Page 8 of Romanced By the Silver Fox

“By what? Was my discussion of fiduciary duty that boring?”

I lick my lips, nervous. “Of course not. You could never bore me. I’d listen to you recite the alphabet.”

She blushes. “Flatterer.”

I’ll let her think I’m just flattering her if she likes. It’s probably for the best. If she knew how serious I was, it might scare her away.

Dessert is presented to us with a flourish. My crème brûlée and her pots de creme both look incredible.

I take my spoon and tap the crisp, caramelized shell. It shatters in the most satisfying way. I slowly slide my spoon beneath the crust, gathering a generous scoop of the creamy custard underneath.

I hold it out to Genie.

She leans forward, placing her hand over mine. Together, we guide my spoon toward her lips. The creamy white of the dessert is a shock against the vivid red of her mouth. My cock throbs when her lips part, and her delicate pink tongue sneaks out to lick the spoon.

“Thank you,” she says. Her voice is husky. Charged. I put down the spoon and push the ramekin to the side.

“Maybe it’s time we discussed the second reason I brought you here.”

Genie shifts her own dish out of the way. Her face is carefully controlled. Neutral. Except I’ve known her for most of our lives, and I can tell from the set of her mouth that she’s bracing for impact. I take a deep breath and dive in.

“I don’t know how to tell you this, Gigi,” I declare, using her old nickname. “But I’m an idiot.”

Startled, a laugh escapes from her lips before she can contain it. She pinches her mouth closed, but there’s no hiding her bright smile.

“You realize that’s the least effective sales pitch ever? Especially coming from a man who just asked me to move across the country to work for him.”

The rueful expression forming on my face is likely a mirror of hers. There’s no arguing with her facts.

I rub a hand across the back of my neck. God, I wish I had a script for this. I’m flying blind, hoping sincerity will help me make my case.

“It’s the truth.” My throat tightens. “Leaving you was a terrible mistake.”

“Was it a mistake?” Her eyes are fierce.

“One hundred percent,” I answer without hesitation. “I should never have given up on us.”

“But you did,” she says softly. Something complicated moves across her face. “And maybe that was for the best.”

“I don’t believe that.” I can’t. Not the way I’ve spent years missing everything about her.

Genie takes a sip of water. I can’t help staring at the line of her throat as she swallows. Every cell in my body wants to reach out and stroke that gorgeous stretch of skin. I clench my hands tight to contain the impulse.

“We’ve both been successful in the last few years,” she points out. “You, especially, from the looks of things. Putting me up at the poshest hotel in town, wining and dining me in style? Would any of this have happened if we had stayed together?”

“I can’t answer that, Genie. But I do know that I have thought about you, and regretted leaving you, every day for the last five years.”

“Oh, Grant…” She reaches across the table, covering my hand with her own. Her eyes are bright, and this time she doesn’t let go. I kiss the back of her hand.

“I swore to myself that if there was ever the slightest possibility of being with you again, I would do everything in my power to convince you to take me back.” I stroke the back of her hand with my thumb, drawing lazy circles on her skin.

“Let me convince you.”

She twists her mouth and raises a doubtful brow.

I barrel on. “Please. Give me three days. Let me try.”

She forgets to protect herself for a moment. It’s not much. A tiny gasp. A flash of hope in her eyes. But it’s all I need. Maybe, just maybe, she wants me back, too.

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