“Thanks. I like it too.”
Afterward, I put on my heels and grabbed a clutch from the small table where I’d deposited my makeup. “Okay, I’m ready for the evening.”
He nodded, looking me up and down. “You truly look magnificent.”
“Thank you,” I said quietly. “I bought this dress at a super-clearance price. I wanted to wear it on the night I thought my ex would have proposed.”
Griffin walked to me and tilted my chin up. “I promise you one thing tonight. You are going to have fun. Much more than you would have with that moron you were with. I’m sure he was a dead bore. I, on the other hand, am fantastic company. Anyway, once the dinner with Jude and his wife is over, I’ll think of something else.”
“What do you mean?”
“To keep you entertained for the rest of the evening.”
I licked my lips. “Game on, Griffin.”
We walked side by side out of the house and I locked the door behind us. Griffin was driving a Range Rover. I climbed into the passenger seat, arranging my dress because it had a slit on the left thigh that went almost all the way up. It was fine when I was walking, but I had to be careful when I was sitting. Griffin got in just as I finished arranging my dress.
I kept touching the leather seat and the inside of the door. Itwas plush and luxurious. “I feel like I’m flying first class. I imagine they have fancy seats like this. My car is old as dirt.”
Griffin didn’t say anything, but his eyebrows were almost up to his hairline.
I winced. “I promise I’ll have a better filter around Jude and his wife. Do you know her name?”
“No, I don’t. Listen, you don’t have to pretend or anything. You’re damn amazing just the way you are.”
My heart soared in my chest. I realized that I hadn’t been paid compliments in a long while, and that was fucked up.
“Just be yourself. I’m sure they’ll like you.”
“How can you be so sure?” I teased.
He looked straight at me before focusing on the road again. “I like you.”
I blushed—there was no denying it. At least he couldn’t see because he was driving.
Nope, he chanced a glance in my direction and zeroed in on my cheeks. He totally knew I was blushing.
There was no way for me to hide. Then again, why should I?
We spoke a bit about San Diego and our favorite spots in the city as he drove to the restaurant. We arrived twenty minutes later. Even before I stepped inside, I realized it was the fanciest place I’d ever been—even more so than The Loft. For one, they had a valet. He took the car fob and then drove Griffin’s car off to a parking spot. The staff inside were dressed so elegantly that I almost felt out of place.
No, I corrected myself. Most of the things I owned would have been out of place, but not this dress.
“Our reservation is under Griffin Sterling,” he told the hostess.
“Ah, yes. Mr. and Mrs. Carson are already here.”
“Damn it,” Griffin muttered.
“Are we late?” I asked.
“No, the guy just insists on coming early.”
As we followed the hostess, Griffin put a hand at the small ofmy back. I instantly straightened up, and then he tucked me into his body.
Oh, right. We were supposed to be pretending to be crazy about each other. Being touchy-feely was part of the deal. Why didn’t we discuss that before? Then again, what was there to discuss? It wasn’t something you could choreograph. It had to be natural.
I leaned into him as if I couldn’t get enough. I felt him suck in a breath when the side of my boob brushed his chest.
