Page 53 of His Surrender

After driving home, I jogged up to my apartment and stripped out of my clothes before hopping in the shower. When I was finished, I checked my phone for a text or missed call from Jay. There weren’t any. It was only a little after four that afternoon, and his office didn’t close until five. Knowing he’d respond when he could, I texted him.

Me:Do you want to grab dinner together?

He hadn’t saidwhathe had planned for us to do that night; he’d only asked if we could see each other. I got the impression Jay wasn’t a dinner type of guy, but there was no harm in asking.

His response came five minutes later, and I heard the buzzing of my phone while I was rifling through my closet.

Beautiful Bastard:You asking me on a date? ;)

Me:You’re the one who wanted to see me. Dinner was only a suggestion. We don’t have to.

Why was I suddenly panicky? Was I pushing him too far too soon? It was only dinner. Friends could do that, right?

Beautiful Bastard:I’m finishing a few things at work. I’ll give you a call after.

A second message then came in.

Beautiful Bastard:And dinner sounds nice.

I smiled at his text before getting dressed. Before going out with Nathan, I had fretted over what to wear. But with Jay? It was weird. I didn’t feel like I needed to impress him. That kind of comfortability was rare for me.

Sure, Jay turned my brain to mush sometimes, and my heart did crazy things when in his presence. However, I never once felt like I had to hide or be something I wasn’t. And that was kind of beautiful.

Thirty minutes later, Jay called me.

“Hey, you,” I answered, unable to contain my smile.

“Hey yourself,” he responded. It sounded like he was in his car. “I’m goin’ home to change out of this damn suit, and then I’ll pick you up. Sound good?”

“Need help getting undressed?”

He chuckled. “I think you’ve stolen some of my lines.”

“I learn from the best.”

“Be ready for me,” Jay said, and by the sound of his voice, I wondered if he was smiling too.

“I’m always ready for you.”

When he laughed, my stomach fluttered. Yep. I was seriously head over heels for that beautiful bastard.

***

“How do you look so hot in a T-shirt and jeans?” I asked, after opening the front door and seeing Jay standing there in all his glory. He made a simple black tee look much hotter than it should.

He looked down at himself and shrugged. “I was born this way.”

“Cocky much?”

“You love it.” He flashed his pearly whites and motioned with his head. “Ready to go? I’m starving.”

We didn’t hold hands as we descended the steps and neared his car, but we walked side by side, our arms brushing together. He unlocked the doors, and I slid into the passenger seat and put on my seat belt. His car had that new-car smell, and there was something sexy about the dark, leather interior—made even sexier once he got inside and closed his door, closing us off to the outside world. Then the leather mixed with a scent that was all him, and I felt overwhelmed by it.

“Have you ever had sex in here?” I asked.

Jay’s brows lifted. “Sex on the brain, Mr. Barnett?”

“Around you? That’s basically my every thought.”