“Yes, sir.”
I liked key lime pie, but I wasn’t sure I liked it two hundred dollars’ worth. But I wasn’t going to complain when Grant was being sweet. I had a feeling he was trying to compensate for his family.
“Someone wants to get lucky tonight,” I said with a small smile.
“That’s the plan,” he told me. “Plus, I need to distract you in whatever way I can from the fact that my family is insane.”
“I think I’m a hit with your father and Gigi. I don’t think your grandfather has an opinion about me. Your mom hates me.”
“My mother hates everyone. I’d be scared if she did like you. That would be a clue for me to run far away from you.”
“That’s a solid point.” We were seated at the end of the table, so we were partially facing each other. I turned my chair a little so I could see him even more directly. “How do we do this?” I asked him softly. “What are we actually doing, Grant?”
He reached over and took my hand. “We’re getting to know each other even better than we already have. We’re going to go back to the city and we’re going to spend time together, falling in love. The way people do.”
For a man who had sworn he wasn’t ever going to get married, he was very confident about this being an easy transition to us having a relationship. I wasn’t so sure. “Just like that, huh?”
“Just like that.” He adjusted his tie. “Though don’t worry, I’ll still give you the agreed-on amount for this weekend. I won’t negate our contract.”
“You and your legal talk. So sexy. Not.” Though I had to admit I was relieved about the money because I had taken additional days off work to be here. Without the money promised, rent next month would be tricky.
“I’m being straightforward. I don’t want you to worry.”
“I appreciate that. But per that contract, this is a sex-free weekend.”
“I added an addendum.”
I laughed. “What? When?”
Grant grinned, his expression smug and naughty as sin. “After you said you don’t read contracts.”
I gaped at me. “You rotten bastard.”
“It merely states if you change your mind, you are most welcome to get naked with me. I have no objections.”
“You’re making that up.”
“No, I’m not.” He held his hands up. “I swear. You really should read documents, Leah.”
I would have ripped him a new one except the waiter appeared with my espresso. “The key lime pie is being delivered, Mr. Caldwell. It should be here shortly.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Grant said, without even looking at the waiter. He was staring at me.
“Thank you,” I said to the waiter, embarrassed. Not only was Grant being mildly dismissive of the waiter, he looked like he wanted me to be dessert.
I sipped my coffee after the waiter disappeared. “Stop looking at me like that,” I admonished. “We’re still in public.”
“You don’t strike me as a woman who is that shy.”
Damn it. He had me there. “Have you had the key lime pie at Blue Heaven in Key West? It’s the best thing ever. I was there five years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday.”
He shook his head. “I’ve never been there. Do you want to go next weekend?”
“Sure,” I said, joking, because that’s the way my world worked. Anyone saying that would be joking. Then I realized he was serious. “What? No. I have to work.”
He shrugged. “Another time, then.”