Page 53 of Mad Rivals
I lean in closer to him and lower my voice. “You’re the one who wanted me to win her over, remember?” I say it to throw him off, not because I’m intending to actually betray her.
I would never.
I meant it when I told her she could trust me, and I won’t go back on that promise. Not for business, and sure as fuck not for my father.
I turn and head back into the ballroom, and now it’s more fighting against looking for her in every corner of the room paired with long, lingering gazes once I do.
The night feels interminable, but she’s still here when I’m ready to call it a night. I send a covert text to her with my address.
Me:Heading home. Will be waiting with more white wine.
Her reply doesn’t come right away, but I don’t expect it to since she’s busy networking.
I’ve only been home about ten minutes and haven’t even changed out of my tux yet when my phone rings with a call from my building’s concierge. “Kennedy Van Buren here to see you,” the doorman, Joseph, says.
It’s only then I realize that if we’re sneaking around with the intent to keep this a secret, having her show up at my place isn’t exactly doing that. Joseph is bound with nondisclosure agreements, but anyone could see her coming or going.
“You can send her up.” I glance around to make sure my place isn’t messy, a rather ridiculous thought. I’m nothing if not a neat freak, and I have the place cleaned once a week. I’m hardly here anyway, and when I am, I’m careful to keep things clean.
I start my day by making my bed even when I’m in a hotel, if that says anything about me.
Still, this is her first time seeing my home. I wonder what she’ll think about it. What she’ll think aboutme. What secrets my home will unveil about me.
What secrets I’ll unveil about her tonight.
The urge to know everything about her is strong, and maybe tonight’s the night where we can explore those kinds of things, where we can get to know one another.
But I have this feeling like maybe I won’t know her personally any better, but I’ll know her body a hell of a lot better. What makes her moan. What makes her smile. What makes her come.
I shrug out of my tux jacket and hang it in my front closet, and I loosen my tie. I grab a bottle of white wine from the wine cooler along with a glass, and I fill it up for her. I grab myself a beer, too, and I hear a tentative knock on my door a minute later.
I pad over to the door and open it, and she looks nervous and gorgeous standing there. I hand her the glass of wine, and she leans in and presses a quick kiss to my lips as if she’s greeting her boyfriend. It’s both sweet and sexy at the same time.
“Welcome to my place,” I say, and I hold out my arm as she walks in. I close the door behind her, and she walks in with a bit of awe in her eyes.
Itisa pretty killer place. It’s mostly monochromatic with white walls and countertops, light hardwood floors, and a few black and gray accents and pieces of furniture. It’s the view that’s so amazing here, and she wanders straight for the wraparound windows to check it out.
Her eyes settle down on Navy Pier, and she sighs. “I don’t know why, but I’ve always found the pier really romantic.” She takes a sip of her wine and offers a quietmmm.
I open the glass door so she can walk out onto the balcony, and her breath seems to catch. She looks a little fearfully between the open door and me.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Oh, nothing. I just don’tloveheights. And dogs. Dogs and heights.”
“Well, good news, tiger. I don’t have a dog.” I give her a light chuckle, and she looks like a deer in headlights.
“We don’t have to go out on the balcony, but if you want to check it out, I promise it’s safe,” I say.
“Yeah, and everyone promises their dogs are friendly when their unleashed beasts come running up toward me.” She lifts a shoulder, and it’s strange seeing her vulnerable. I thought I wasthe only one who was going to show another side tonight. Guess I was wrong.
I step out first and hold out a hand to assist her if she wants it. “You can stay inside, or you can come stand right up against the building. But I swear, the view out here is worth it.”
“I want to try,” she says. “I’m notterrifiedof them or anything. I just don’t love them.” She slips her hand into mine, and it’s ice cold and trembling a little. She steps out onto the balcony.
“Good girl,” I say absently, and her eyes fly to mine with a little heat in them.
She stands just on the balcony side of the door, her back against the glass of my windows.
