Page 25 of Daring to Love You
They stopped at the last door on the left, and after scanning his card, Lynix pushed the door open and gestured for her to enter. The moment Dorian stepped across the threshold, her mouth dropped open. In front of her were wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked Lake Michigan.
“Wow,” she said on a breath, unable to say much else. The view was like nothing she’d ever seen before. It was no wonder he had suggested they meet there. The open space offered unobstructed views between the rooms and was larger than her two-bedroom apartment. The walls were a deep gray with white trim and black and white accents. The paintings gracing the walls were eye-catching abstracts that added pops of color to the large space.
The kitchen was separate from the living room with a long island. That area wasn’t huge, but it was modern with marble countertops and stainless-steel appliances.
Still checking out the space, Dorian strolled through the living room and around the cocktail table that sat between the two sofas facing each other. One wall held a huge television, and on the opposite side of the open floor plan was the dining area. The long table included six upholstered chairs but looked as if it could handle at least two more. Beyond that space was a room with the door opened, but from where she was standing, she couldn’t see inside and assumed it was a bedroom.
Not wanting to think about them being so close to a room which probably had a huge bed that she and Lynix could test out, she glanced away. They were just there to talk. Nothing else.
“You like it?” Lynix asked from beside her.
“Are you kidding me? This is gorgeous, and I might never want to leave. Deciding to eat up here was a good choice.” The moment the words were out of her mouth, her stomach rumbled as if punctuating the comment.
Lynix chuckled. “Food should be here shortly. Make yourself comfortable.” He strolled into the kitchen. “What would you like to drink? We have everything from water to bourbon.”
“A bottle of water, and if you have iced tea or lemonade, that would be great.”
“I have all the above, and there’s also a bottle of Arnold Palmer if you want a combination of lemonade and iced tea.”
“That would be perfect.”
Her attention went back to the windows as she moved closer to them. If she ever saved enough money, she’d get an apartment or buy a condo with a view like this one. A calmness engulfed her. She could already envision a reading nook near the windows where she’d probably sit for hours devouring a romance or just thinking about life.
What would it be like to feel as if she was living on top of the world? Because where she was standing, that’s exactly how it felt. Her life was great but simple and uneventful, well, except for her date the other night and the meeting that she had just crashed. She’d definitely been out of her element with both, but if she had a place like this…
Dorian startled and jerked away when something touched her arm. Lynix. He stood beside her with drinks in hand and looked at her with amusement in his eyes.
The man was so fine, sometimes it was hard to look at him without drooling or wishing she could be wrapped up in his muscular arms. The olive-green button-down shirt he was wearing was beautiful against his cinnamon tone skin. He had rolled the sleeves neatly up to his elbows, and the way the garment hugged his biceps, it looked as if they were trying to burst free.
She always liked tall, built men who could carry her around if ever she needed. They also usually gave good bear hugs, which she had experienced with Lynix.
“Dorian? You okay?”
She blinked several times, realizing she’d been staring at him. “Oh, I’m sorry. Just thinking.”
“What were you thinking about?” He held a drink out to her, and it was sweet how he had poured it into a glass.
“I was imagining what it would be like to live in this type of luxury.”
“Well, if you ever want to experience that, let me know. My condo is a few blocks up, and I have a similar view.” He nodded toward the sofa. “Let’s have a seat.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You live in a place with views like this?” She pointed her thumb at the window as he gently grasped her elbow and led her to the sofa.
“Yes,” he said, and they both sat on the overstuffed furniture that seemed to wrap around her like a loving embrace. “You’re more than welcome to come by, check it out, and stay as long as you want.”
All Dorian could think about was how many women he’d probably invited to his place in the past, but she shook the thought free. No way would she allow her mind to go down that road.
As they sat next to each other, close enough to breathe the same air, Lynix told her about his grandfather leaving him a trust fund. He hadn’t splurged on much, but she found it fascinating that he lived a life of luxury and could buy anything he wanted.
Just looking at him, he didn’t come across as wealthy. Sure, he dressed nicely, and his clothes always looked of good quality, but he wasn’t flashy. The only flashy thing she’d seen of him was his BMW, and even that, Dorian hadn’t known about until a few weeks ago.
This was a reminder that he was way out of her league. He was financially stable, while she was just getting by. They might only be a few years apart, but she was positive her life experiences didn’t come close to his. Yet, he insisted they were perfect for each other.
What could she possibly offer him when he seemed to have everything he could ever want or need?
But there was one area of his life that didn’t make sense—him working for Chicago P.D. He definitely didn’t need the money. So what was it about being a cop that kept him going to work every day?
Before she could pose the question, what sounded like a doorbell, rang. She glanced around, and then she heard it again.
