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Chapter twenty-two
I parked the car in front of her building and checked the time on my wristwatch. It was still a few minutes before the time I had agreed on in the note, but it wasn't enough to stop me from feeling uneasy. My driver had assured me that he had delivered the box, but that wasn't enough for me to be sure that she would accept my invitation.
For a moment, I thought I was an idiot, and it was much easier to pay for women because I didn't have to subject myself to situations like that: waiting without knowing whether she would come or not. The fact that my daughters adored her might not be enough for me to lower the defenses I had built up over the last few years to avoid my suffering.
Dating again...
Wow!
My thoughts were interrupted when I saw her coming down the steps of the building. I had chosen the gift because I thought the pieces were beautiful. I admit that a saleswoman had helped me put it together, but it was unforeseeable that she would look so stunning.
The dress had a circular collar at the front and came down, hugging her body as if it had been designed for those curves. Her loose, wavy hair covered a little of her bare back. She looked delicate and even naive in the midst of so much seduction.
“Hi,” he stopped next to me, and I couldn't look away. “Thanks for the present.”
“It looks stunning.”
She lowered her face, and her cheeks flushed.
I gently touched his chin and lifted his head. We stared at each other deeply, and I realized that we could stay like this forever. I hadn't felt like this for a long time.
Her lips were painted with pink lipstick that made them look striking. I wanted to cover them with my own. I hadn't yet kissed her, and I really wanted to, but I stopped myself. The entrance to the building was only a few meters away and she might run off and give up on our date.
“The girls...”
“With the nanny.”
“What did you say to them?”
“That he had an appointment and would be back late.”
“Ah...” she stammered, looking a little disappointed.
“Would you rather I had told them I was with Professor Helena?”
He nodded.
“They will know when the time is right.”
“If that moment ever comes.” Apparently, I wasn't the only one afraid.
“Shall we?” I approached the car and opened the car door.
She nodded and settled into the seat. Then I turned around and took the wheel.
“Shall we have dinner in Manhattan?”
“Yes.”
“Look...”
“Hey!” I reached out and touched his hand, which was resting on his thigh. “Relax. Unless the only thing you eat is fries and hamburgers.”
“No.”
“Then everything will be fine.”
“Okay.”