Page 35 of Mistletoe Masquerade
She gives me a funny look. “Like what?”
I shrug. “Anything at all. If you’re cold, I’ll give you my jacket. If you’re thirsty, I’ll bring you water.”
Another delicate blush warms her cheeks. “And if I’m tired?”
“I’ll make our excuses and escort you home, tuck you into bed, and give you a kiss good night.”
“Just a kiss?” she whispers, peering up at me through her lashes.
My heart thuds in my chest. “Just a kiss.”
“What if I want more?”
Fuck, this woman is going to make me hard in the middle of dinner.
“Then it’ll be the one and only time I refuse you.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I need you to want to see me again.” And because I want her to know I’m interested in her and not just the sex. I told myself that this time around I wouldn’t fuck this up, and that means showing I possess a modicum of restraint.
“Lure me back with the promise of sex?”
“Whatever it takes,” I say without a hint of humor. “I don’t want this to be the last time I see you.”
Sachi bites her lip and nods. “We can talk about it later,” she says quietly.
Her comment unsettles me, but I’m not going to push for an explanation. I’ll have to respect her wishes and wait until the time is right.
Dessert looks way too fancy to eat. A slice of cheesecake would have been better to me, but Sachi seems to enjoy it, and that’s all that matters. As the final course wraps up, I go to the podium to thank everyone for coming and make the final call for bids on the silent auction. Any gathering in the name of the charity is always a fundraiser in one way or another.
Once the evening is over, I help Sachi collect her things and lead her to the building’s entrance. Before we step outside to the valet, I slip my tux jacket over her shoulders, just as I did at the ball. I could have had a designer coat brought with the dresses, but I gave myself that one selfish act because if the night went well, I desperately wanted to see her in my jacket again. And now that it’s happened, my chest puffs full of pride.
I drive Sachi home as promised and walk her up to her apartment. I even make sure there’s no one waiting for her inside, since I know how easily that can happen.
“I had a really lovely evening, Dean. Thank you.”
“It was the least I could do.” I palm her cheek and graze my thumb across her smooth skin.
“Is this when I get my kiss?”
“Tell me I can see you again, Sachi.” The words are a coarse plea. I wonder if I’ve been too gruff when she grazes her teeth over her bottom lip and lowers her gaze.
“I can’t give up my friends, Dean. I really like you, and I want to see you again, but I can’t if it means losing them.”
“I’d never ask you to do that.”
Her gaze snaps back to mine. “Really?”
“Absolutely. Loyalty, even among thieves, is still honorable. I respect that they’re important to you. And besides, I’d never admit it to them, but those guys are far from the worst criminals I’ve come across.”
“But what about your job? What if word gets out that you’re associated with the Morettis? Even if only loosely?”
“People are gonna think what they want to think. You don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine, I promise.”
“And what about my friends? You can’t use me to get evidence on them. I’ll never forgive you.” The stern look she gives me makes the corners of my lips twitch with the need to bellow a laugh.
I hold up my right hand in oath. “So long as they don’t pull out a gun and kill someone right in front of me, I swear I’m not going after them. There are plenty of worse criminals in the city to hunt down.”
