grip as he eased back.“Absolutely.According to the gossip mill, she’s still trying to track me down to win me back.I’m rich and very desirable.”

“Luckily for you, I’m not after your money.”

He came to a stop at a stop sign, his gaze turning toward me.“I don’t have any,” he said, as if it were the most shameful confession he could have made.

“You’re rich in personality, wit… and in a certain area, you are an expert.”

A smile cracked at the edge of his mouth.“Only one area?”

“There are a few, but one stands out from the rest.”

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a near rumble.“Maybe after dinner you can remind which one.”

I forced myself to look away, afraid if I didn’t, I’d climb across the console and straddle him.After all, I was in a dress.Easy access, and all that.

He tapped the gas, the car rolling forward when all I wanted was to go in reverse, back to my place.But I agreed to a date, and I was a woman of my word.

His hand landed on my thigh, his finger trailing along the bare skin by the hem.I snatched his hand, tightening my grip.“Don’t.”

At first, his eyes widened, but then he must’ve seen the desire consuming me, and the shock slid into amusement.“Why not?”

“Because you promised me dinner and drinks, and if I let you touch me, I’m afraid we will get to, either.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

“You said no more sneaking around.”

“I did.”His voice was low and serious.His hand stayed in mine, warm and comforting as his thumb brushed circles against my skin.

“I meant it,” he said.“I want more than stolen moments and closed doors.”

The sincerity in his gaze was almost too much.My heart stuttered in my chest.He’d been fighting for me for so long, and this is all he asked of me.I owed him this much.

I loosened my grip but didn’t let go entirely.“We get dinner.Drinks.Do the normal date thing.Then you can touch me wherever you want.”

A slow smile spread across his face, but this time without the cocky edge to his smirk.It was genuine.It was devastating.“I’ve never looked forward to dessert more in my life.”

“Then you’ve never had one of Lainey’s cakes.”

His eyes drifted toward my lap, then back up.“I have, but nothing has ever tasted as sweet as you.”

“Did you practice that line in the mirror?”

“I don’t have a mirror big enough to capture all this charm.”

A laugh burst from me so loud, I swore the windows rattled.“You’re ridiculous.”

He leaned in slightly, amusement playing on his features.“You love it, and you know it.”

“Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?”I asked with a laugh.

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