Chapter 20
The room was what Grant had hoped it would be. It was done in black and shades of gray; the carpet looking more like an abstract painting. There was black wood paneling on the wall behind the bed, and the first word to come to Grant’s mind was sophisticated. They looked around and freshened up before he suggested they head out for some sightseeing. Alex was interested in seeing the college, which was across the street, and Grant wanted to do some things closer to D.C. the next day. It was exciting to have a girlfriend again, someone he could spend his time with and get to know. He was already picturing Alex in his life in the future and it didn’t scare him, for a change. It made him happy.Shemade him happy.
“How about we walk around the campus for a bit, and then go to dinner?”
Alex smiled at Grant as they rode down in the elevator. “I’d like that.”
“Tomorrow, there are things in D.C. we can do before we go to Reagan’s. Museums, monuments, whatever you want.”
“That sounds fun.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek.
They chose to walk across the street to view the campus. All the buildings were red brick and looked very old. Alex couldn’t tell what the architectural style was, but it was impressive and attractive. The weather wasn’t too cold and walking kept them warm as they viewed the large M done in red tulips in the center of a traffic circle. They didn’t walk the entire campus, but wandered for about an hour before heading back to retrieve Alex’s car.
Grant found a steakhouse nearby and took her there. Though the food was good, Grant was eager to get her back to the hotel. It wasn’t as though they hadn’t had any time together since she had been on break from school for the past week; it was just that he craved her all the time. He wanted to try something new with her, and he couldn’t wait to get started.
Alex had no idea what direction his thoughts had taken. She was enjoying the meal and the wine, and Grant had no trouble holding a conversation with her.
“And then he claimed he had no idea what he did with the homework he was assigned!” she finished her story.
Grant chuckled. “I remember those days. I lost everything that was ever given to me, I swear. One minute, it was in my bag and the next, I couldn’t find it. It was like work jumped out of my backpack.”
“Well, you aren’t allergic to work now,” she pointed out with a wink.
“No, and that’s because now I’m working with my hands instead of trying to write an essay. I was good at algebra”—he returned her wink—“but I still lost my homework all the time. Mom would be pissed at me on a constant basis.”
“At least you were good at the subject I teach. That makes me happier.”
He gave her a cocky grin. “I’m smart like you, Miss Banks.”
“I think so,” she said on a chuckle.
“Tell me something.” He shifted in the booth until he was closer to her. “Why don’t you have an Italian last name?”
“Oh, my dad’s dad isn’t Italian. His mother is, and my mother is, but he carried my very un-Italian last name. That was a question I got asked in school all the time. ‘If you eat spaghettini and spumoni, why aren’t you a rigatoni?’ was the common taunt.”
“Clever,” he said dryly.
“Yeah, not so much.”
He ran his forefinger lightly over her shoulder. “I like you just the way you are.”
She smiled and leaned very close to him. “I feel the same.”
He kissed the spot he was rubbing. “Are you finished?”
“I am.”
“Let’s go.” He left cash in the check folder and took Alex’s hand as they stood.
They made it back to the hotel in record time. Grant brought their luggage up to their room and set it by the closet. He opened the bathroom door and gestured to Alex. “I would like to suggest you have a hot bath.”
She looked at the tub. It was bigger than the one she had at home. “That would be nice.”
“Don’t be surprised if you wind up with a guest in here with you.”
She giggled and then covered her mouth. “I won’t.”
He left her alone in the bathroom and she turned the water on while she undressed. It had gotten about halfway full when she stepped in and sank into the heat. It was almost luxurious, and she made it even more so when she found bath salts on the edge of the tub. She poured some in and closed her eyes to inhale their fragrance. She just sat for a minute while the water rose higher around her, and when the door opened, she smiled up at Grant in all his naked glory.
