“Come with me.” I held out my hand.
The look of surprise on her face was instant. But instead of waiting for her to decide, I grabbed her by the elbow. “We’re leaving.” I have no idea what was pushing me, but I’d made my decision. Instead of going back through the gala, I guided us around the outside of the planetarium, doing my best to avoid other guests who had gathered outside.
When we came to the front, I had the valet call up my driver. Minutes later, I waved my driver off as I held the door open for Chanel to get in the back of the town car. I told him we were going to my home before sliding in the back seat myself.
“You didn’t drive, right?” I asked.
“No, my father had a car service pick me up.”
“Cool. I didn’t want to have to make more arrangements to have your car brought to you.” I grinned as she cut her eyes at me.
“Whatever,” she dismissed, reclining back in the seat, looking more relaxed. “Where are you taking me?” she questioned, glancing out the window.
“My house.” I glanced at her out of the side of my eyes when her head snapped back to me. “You hungry?”
“A little.” Her hand moved over her belly. “I don’t think I’ve eaten since lunch.” She frowned.
“And you spent the night filling up on champagne.”
“How do you know that?”
“I saw you with at least two glasses of the sparkling stuff, and I bet it was more than just those two.” In fact, the way she was looking earlier, I could tell she wanted something stronger.
“Do you think I’m a lush, Mr. Grant?” she teased, causing me to laugh.
“Nah, nothing like that.”
The answer seemed to satisfy her.
“How was D.C.?”
“Why? You missed me?”
She sucked her teeth. “I was just making friendly conversation. I didn’t even realize you were gone.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Lying ass. You were waiting for me to pop up asking you out on our second date, huh?”
She scoffed. “How on earth could you ask me out on a second date when we’ve never been on a first date?”
“Back to that again, huh?” I sighed. “Lunch was our first date, whether you care to admit it or not.” I shrugged one shoulder. “It’s not my usual style for a first date, but it’s whatever.”
As the last words spilled out, I realized the car had stopped, and we were in front of my home. The driver lowered his window to punch in the code to the gate, and we entered, pulling up to the front entrance. I slid out first, again waving the driver off, to help Chanel out. On purpose, I stood a little too close to the door, allowing her body to brush up against mine as she stood. When her lashes lowered, I could tell she felt the same rush of heat I’d felt at our nearness.
“Thanks, John,” I told the driver as I wrapped my arm around Chanel’s waist, pulling her toward the door.
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen the inside of your home,” Chanel commented. The light automatically turned on as we entered the foyer. Her eyes floated around, taking in my charcoal gray-and-black color scheme that adorned the sitting room on the left and my office to the right.
“That’s ‘cause you never brought your ass back from the east or west coasts from time to time,” I retorted. I’d always wondered why she rarely came around. Sure, she lived in different states, but it was a rare occurrence she’d come around even on holidays. Jason had told me if he ever wanted to see his sister, he’d have to make a trip to see her.
She didn’t take the bait I’d thrown. Simply gave me a casual expression and said, “I’m here now. How about a tour?” When her rose pink lips spread into an inviting smile, I felt something roll over in my stomach, and was pretty sure there wasn’t much I would say no to her about.
“Come on,” I relented, grabbing her hand. I ignored how comfortable her hand felt in mine. “This is the sitting room, where I do most of my entertaining. Though I don’t entertain much here.”
“Why not?” she asked, as we exited and crossed the foyer to my office, her hand still in mine.
“I own six different restaurants and a nightclub in this city alone. If I want to entertain, I can do it at any one of those.”
“Ahh, you don’t like people in your private space,” she surmised. “I understand that.”
