Page 131 of Jaked

Chapter 50

Within fifteen minutes, we were out of the restaurant and on the road. Night had fallen, and Jake navigated the nearly empty highway while I kept him company from the passenger's seat.

He was driving a different car than the one he'd used to pick me up from Maddie's. Probably, that car was still in the shop. This one was shiny and black with a grey interior and kick-ass sound system.

With the music on low, I glanced toward the rear of the car, where we'd stashed the shopping bags. "I still can't believe you didn't get yourself anything," I said.

He gave me a sideways glance. "But I did," he said. "Remember?"

I looked down at my new outfit. "Oh come on," I said. "This?"

"Yeah, that." He turned his head to give me a long, appreciative look. When he returned his gaze to the road, the hint of a smile played across his lips.

This time, when we neared Jake's building, he passed the front turnaround and circled around to the side, entering a concrete parking garage under the building. He pulled into a numbered spot and popped the trunk.

A couple moments later, he was pulling shopping bags out of the trunk.

Standing beside him, I said, "Here, let me carry some."

"Not a chance," he said, grabbing the last bag and holding it out of my reach.

I laughed. "You do realize you're spoiling me something awful?"

"Good," he said. "Now come on." He flicked his head toward a wide metal doorway with an exit sign hanging just above it.

Together, we walked toward it, chatting about nothing in particular. Probably, I was talkingtoomuch, because honestly, I was almost afraid I'd jump him right here in the parking garage.

I gave him a long, sideways look. He was my real-life fantasy, dark and sexy, and slightly dangerous, in spite of his expensive clothes and designer watch. My lips parted, and my breathing grew shallow. Abruptly, I stopped talking.

We were quiet a little while until Jake broke the silence by saying, "I've got a question."

"Yeah? What?"

"Just how much practice do you think I need?"

"Huh?"

"In the restaurant," he said, "you said I needed practice."

I felt myself smile. "I didn't say youneededpractice. I just said youcouldpractice, you know, if you wanted to."

Next to me, Jake made no response as we entered the building and walked toward the elevators.

I cleared my throat. "But you don'thaveto," I said, "I mean if you're tired or something."

His voice held the hint of teasing. "Soyou'retired?"

"No," I blurted out. "Definitely not."

He gave me a wicked grin. "No?"

With an effort, I tried to sound slightly less desperate. "I mean, well, I'm a night owl, so I'm up for whatever."

"Good," he said. "Want a tour of my office?"

"What?" Unsure what had just happened, I gave a little shake of my head. "You mean your home-office? In your penthouse?"

"No," he said. "My regular office."