He smiled. “We’ll talk later?”
“Maybe.” I tilted my head in a tease, and took Mom’s timeless advice. Always leave them wanting more.
Later took too long though, and some time later a text pinged my phone from the Hops’ night manager:Sliced myhand. Going to the clinic for stitches. Need you or Keaton to close.
Across the way, Keaton occupied Sophie on the dance floor, swaying in complete couple bliss to the string quartet playing Sinatra’s The Way You Look Tonight. Talk about relationship goals—I couldn’t disrupt them.
It’d be me coming to the rescue and taking care of things at the Hops as usual. Cinderella’s time at the ball just expired. That was my life in a nutshell.
As I crossed the lawn to the valet stand, Griffin stood among the men with cigars and drinks, his jacket now off, tie loose, shirt sleeves rolled up. They roared with laughter over something probably only those of their status would think was funny.
To my surprise, he jogged up as the valet brought my clunky car around. “You’re not leaving already?”
“Emergency at Hops. I have to close up tonight.” I gestured with my phone as if he could read the texts.
He leaned a palm against my door, too close, the other hand stuffed casually into his pocket. “Shame. You’re running out on me just when the night could get fun.”
“You looked occupied. Besides, I’m not the champagne-and-string-quartet type.”
“Then maybe you need a change of scenery.” His voice dropped. “Theo’s staying with Richard’s kids tonight. You could come by my rental house after you close up. Pour me a drink. Enjoy the lake view.”
His sly smile and tone clued me in that he was suggesting more than a casual drop-in. Yes, I wanted him. No, I wouldn’t make this easy for him.
“Sorry. This bartender doesn’t usually make house calls.”
“I’m not asking the bartender. I’m askingyou.”Butterflies rioted in my stomach, urging me to say yes. “Can you make anexception tonight after you’re done? I’ll be up late, as I usually am. We’re renting for the weekend at the Harrington House.”
My hand froze around my keys. I’d driven many times past the sprawling lakefront home that was among the original mansions built here years ago. Every time I brought my sisters to the beach at the lake, we drove past it, daydreaming about a life inside those windows.
For him, it was a rental for the week. For me, it was a fairy tale.
“Look, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” he backtracked when I hadn’t answered. “Just stop by for a casual drink and talk. Keep me company before I have to head back to the city.”
“Maybe.” I played it cooly, letting the word hang between us.
He waved as I drove off, the grin on his face knowing he’d already won more ground than he should have.
When I showed up at the Harrington House after hours, all I wanted was one night where I could pretend real life didn’t exist—and that a man like Griffin West could ever be mine.
Chapter Two
QUICK THINKING
Jessa
A horn blared,jolting me out of the memory of one hot summer night with a wealthy man.
“Just breathe, baby.” I smoothed my palms down my jeans, realizing I might’ve come underdressed—if there evenwasa dress code for announcingI’m pregnantto a billionaire.
Through my windshield, I stared at West Tower spearing the city skyline, glass glittering amidst honking traffic. Somewhere on the fortieth floor was the man whose orderly life I was about to blow apart with surprise baby news.
It’d been almost two months since our one unforgettable night together. He’d touched me like I was his goddess, every curve worshipped. No man had ever made me feel like that.
“Stop it, Jessa.” My pulse could trigger an earthquake.
How would he take it? Buy my silence? Pay me off to vanish like I never existed? Men with money had been doing that for centuries to women in my situation.
Still, the dream snuck in—him asking me to stay, falling in love, raising our baby together, and building a life with him. As if a wealthy man crashing into my life could save me and my family. I was never that lucky, and I didn’t believe in happy endings for girls like me.
