They carry two tumblers back to the table still chatting, and my eyes flicker back to my wine glass. Even if I’m conflicted about my feelings, coming here was the right thing. It establishes more of a business element to our relationship—if I can call it a relationship. We’ve had nothing but banter and sex since that first night in Wilmington.
Kitty’s words pull me out of my thoughts. “Chicago is surprisingly old-school,” she says, sipping her wine. “I expect this kind of thing in New York and Connecticut, but I thought the Midwest was different.”
“It’s worse, possibly,” I say, running the tip of my finger along the handle of my knife. “Conservatism makes it more resistant. And then there’s the Midwest chill.”
“What’s that?” Her dark brows pull together.
“Some new way of saying we’re cold to strangers,” Marcus says.
“Sounds like a woman-thing,” Paul growls, taking a pull from his scotch.
They’re so openly candid, it’s hard to be offended. “I think it happens just as much with men as with women, although you’re right. Women are so much more skilled at social wickedness.”
I feel Marcus’s eyes on me, and I reach for my glass. It’s almost empty, and as usual, I’m saying too much. I know he’s wondering if my statement has something to do with how I was when I arrived at his office this afternoon.
The memory of walking through that wooden door straight into his arms floods my body with warmth. A quick glance confirms I’m right. Our eyes meet, and his are so curious... I have to grab the reins on this.
“Well, Oscar is a charming young man,” Kitty says, “I know if you take him around and introduce him, people will welcome him at once.”
“You have a lot of faith in my persuasive power.” Marcus exhales a laugh as he tilts his tumbler of scotch side to side. He’s only drunk half of it. Vodka man.
“None of your false modesty,” she continues. “You know I’m right.”
“I have my enemies just like anyone else,” he concludes, and it’s my turn to study his face. I can’t imagine who wouldn’t like Marcus.
“Midwest chill my ass,” Paul grumbles again. “If you ask me, it’s the same old assholes being snotty.”
Marcus catches me watching him and smiles. I can tell he’s as amused by our hosts as I am. “It does allow some people to make themselves seem important.”
“They couldn’t do it without the sheep that follow them.” Paul says.
Tilting my wine, I can’t help observing. “It’s the antiquated notion of social hierarchy. At its core is simple jealousy and revenge.”
We’re quiet a moment, until Kitty jumps in, breaking the awkward mood. “Whatever it is, you’ll introduce him around, Marcus. If anybody doesn’t like you, they’re not anybody I want him knowing.”
* * *
We’re in Marcus’s Audi heading back into downtown. My hands are in my lap, and I go from watching the lights pass outside my window to watching them glide attractively across his square jaw.
“Kitty and Paul are nice,” I say, turning in my seat to face him. “They so open and real. You always know where you stand.”
The muscle in his jaw moves before he speaks. “They’re suburbanites, I guess. Kitty more so than Paul.”
“She’s right, though. You’ll open doors for Oscar faster than if he showed up on his own.”
He glances at me. “I wasn’t sure you agreed with her.” I don’t answer, and he continues. “You were born in Chicago?”
“Yep. Grew up on Dearborn. It’s a bit north of where Sylvia is now.” My voice trails off, and I can’t help a flicker of sadness remembering my young life in that old house.
“Gold Coast,” he says. “So it’s not true you can never go home again?”
Shaking off the past, I manage a little smile. “Not if you have my mother. Sylvia always makes a soft bed for us to land in.”
“Speaking of beds.” We’re pulling into his condo garage, and his naughty grin is back. “I should show you the other side of mine.”
The suggestion sends a tingle of desire through my pelvis, but I laugh it off. “But tell me what you really want to do.”
He slides the car into park and kills the engine before turning in his seat to face me. His eyes slowly rake from my lips downward, and my heartbeat quickens. “I think I just did.”