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“Are we really going to a fancy dinner?”

“In shorts?” I ask, glancing down at my bare legs.

“What about…”

“You’re never going to guess it so why don’t you just be patient?”

“I’m not a patient guy,” he says and I laugh as he presses the button for the elevator.

“Oh, I know but just bear with me for a little bit longer.”

The elevator doors slide open and he guides me inside as he pouts a little. He steps behind me and places his hands on my hips as his warm breath caresses my ear.

“Do you remember the first time we were on this elevator together?” he asks, his fingers digging into my skin and I close my eyes, picturing the night of the gala.

“Yes.”

“When you opened your door,” he whispers, sending goose bumps racing over my skin. “And I saw you in that sexy black dress, you almost brought me to my knees and I was struggling to breathe. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen – naked, in jeans and a t-shirt, and all dressed up.”

“Chance,” I moan, letting my head fall back onto his shoulder and he chuckles, sending another breath over my skin. I want him now and I don’t even care if the elevator doors open to a crowd of people in the lobby.

“I knew, right in that moment, I was the luckiest man in the world. I love you.”

“I love you,” I tell him and his lips press against my neck. It steals the air from my lungs. When he pulls away, I stand up straight and the doors open to an empty lobby. With a smirk on his face, he grabs my hand and I realize what he was doing. Damn. I’m all gooey and my pussy is throbbing with need but there is no way in hell I’m going to let him win this little game.

As he holds the door to his truck open for me, I brush past him, making sure that my ass rubs up against his cock before I jump up in the truck. He shakes his head and shuts the door. I watch him walk around the front of the truck and an idea pops into my head. He climbs in and I fight back a smile.

“Hey, baby…”

He glances over at me as he starts the truck. “Yeah?”

“Just so you know,” I prompt and make sure his full attention is on me before I continue. “I’m not wearing any panties.”

His gaze drops to my lap and he swallows, hard, as his hand reaches across the cab almost like it has a mind of its own. I shift in the seat, opening my legs a little bit and smile when I see the fire in his eyes. “I thought you were gonna last longer than this.”

His gaze snaps up to me. “Fuck.”

He turns back toward the wheel and turns the key again, earning a loud screech of protest from the truck and another muttered curse word from him. Blowing out a breath, he runs a hand through his hair and his gaze flicks to my lap as he licks his lips. As he starts backing out of the parking spot, I peek over at him and catch him adjusting a very noticeable erection. I’m fighting back a huge grin. If he wants to play this game, I’ll win. Or, at the very least, he’ll be just as uncomfortable as I am.

I set the GPS on my phone before relaxing back into my seat. We’re quiet on the drive and I’m hoping it’s because his mind is on my panties… or lack there of but as we get closer to our destination, I start getting nervous. This is a big step and I hope he’s ready for it. Oh, hell, who am I kidding? I hope I’m ready for it. Although, I did warn him that I had no clue how to be a girlfriend, so he has no one to blame but himself if it goes badly. Things have been going so well since we decided to make things official and I don’t want to ruin that. I mean, besides all the stuff with my sister but even that has proven to me how much he means to me. I would be an absolute mess without him and Ivy wouldn’t have a hope in the world.

I think back to the conversation I had with my mother on the day Julian came into my office and shake my head. She’s been this way since we were kids, but I guess I always thought that somewhere, deep down, she loved us. But how could she when she won’t even acknowledge that Ivy needs our help?

“This it?” Chance asks, pulling up in front of Aunt Dottie’s house and I nod, my nerves kicking me in the stomach. “You okay?”

“Um, yeah… just nervous.”

He glances over at the house. “Why?”

“Because I’m about to introduce you to my Aunt Dottie and I’ve never done this before.”

“Shit,” he hisses, rubbing his hands over his black t-shirt. “I would have worn a nicer shirt if you’d told me.”

And that, right there, is why I love him.

“You look fine, babe,” I assure him and he nods, looking a little nervous himself.

“Ready to do this?”