Phoenix inhales. “Smells good too. I didn’t know what you liked on your baked potato, so I had them put toppings on the side.” He nods toward a pretty basket with little containers of butter, chives, cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream.
As we fix our potatoes, I ask, “What did you do today?”
“Shopped a little. I always bring back a souvenir for Reece when I travel. And I also get our nanny, Lorraine, a magnet. She collects them.”
“That’s sweet of you.”
He chuckles. “Trust me, the woman is a treasure.” He lifts a bottle of red wine from the table. “Just one glass for us tonight, cool?”
“Cool,” I agree.
“Then I called and talked to Reece and Mom for a bit. Mom took her to a playdate with her little friend Brittany.” His grin widens. “Reece was telling Brittany about vegetables with fiver in them—that’s what she calls fiber—and Brittany said her mom gives her juice to help when she needs help going to the bathroom.”
“It’s funny thinking about two little girls discussing fiber in their diets like a couple of old ladies.”
Phoenix points his fork at me. “Oh, just wait till I tell you this part. Brittany apparently ran over to ask her mom what kind of juice it is, and she came back and told Reece it’s called…” he pauses dramatically, “pube juice.”
I snort and choke on the bite of potato I’d just stuck in my mouth. “Pube juice?” I croak out after downing a large gulp of wine.
He laughs. “Yep. She was obviously trying to say prune juice—at least I hope so—but now Reece keeps asking my mom to take her to the store for pube juice. I’m never going to be able to send that child to school. No telling what she’d tell her teachers.”
I smirk. “I’m sure they’ve heard it all before.”
“Tell me how things went with Kam today. What all did you do?” This is one of the things I like about Phoenix. I’m sure he could talk all day about his darling little girl, but he always makes sure to ask about me.
“We signed the contract—thank you for looking over that for me, by the way—and then went out for Philly cheesesteaks. After lunch, we went sightseeing. I got to run up the Rocky steps while Kam videoed.”
“Can I see?”
“Um, sure.” I put down my fork and knife to pull my phone from my pocket. Finding the video, I hand it over to Phoenix.
“Oh, this is good.” He nods approvingly. “Look how she filmed your custom sneakers up close and then pulls back as you ran up the steps.” He hands my phone back to me, and I set it aside. “That would be good for your socials.”
“Kam said the same.”
We continue eating. The steak is the best I’ve ever had, and the company is just as wonderful. Our conversation flows effortlessly, and I’m amazed that Phoenix makes being around him so easy. It’s difficult to even notice the significant gap in our ages.
When we’re done, he refuses to let me help as he loads everything onto a tray and sets it outside the door of the hotel suite. Then he returns and presses the side button on his phone, increasing the volume of the music, which is now a soft jazz number with plenty of sultry saxophone.
When he holds out his hand, I’m puzzled but take it. “Dance with me,” he requests, pulling me to my feet and directly against him.
I should protest, but I really don’t want to. He’s warm and tall, with one strong arm that circles my waist like it belongs there while he holds my other hand firmly in his. This isn’t what my proposition was all about… candlelit dinners and close dancing. It was supposed to be almost clinical just to get the job done. The job being my cherry popping, if you haven’t been paying attention.
But am I complaining? Abso-fucking-lutely not. I’m enjoying this wooing. My head rests against his shoulder, and he pulls our joined hands closer to our bodies. I’m surrounded by this wall of swoon by the name of Phoenix Hale, and my eyes close dreamily.
When the song ends, I reluctantly lift my head and look up slightly until my aqua eyes meet his blue ones. “Thank you. For everything, but you really didn’t have to do all this.”
Phoenix kisses my forehead. “I thought the music would be relaxing, and dancing is natural for the body when there’s music playing.” The distance between his eyebrows decreases infinitesimally. “You didn’t enjoy it?”
Oh god, I sound ungrateful and quickly seek to rectify it. “I loved it. I don’t feel nervous at all right now. I just didn’t expect it.”
He rubs his nose against mine. “Always expect more, Jordie. You’re worth it.” Then he kisses me. It’s soft, a simple brush of lips, but I liquify in his arms. With his mouth hovering over mine, he whispers. “What do you want?”
My voice is quiet but holds no less meaning. “You.”
His hands drop to my butt, pulling me more closely to him. “I want you more than I can describe, sweetheart. Why don’t you get comfortable and meet me in my bedroom?”
I nod, and he presses a hard kiss to my lips before patting my ass. “Go before I stop being so fucking sweet.”
