“Thanks.”
He retrieved her glass from the far side of the room then set it down in front of them.“I’ll never look at the coffee table the same way again,” he said.
She snuggled into him, but pulled away and sat up to cheer when she saw Indy and his whip for the first time.“Can you really do things like him?Like wrap it around people’s wrists and yank swords out of their hands?”
“I imagine you can with a bullwhip.”
She shivered then settled back against his body.
For the next couple of hours, while they kept reality at bay—the upcoming board meeting, Lara going behind her father’s back and working out the final details of their agreement—he had a glimpse of what the future might look like.
As the credits eventually scrolled, reality encroached.
She moved out of his arms, and he reached for the remote to kill the television.
Lara picked up the dishes and carried them into the kitchen.
“It’s late,” she told him.
“You could stay.”
“We’d have to get up ridiculously early so that you could get me home in time for me to get ready and pick up my car.”
He nodded.The drive time would allow them to talk, as well.“You’re welcome to leave anything you want here.”
Explaining that she needed everything at home, she repacked her bag.More than anything, it was a reminder that she still hadn’t agreed to move in.
Once they were on the road, he brought that up.“Have you given any further thought to our living arrangements?”
She tightened her grip on her purse.
Since the evening was breezy, she was using his shirt as a jacket over her dress.He liked the combination.
“I see your point about living downtown,” she said hesitatingly.“But I already come in every day.We could commute together.”
“Or walk in ten minutes.”
“Honestly, it’s more than that.I’d have a difficult time giving up my place.Even if it was only for a couple of years.”
“Three years,” he corrected.
She turned toward him.In the shadows of the setting sun, she added, “And the whole thing about being a submissive…”
“You hated this weekend?”
“That’s not it.It’s a lot of responsibility.”
“And something that will evolve as we work on it.”
“I left your necklace on the dresser.”
“I see.”
“It’s a beautiful piece,” she hastened to say.“But a hell of a representation about our relationship that I’m not ready to make.”
“Understood.”That didn’t mean he liked the sting of her rejection, especially after what they’d shared.“You know, Lara, I’m not going to force any of this.You came to me with a proposal.If you’ve changed your mind, I understand.I can drop you off and we can part friends.Think about it.If you still want to pursue it, I want this agreement signed before Tuesday’s board meeting.”
Chapter Ten
