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I opened my mouth to make an excuse for Will, but bit my tongue. Why would I defend the guy who had shamed me? Shamed Henry?
I breathed out as he let go of my chin. My hands were in my lap, and he took them in his, sending heat rushing through me.
“I told you I have a brother, Henry. What I didn’t tell you is that he’s got some health issues,” I said, gingerly toeing the truth of Henry’s mobility problems. “For some reason, it put Will off.”
Sean’s eyes widened, and he cursed under his breath. “He called off the date for that? The arrogant bastard.”
“I felt terrible,” I said in a hurry, hoping I wouldn’t have to go into more details. “Also because Henry is going to ask me how my date went and I don’t know how to answer that question.”
“Well,” he said, his thumb was running in circles on my palm, making my stomach feel floppy, “you don’t have to tell Henry that your date bailed on you. You can tell him that you went to a nice place and had a wonderful meal before you politely declined a second date with Will.”
He held my gaze for one intense moment, and I flushed at the idea of this being a date. He must have noticed my blush because his face lost its grim look. He reached for my cheek, cupping it with the palm of his hand, with hazy eyes and a delicious smile.
My world seemed to stop spinning when he looked at me like that. Sean and I could never be a couple. So, why was I imagining this to be more than just a dinner? Why did his desire for me feel a little too real?
I expected him to say something, but the car came to a sudden stop.
“We’re here,” was all he said before pulling his hand away.
My hand went to my cheek, feeling the warmth that he had left before I realized he was still watching me. I blushed even more and pulled my hand away.
“Thank goodness,” I muttered.
Sitting next to Sean in the dark interior of his car had felt too intimate. I wanted the safety of sitting across from him at the table, where I could be assured there would be no lingering touches.
I shouldn’t have let Sean touch me. And I would not be swayed by his interest in my life either. I knew the man was selfish, and it was just his competitive spirit that had made him follow me and bring me here tonight.
Sean got out and held the door open for me. I got out into the cool night breeze and looked at the building. It was nestled between sleek high-rises, its black exterior giving off a sophisticated vibe. The restaurant must be on one of the upper floors because the first floor housed an upscale furniture store. It had floor-to-ceiling windows, framed in dark, rich wood, and a sleek, charcoal-colored awning extended gracefully over the entrance. If the furniture store was this pretty, what was the restaurant like?
Dad used to work as a HVAC technician, and whenever we had money left after payday, we used to head over to McDonald’s for a treat. We had lived a quiet, respectable life, sometimes even heading out to Olive Garden on birthdays. Places like The Hilford had never been in the cards for us.
We got onto the pavement, and Sean noticed my hesitation. “Don’t worry. This isn’t a real date. I’m just making up for the jerk who stood you up.”
His fingers settled on the small of my back as he gently pushed me forward. The touch was warm, sending a spark running through my torso. I hadn’t been touched in ages. Iwanted to lean into it more. To feel the soft caress of his fingers on my skin and his soothing arms pulling me close.
This isn’t a real date.
I cleared my throat and focused on the building in front of me and not the gnawing deep hole of loneliness in me.
A doorman in a crisp uniform opened the door for us, and we stepped into an expansive lobby. Sean led me to the elevator, and when we were in, he pressed the button for the fifteenth floor. He was dressed in a suit that cost more than my month’s rent. Nothing about this night seemed real.
When we met each other’s gaze, I could see the memory of our kiss from the elevator burning in his stormy brown eyes.
When the doors closed, he banded one arm around my back and pulled me to him, his breath hot and heavy on my eyelids. His knee pushed between my legs to grind against my sex, lifting my butt higher in the process. I arched my back with a whimper while he cupped the curve of my ass.
His fingers trailed down the side of my neck. “Just so you know, tonight I’ll feed you first, and then…” I felt my breath freeze in my throat as his fingers snaked down to my cleavage. “I’m going to see what lingerie you chose while thinking of me.”
I definitely wanted to see the rest of Sean—including what he was packing under his briefs. But before I could say anything, the doors opened. Sean let go of my waist, and I took a breath and stepped back.
Elevators were never much luck.
Sean took my hand, and giving me a heated look that said we weren’t done yet, he led me out.
We stepped into a world of dimly lit chandeliers, soft jazz music, and the clinking of fine china. The maître d’, a young woman in a black dress, welcomed Sean by name and led us to a private table at the back. Oversize lanterns hung from theroof, casting a warm glow, and wrought iron accents framed the windows, adding a touch of old-world charm.
“Well, isn’t this something?” I said.
Through the window, we had a breathtaking view of the city skyline, including the Hudson River glimmering in the distance.