“Oh. Trace. You scared me.”
“Sorry, Miss Davenport.” He stood in a black suit, one hand grasping the wrist of the other arm in front of him. His stoic expression was impossible to read.
“What do I owe the pleasure?”
“Mr. Baxter would like you to accompany me. I am to take you to a dinner engagement with him.”
Shock, surprise, amusement, and anger all roiled through me like ingredients in a morning smoothie in the blender. “Oh, he would?”
“Yes. If you would accompany me, I’ll drive you to the location.”
“What makes Mr. Baxter think I want to have dinner with him?”
“I’m not privy to Mr. Baxter’s thoughts, Miss Davenport.”
I wanted to decline. My instinct told me that no good would come of this and it would hurt me even more. A part of me, though—that part that wanted him to ask me out on Monday—wanted to not hesitate for a second and jump into the black Navigator and be whisked off to dinner with Mr. Dark Eyes.
You only live once, Reggie. Let’s see where this goes.
“Very well.” I exited my Lexus, shut my car door, and pressed the key fob twice to lock my vehicle. The chirp of the lock being engaged echoed through the garage.
* * *
Within an hour I was at the Penthouse restaurant again on the top floor of the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica. Dirk had a very private table with a magnificent view of the ocean and the hills to the north. He had wine and calamari already at the table. I slid into the booth seat and took in the view of the hills to the north. The view was breathtaking.
When I finally turned my head to face Dirk, he stared at me intently. It was the same penetrating glare he had on his face at our last appointment. In the restaurant's light, it gave off a different vibe. This gaze seemed to undress me. There was a heat level to it, not present at our session.
“I’m glad you could make it. I hope you stay this time for the entire meal.”
“The food is probably worth staying for, but is the company?” That came out a little sharper than I intended.
“The food is better, but the company is definitely worth it.” He didn’t seem phased by my tone.
“Why am I here?”
“Because you’re hungry.”
The server appeared on my left side. “Wine?”
I nodded, and he filled half of my wineglass with a dark wine.
“Merlot?” I asked.
“Yes. Ma’am. Our finest bottle.”
I swirled the lovely mixture of dark grapes and sniffed. Its aroma was heady, rich, and I could detect a hint of plums. After taking a sip, I nodded to the server, letting him know I was happy with the wine.
Gazing out the window and watching the waves roll up onto the beach, I contemplated whether I would stay or walk out. The first time Dirk had Trace bring me here, I had walked out before I had even finished the one drink I ordered. It seemed a shame to do it again. Besides, he might answer my questions this time, even the ones inappropriate to ask in my office.
And why was I being so fickle? I would have said yes on Monday if he had asked me out. Maybe it had to do with him sending Trace to bring me to him, rather than calling me and asking me out. Maybe I didn’t like being summoned.
In the end, though, I was here. With him. Ready for dinner at a very nice restaurant in Santa Monica.
“Penny for your thoughts.” He broke the silence just as I decided to stay.
“I was just debating whether I would stay or leave again.”
“And what did you decide?”
