“What’s the name of this restaurant?”
“Nix’s Place.”
She stops dead in her tracks and faces me. “You brought me to your place?”
I nod as her dark eyebrows pull downward and her eyes fill with suspicion. “Why?”
“I make a mean bowl of pasta. Best in town.”
“I don’t know. I don’t know you very well.”
“Been to Hassan’s yet?”
She sighs. “Yes.”
“I’m safer than him. I promise you’ll make it home alive. That can’t be said about your going to Hassan’s place, Kennedy.”
She straightens her back and puts her hands on her hips. She’s trying so hard to act tough and menacing, but she just looks downright sexy. “Give me one good reason to go upstairs with you.”
My hand follows the line of her spine before I grip the back of her neck, pulling her flush against me. “Because there’s nowhere else you want to be.” I lower my face close enough that I can feel her fast, warm breath against my lips. “And because of this.” My mouth crashes against hers before she can push me away.
For a moment, she tenses, but when my tongue sweeps across her bottom lip and catches that damn piercing that’s teased me since the moment I saw her, her breathing changes and her body melts into mine. I’m holding her face, controlling her movement with my hand resting against the warm flesh of her neck and relishing every moment of the way our lips move together. Kennedy’s breathy moan when my arm snakes around her back and pulls her middle against my erection makes the attraction undeniable for both of us.
When I pull away, her eyes are closed and her lips are still puckered.
“Kennedy, I won’t force you to come upstairs.”
“Yes,” she says quickly as her eyes flutter open and focus on my face.
“I’d like to talk with you and have dinner in private.”
“Yes,” she repeats in a breathy tone.
Without saying another word, I escort her through the front door. The doorman hangs up the phone as we enter the lobby. “Good evening, Mr. Ash.”
“Evening, Troy. Everything well?”
He smiles, tipping his hat toward Kennedy. “Yes, sir. How are you two this evening?” He rushes to the elevator and presses the button, waiting by our side.
“We’re well, thank you.” I shake his hand as I always do. He’s always looked out for me and never asked too many questions. “I can get it from here.”
“Have a good night.” He smiles at me before turning to Kennedy. “Evening, ma’am.” Kennedy smiles and gives Troy a quick nod.
When we walk inside the elevator and the doors close, she moves to the wall across the tiny space. “I’m sure you live on the top floor, right?” she asks before I have a chance to press the button.
“It has the best view of the city.”
“Uh-huh. Big car, flashy penthouse with a doorman.”
“What are you saying?”
“You pretend that you’re a gentleman, but I’m sure you bring a different woman back here all the time. He didn’t look shocked to see me for the first time.”
I stalk toward her, leaving only inches between our bodies as she presses her back against the wall. “Troy minds his own business.”
Her dark eyes peer up at me, narrowed and hawkish. “Sure.”
My hands rest on the bar behind her back, caging her in. “Kennedy, I don’t invite people back to my place. In our world, privacy is too important.”
