Page 51 of Trusting Mr. Sterling
“The kind that involves that dress ending up on your bedroom floor in the next thirty seconds.”
“Oh.”
“So. Coat. Now. Before I change my mind about being civilized.”
She grabbed her coat. He helped her into it, his palms resting on her shoulders longer than necessary.
The car was waiting. He opened the door, let her slide in first, then followed. The privacy screen went up.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“My place.”
“Your place.”
“I hired a chef. Thought you might like being on the receiving end of service for once. You spend every day feeding other people. Tonight, someone feeds you.”
She was quiet for a beat.
“You hired a chef.”
“Four courses. Wine pairings. The works.” He took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. “I considered cooking myself, but my last attempt set off the smoke alarm and Knox bannedme from the kitchen. This way we can actually spend time together. Also, I want you to like me. Burned pasta seemed like a risk.”
She laughed. “I already like you.”
“Then I want you to keep liking me. Burned dinner is a known deal breaker.”
“Noted.”
The car wound through Manhattan. He kept her hand, his thumb making small circles against her palm, his body screaming for more even as he forced himself to wait.
When they pulled up outside his building, he helped her out. The doorman nodded.
“Evening, Mr. Sterling.”
“Evening, Phillip.”
As the elevator climbed, neither of them spoke. All he could hear was her breathing.
The elevator dinged, and they stepped into the hallway, where he unlocked his door and held it open.
Tessa moved past him and stopped.
He watched her face and tried to imagine what she saw. Warm. Lit by candlelight that softened the room and turned the walls gold. The table set with linen napkins and real silverware. Soft music drifted from hidden speakers. In the kitchen, a woman in chef’s whites plated appetizers with the skill that came from years of practice.
Tessa turned slowly, taking it in.
“You really did this.”
“I told you I would.”
“It’s perfect.”
He took her coat and hung it in the closet, then led her to the table and pulled out her chair. She sat, smoothing her dress as she settled.
The chef brought the first course, seared scallops with a citrus reduction. Gabriel watched her take her first bite. She closed her eyes.
“Good?”
