Page 10 of My Arrogant Millionaire

7

Baron

Eight o’clock. I pressed the doorbell and tucked my hands into my jeans. Was I nervous? Certainly not, rather filled with anticipation and crackling excitement.

She had said yes, and I hadn’t been able to think clearly for the entire day. I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt this way.

The door was pulled open, and my breath caught as I saw Grace in the hallway. She wore a fir-green wool dress, its hem reaching just above her knee. The color accentuated her light hair and skin in a uniquely captivating way. Add to that a stunning bright red lipstick, black tights, and high-heeled boots.

I couldn’t help myself. I encircled her waist and leaned in to plant a kiss on her cheek. »You look stunning,« I whispered, prolonging the moment of our touch as long as it was appropriate without being intrusive. Then, I pulled away from her, noticing an almost shy smile on her lips.

»You can save those clichés, Crisis,« she said, but I knew she had sensed the sincerity behind my words.

»Well, I should have expected that you wouldn’t make it easy for me tonight,« I said as she gave Jack a farewell pat, who sat in the middle of the hallway, eyeing me skeptically. Grace grabbed a gray coat from the rack, naturally thwarting my attempt to help her put it on. My grin grew wider, and I shook my head as she smiled at me knowingly.

»No, I’m not making it easy, of course not. The pros and cons are balanced, but they can tip at any moment.« She stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

»Balanced? I assumed the pros would greatly outweigh the cons since you finally agreed to a meeting.«

We walked side by side to the elevator, and again, my thoughts wandered to this morning’s encounter. Standing alone with her in that confined elevator had cost me a considerable amount of self-control.

»I said yes because I didn’t want to torture you any further.« We stepped in as the doors slid open. I pressed the ground floor button, and the elevator began to move.

»Torture?« I positioned myself directly in front of her. Her breath hitched as she looked up at me. »You didn’t want to torture me?«

Slowly, I took a step towards her, and she retreated until the wall behind her stopped her. She clung to her tiny handbag as if it could provide her some semblance of support. I brushed a strand of hair from her face, and her long, thick eyelashes fluttered as she suppressed the urge to close her eyes. »I have a theory, Goldilocks.«

»And you probably won’t do me the favor of keeping it to yourself, will you?« she breathed, but her voice was only half as strong and sassy as usual. She fought against the feeling she had when near me. Why? Why didn’t she just let it out?

»No, you’re right. I won’t keep anything to myself when it comes to us.«

»Us, we’re already there?« My hand traveled to the nape of her neck. I already loved the feeling of her warm, soft skin beneath my fingers.

»I’d prefer to be much further with you. Preferably naked in a bed.«

She laughed briefly. »Okay, I believe you that you don’t keep anything to yourself. So, what’s your theory?«

»That you didn’t want to torture yourself any longer.« She licked her lips again, just as she had done this morning, moments before I had to give in to the urge to kiss her. But I would wait until she asked me to. »Because you think just as much about what could happen if we were to lose all inhibitions. It would be grand, and that’s no exaggeration.«

I released her and took a step back. As the elevator opened in the underground garage, I offered her an arm. »So, shall we?«

She nodded, her gaze clouded and filled with smoldering desire. God, she wasn’t making it easy for me to play the gentleman tonight, even though I was enjoying the challenge of winning her over. I never had to woo a woman before, but maybe that was because I never wanted one as desperately as Grace. If I’d been rejected, I would move on without dwelling on my defeat.

I led her to my SUV, unlocked it, and opened the door for her. »Thank you very much,« she chimed, but I could sense the playful remark that already lingered on her pretty lips. All this made her incredibly thrilling.

She took her seat, and I gently closed the door behind her before circling the car and settling into the driver’s seat. I started the engine, and a Kings of Leon song immediately blared from the radio. Her knees bobbed along automatically, and I couldn’t help but smile. I nearly reached out to rest my hand gently on her thigh, where the hem of her dress had tantalizingly slid high up. I forced myself to look into her eyes and saw the amused glint. She had caught me.

»I’ve reserved a table at Jacques. I hope you like French cuisine,« I said, ready to drive off before Grace stopped me.

»You can cancel Jacques; I’m sure he won’t be upset. Tonight, you can relax and not run your hot-millionaire routine.«

Amused, I turned to her. »Okay, what’s the new plan?«

»I’ll guide you. Trust me.«

Trust. Something told me that I wasn’t the only one who had problems with that word. »As you command,« I replied, engaging reverse and leaving the underground garage. The scent of Grace’s floral perfume lingered in the air of the car’s interior, as light and effortless as it felt to have her here with me.

I liked the risk and wasn’t sure if it was too soon, but when her arm brushed against mine, resting on the center console, I gave in to my urge and reached for her hand. Gently, I traced her hand’s back and intertwined our fingers. In the corner of my eye, I saw her smile and felt my own heart pounding fiercely against my chest. It was only the touch of our hands, yet it felt much more intimate.

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