His expression looked faintly awestruck as he slowed to a stop in front of me.
I ducked my head, my face heating quickly, and gestured to the dress. I asked quietly, “Is this okay?”
“It’s perfect.”
When my eyes met his again, I discovered he hadn’t looked at the dress.
He turned side-on, offering me his elbow as the corner of his mouth lifted.
My heart skipped and I smiled easily, threading my arm through his. It was easier being this close when we were side by side. I felt comfortable, regardless of how much skin was showing or that the split in the skirt revealed my leg every second step closer to his car.
“How are you feeling after last night?” He broached the subject once we were in the car.
I pulled my attention from trying to cover my exposed leg and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear as I breathed in. “If I don’t think about it, I should be fine.”
He half smiled as he nodded, pushing the key into the ignition. “I’ll shut up about it then.”
During all the other rides in his car, I hadn’t really noticed the subtle vibration the engine emitted through the seats until now as the dress slipped from my left thigh once again — the thigh closest to him.
I fought every urge in my body not to pull the fabric back again, telling myself to just accept that this dress was going to bear my leg all evening no matter what I did. That didn’t stop me from stealing a glance in Dean’s direction though to check if he noticed.
He was driving with that usual calm charisma. One hand resting on top of the steering wheel, the other in his lap, as his eyes remained on the road ahead while we headed from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Only changing where he was looking if he had to check his mirrors or turn a corner.
Or if he seemed to feel my eyes on him and glanced in my direction.
I snapped my attention to the car in front of us and for a second I thought I heard him chuckle under his breath.
After a moment, he asked, “Have you ever been to a penthouse before?”
“No— Actually, yes? My mom showed one to a potential buyer while I waited in the car once—” I cut myself off when I realized I was about to start babbling. “Is this Antonio’s main home?”
He was smiling a little as we cruised through the city. “He owns multiple main homes. The penthouse is just for parties.”
“Do you attend these parties often?” I rested my head back against the seat as I looked across at him.
“Not really. Cocktail parties aren’t really my thing,” he said simply.
My eyes slid to the side of his neck, where the rope burn was harder to see beneath his tattoo. I shifted onto my hip, tucking my left leg up under the other so I was facing him. “How is your throat?”
“Better. The ribs copped the brunt of it though.” He shrugged, “but that isn’t really any different to what I’m used to.”
I shook my head and looked through the front window. “I feel bad for complaining about a papercut or stubbed toe,” I muttered.
He laughed, albeit barely, but it caught me off guard nonetheless. A warmth bloomed in my chest because of it and brought a smile to my lips. I wanted to hear it again, but my attention was drawn to the source of the soft glowing light that lit up his face.
The entrance to the apartment came into view and my mouth dropped open as I took it all in.
“Oh my god,” I whispered, leaning forward to look up through the windshield at the glass building that towered high above us.
It sparkled with the reflection of Manhattan around it and was illuminated with its own golden lighting in the garden below. A four-tier, stone fountain sat directly before the front doors, while a driveway curved all the way around it in a semicircle off the street. Allowing cars to stop directly in front of the huge glass front doors, framed and decorated with gold details. A doorman and valet waited for tenants and guests.
I settled back into my seat when it was our turn to pull up alongside the valet waiting at the bottom of the three sweeping, stone steps. I watched with anticipation as he opened the car door, offering his gloved hand with a charming smile and a familiar face. His sandy blonde hair poked out from beneath his uniform hat.
I placed my hand in his and stepped carefully out of the car, focusing on not flashing anyone. The valet released my hand with a bob of his head, his charming smile shifting into a little smirk before his eyes flicked to Dean, who walked around the front of the car to hand the keys over.
He watched the valet with a very subtle warning in his eyes, and recognition flashed across the young man’s face as he stumbled back. Hastily moving around the front of the car to the driver’s side.
“Nice to see you again too, Levi.” Dean’s smile was forced and didn’t meet his eyes.
