‘Sasha, I swear to you, I will not make a fool of you. Give us a chance. I can’t make it up to you if you won’t even let me try.’
She deliberates for a few seconds, chewing that lip hard enough to draw a dot of scarlet liquid. It’s so tempting to lick it better, but we’re already attracting enough attention from the receptionists huddled behind the huge maple desk.
‘If, and I mean if, I were to agree to dinner, or anything else. I need something from you, Ryan.’
‘Anything.’ I mean it.
‘I need honesty. If there’s a problem; if you need to leave abruptly; if something happens I need to know. Don’t keep anything from me for any reason, I don’t care whose secret it is. It won’t go any further than between us, but offer me that respect at least.’
It’s a done deal. A no-brainer. In fact, it goes without saying, though I fully understand her need to say it after last time.
I give her my scout’s honour sign.
‘I need to hear you say it.’
‘I swear. One hundred per cent honesty, transparency, and no secrets.’
She offers a curt nod, seemingly satisfied, for now. ‘Fine. Dinner. But not in the restaurant.’
Even better. No prying eyes or social etiquette.
‘My place or yours?’ I ask, even though technically, they’re all hers.
‘Yours. Unless you want Victoria badgering you about Adam Draker and every other teenage fantasy she might have.’
‘As much as I adore your kid sister, I’d really like some time alone with you.’ My mind wanders to the outdoor hot tub. It’s the perfect night for it, if I can only persuade her to get into it with me.
She swallows hard as her eyes meet mine. I’m not imagining it. There’s a fire burning in her soul for me. What we have is real. It’s no ordinary love.
Love? I catch myself. Is it possible to have fallen in love with her again already?
Fuck that. If the lyrics that burst out of me are anything to go by, I never fell out of love with her in the first place. Love was never a question. It was everything else.
‘Give me an hour to get changed and organise food to be sent up.’
‘Don’t go to any trouble.’ I meant with the clothes, because I have every intention of stripping them straight off her the second she permits it.
‘I take it you still like your steak medium rare?’
Hmm. She’s not quite on the same page yet.
‘I’ll take it any way I can get it.’ I shoot her a wink and she slaps my arm.
‘I said dinner.’ A smirk twitches at her lip, which she tries desperately to hide.
‘I’m already thinking about dessert.’
From the way her breath catches in her chest, she remembers exactly what I prefer to eat for dessert.
‘See you soon.’ I plant a kiss on her mouth before she can pull away, then head up to my suite to get myself ready.
I need a shower, and not just to wash. There’s no way I’m peaking early tonight. I’ve spent ten years thinking about this. I need to ensure it’s memorable for the next ten.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
SASHA
Rummaging through the contents of my wardrobe, I discard five different outfits before settling on a classic black dress. Its cut is simple, skimming all the right places but without actually revealing much flesh.
