Page 43 of Darla's Christmas Knight
“Wow,” Bobby managed to utter, absorbing the sheer beautyof the woman before him.
A smile curved her full mouth, and she fluttered the extra-long lashes at him. “And you clean up well, Sir Robert,” she purred, running a finger — the manicured tip matched her dress — down the lapel of his blue herringbone suit jacket.
He felt that light touch all the way to his dick, and caught her hand with one of his, lifting it to his mouth. “I aim to please, ma’am,” he murmured, brushing his lips over her knuckles. He’d love to push her back into the apartment, peel away that dress, and please her in an entirely different manner.
But he had plans for the evening, and their ride was waiting. With great reluctance he dropped her hand and pointed to the bulging duffle bag. “That your luggage?”
“Yep.”
She reached for her coat, and he took it from her and held it open. She slipped an arm in, and he moved closer, offering the second sleeve. It was a mistake, her perfume enveloping him in a cloud of vanilla and something flowery.
He buried his face in her neck, breathing deeply. “You smell divine, love.”
She slipped an arm around his neck, pressing her body closer, teasing the short hair in his nape. “Hmm. We don’t have to go out,” she murmured, her breath gusting against his ear. Her free hand wormed its way between their bodies, and then …
Fuck. Give him strength. She rubbed her palm down his bulging erection, her fingers teasing as it strained against the confines of the material. He gathered every ounce of willpower and pulled back. “After you,” he muttered.
Darla walked — sashayed! — out the door, taking her alluring scent with her. He followed, extremely grateful for the long jacket covering her figure.
But he bumped into her when she came to a sudden halt. “What the hell, Bobby?”
“Our ride.” He wrapped a steadying hand around her waist and grinned, peering over her head at the Lincoln town car waiting to whisk them away.
“Ms. Miller,” their middle-aged driver murmured, doffing his cap.
Darla returned the man’s greeting, and after handing off her luggage, Bobby helped her into the back of the vehicle. She pounced before the door even closed, grabbing his arm, turning frantic eyes on him. “Please tell me this is not a prelude to a proposal,” she hissed.
The vehemence in her voice startled him. “This is not a prelude to a proposal,” he replied evenly, despite the dismay filling him.
And the relief that flooded her face deepened his concern. He’d really thought that they had turned a corner in their relationship this last week. And while he agreed it was way too soon for a proposal, marrying Darla was his end goal. He reached over and shut the door with a solid thunk, the whirr of seatbelts the only noise in the ensuing silence. He snapped the buckle with a bit more force than necessary as a flash of annoyance zipped through him.
“Bobby …,” she started, but stopped, heaving a deep sigh.
“This is just an evening out. The limousine a dash of luxury. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
The driver’s door opened, and the driver slid in behind the wheel. “Our trip will take approximately an hour and ten minutes, Mr. Bellerose,” he said.
“Thank you,” Bobby replied and pressed the button to slide the divider in place.
*
Darla wanted to kick herself for speaking without thought. Thatshe had hurt him was obvious, and he was likely regretting going to such trouble to make this a special evening. “I’m sorry, Bobby. I shouldn’t’ve jumped to conclusions. It’s just …” She trailed off, looking at the luxurious interior, tastefully illuminated by strips of recessed lighting. Dark butter-soft leather and polished wood and loads of space. It wasn’t a stretch limo, but there was plenty of leg room between them and the gleaming panel of compartments from which the privacy screen had risen. She waved her arm about. “Thisisa lot.”
“And your first thought was a proposal.”
“Yeah.” She huffed. “Blame my mother,” she muttered and looked out the window. Unfortunately, it was dark outside and only her reflection stared back at her.
“How come?” Bobby face joined hers in the window, and he leaned closer.
“She paid me a visit today.”
He frowned. “Okay?”
She twisted to look at him head on. “Her parting comment was about you and diamonds, and then I spent the afternoon thinking about you and diamonds. More specifically about you andengagementrings and” — she sucked in a breath — “I am sonotready forthat.”
A slow smile twisted his face into a satisfied smirk. “And then I arrive on your doorstep in a limousine.”
She flung herself back into her seat and her arms in the air. “And then you arrive in afreakinglimousine.”
