Page 34
Author: Jaci Burton
There was a huge terrace that looked out over Central Park.
The first thing she did was step out onto the terrace. Gray followed.
“This is lovely. And the view is amazing. ” She turned to him. “Thank you for bringing me here. ”
“You’re welcome. I thought you might like to stay here tonight. ”
“Tonight? I’m thinking of moving in permanently. You’ll have to drag me out of here, kicking and screaming. ”
“I get a bug to get out of that trailer every now and then. ”
She laughed. “I imagine you do. This is very . . . expansive. ” And, she imagined, sinfully expensive. As she looked out over the park and the skyscape, she was envious of those who lived in this beautiful city.
“I could live here. ”
“At the Plaza or in Manhattan?”
She laughed. “Definitely in Manhattan, though it’s decadent to think about living in this suite. ”
“Yeah? You like what you see?”
“What’s not to like? I love that you can walk everywhere, that there’s awesome transportation. I love the sights of the city, the never-ending choices in food, the atmosphere, the frenetic pace. ”
“It is nice here. But I still like my place on the beach the best. There’s a quiet that I can’t get anywhere else. ”
She leaned against him. “I can appreciate the beauty there, too. The nice thing is you could afford to have homes in a lot of places. ”
“That’s true. And you like the heartbeat of D. C. ”
“I do, but mainly for work. D. C. lacks the beauty of New York or the quiet peacefulness of the beach in Daytona. ”
“You should marry a rich guy who can give you houses in all your favorite places.
Then, when you’re not busy ruling the world, you can vacation there. ”
She laughed. “Yeah, in a perfect world that’ll happen. ”
He kissed her neck. “Dream big, princess. You never know what might happen. ”
He turned and walked inside. She watched him go, pondering what he said.
*
GRAY WANTED TO MAKE THIS NIGHT PERFECT FOR EVELYN. After they showered, they got dressed. Evelyn looked beautiful in a cream-colored dress that hugged her curves at the top and had a sinful slit up the side. And those heels made her legs look spectacular.
“Oh, did you want to stay in tonight?” he asked as he met her at the foot of the stairs.
She frowned. “I thought we were going out. Is this dress not the right choice?”
He took her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “You’re a knockout, but I don’t know if I can go out in public with a hard-on. ”
She laughed. “Thank you. I still have no idea where we’re going. ”
“You’ll see. ” He tucked her hand in his arm and they took the elevator down to the lobby, where a car was waiting.
“I feel a little decadent,” she said as they slid into the back of the private car.
“Do you? Good. It’s nice to get away from the dirty track every now and then and live like the rich folks do. ”
She laughed. “Gray, you are the rich folks. ”
He arched a brow. “Am I?”
The driver took them to the restaurant, where a valet opened the door for them.
“Welcome to Daniel. ”
“Oh, I’ve heard of this restaurant. It’s one of the finest in Manhattan,” Evelyn said as they made their way inside. “But very hard to get into. How did you get a reservation? I heard you have to make them a month or so in advance. ”
“Well,” Gray said after he’d given his name and they were shown to their table. “I have a few connections here and there. ”
“Is that right? I’m impressed. ”
They looked over the wine list. “What would you like?” he asked.
“I love wine. All sorts. Something red and smooth?”
He nodded and ordered a bottle after their sommelier made a few suggestions.
“This place is lovely, Gray. Thank you for bringing me here. ”
“I’m glad you like it. ”
“You’re constantly surprising me. ”
“Am I? How’s that?”
“I don’t know. Every time I think I know you, it’s like you peel a new layer off that onion. ”
He cocked a brow. “Yeah? Good. I’d hate to be predictable. Predictable is boring. ”
“Trust me, Gray. You are anything but boring. ”
They had dinner and Gray paid the check. The car was waiting for them and took them to the theater district. He watched Evelyn’s eyes widen as the car let them out in front of the theater.
“Seriously?”
His lips curved. “I thought you might want to see a show while we’re here. ”
She squeezed his hand after they got out of the car. “I’d love to. And it’s a musical.
I love musicals. How did you know?”
He shrugged. “A wild guess. ”
As they took their seats near the front of the theater, Evelyn whispered, “I feel like Cinderella tonight. You’re the prince and you’re making all my dreams come true. ”
She brushed her lips against his. “Thank you for that. ”
Gray sucked in a breath at the emotion rolling around his gut. He didn’t know what to do about it—what to do about Evelyn and all these feelings that seemed to pummel him whenever he spent time with her. And those feelings were growing, making him wonder how he was going to live his life without her after she was through with her business with him.
Which made him wonder how he could maneuver it—adjust his life—so the two of them could stay together.
The lights went down and the music started. Evelyn grabbed his hand tight and didn’t let go through the entire production, which was cute and funny. He loved hearing her laugh and he enjoyed the musical because Evelyn enjoyed it so much. She talked about it nonstop on the ride back to the hotel.
“I know I’ve been going on and on since we left the theater, but did you like it?”
she asked as they rode up the elevator.
“I did. It was fun. I laughed a lot. ”
She grinned. “I did, too. And the music—oh, the music was amazing. Every song was catchy and fun and the voices of the actors were tremendous. I’m so envious of their talent. ”
He slid his key in and unlocked the door to their suite, then turned on the lights. He tossed his wallet on the table near the door, then turned to her. “You have many talents, Evelyn. ”
“Yes, but singing isn’t one of them. I was always jealous of the choir and drama students in college. It’s something I wanted to do, but I don’t have the voice. ”
He came up to her and put his arms around her. “Maybe you can sing for me sometime—in the shower—and I’ll judge you. ”
She laughed. “Not a chance in hell that’s ever going to happen. ”
“You don’t trust me to be unbiased?”
She laid her palms on his chest. “I wouldn’t abuse your ears that way. ”
“Now I think you’re too hard on yourself. ”
“And you obviously haven’t heard me sing, in the shower or elsewhere. ”
He smiled at her and pulled away, then poured a liqueur for both of them from the well-stocked bar. He turned on music, a sultry R&B station that settled smoothly into her bones.
“I thought we’d have a drink on the terrace,” he said.
“That sounds nice. ” She took her drink from him and followed him outside.
The night was perfect, the heat of the day eased by the cloud cover and the light breeze. Evelyn walked to the edge of the terrace and looked out over the city. “It’s even more beautiful at night. ” She turned to him as he came up beside her. “Have I thanked you for bringing me here?”
“Numerous times. And I’m enjoying it as much as
you are. ”
She took a sip of the liqueur. “Oh, this is good. You’re spoiling me. ”
He slid his hand up her back, enjoying the feel of her skin against his hand. “I like spoiling you. Usually it’s work all the time, people surrounding us, and then at the end of the day the two of us holing up in the trailer. Now what kind of treat is that for my woman? I have to get you out of there on occasion and show you a good time. ”
Evelyn took a deep breath. His woman? God, he melted her panties with that statement. As if the whole day hadn’t completely taken her breath away, he had to make a comment like that and make her second-guess everything about their relationship.
She took a deep breath, then turned and leaned against the railing. “You’ve shown me beyond a good time. This has been such a surprise today, Gray. I’ve enjoyed everything about seeing New York. But the best part has been sharing it all with you. ”
“I’m glad. ”
She took his glass from him and laid both their drinks down on the table. Then she moved into him, sliding her palms up the lapels of his jacket, relishing the firm chest underneath her hands. He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her closer, then cupped her neck, his breath warm against her lips as he surprised her by taking her hand in his and moving around the terrace.
“Are we dancing?”
“We are. You look so gorgeous, you should be dancing. ”
She tilted her head back, filled with awe and desire for this man who was making all her dreams come true. “You do realize I’m standing on the terrace of a magnificent hotel, dancing with one very hot, handsome man. I don’t think my life could get much better. ”
His lips curved as he twirled her expertly around. “Well, you could be a senator right now. Or maybe the president. Then your life would be perfect. ”
She laughed. “I’m living a pretty good life right now. I have no complaints. ”
“Neither do I. Besides, I don’t think I’d appreciate the secret service interrupting our private time. I do like having you all to myself. ” He dipped her, then kissed her, turning her world upside down.
When he righted her again, she smiled at him.
“I like that myself, and I don’t think I’m ready just yet to be president. If I were, I’d have to behave myself and I wouldn’t be able to take advantage of you. ” When the song ended, she backed him in to the darkened corner of the terrace.
He cocked a brow. “Take advantage of me in what way?”
With a sly smile she slid her hands down his shirt, over his magnificent abs.
“Touching you. Outside, where someone might see us. A president would never be able to get away with doing that. ”
She cupped him, measured his length with her hand as she pressed her body against his.
“Probably not, but then again, I’ve heard the secret service can be very discreet. ”
“And I like my privacy. Maybe I’ll be content with the job I have. So I can have rendezvous like this. ” She squeezed his cock through his pants, loving the rapid intake of his breath as she massaged him.
In a heartbeat, he turned her around so it was her back against the wall, her body shadowed and protected. “I doubt that. You should be able to have whatever you want. In whatever way you want it. ”
His voice had gone low and deep, a sensual tone that never failed to send ripples of desire through her. “Anything I want?”
“Yes. ”
She met his gaze and reached for the zipper of his pants. “This is what I want, Gray.
You. Now. Like this. ”
Gray brushed his hands over Evelyn’s rib cage, watching the movement of her silk dress, the way it molded to her body. He reached down and slid his hand into the slit of her dress—that teasing slit that had tormented him all night with glimpses of her sexy thigh.
He stopped—looked up at her. “That’s a garter belt,” he said.