Worth Every Cent (Worth It 2)

“Gray, what the hell has—”

“I have an idea,” he said, “and you’re going to go along with it. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.”

My eyes widened as we blazed past Anton’s house. I watched it recede in the mirror out the window before I turned my gaze to Gray’s profile. He gripped the steering wheel with all his might, pressing down on the gas pedal as hard as he could. We got up to one hundred miles an hour at one point, leaving Stillsville in our dust as we traveled along the

deserted highway.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

But Gray remained tight-lipped on the notion. And it wasn’t until we drove into the city limits of Chicago that he finally began to speak.

“We need a break from that damn town,” he said. “We need to clear our heads. We need to remind ourselves that there’s a whole wide world out here. One that isn’t as dysfunctional and as angry and toxic as Stillsville.”

“So we’re just spending the night in Chicago?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “We’re going to experience a five-star night in Chicago. There’s a very big difference.”

He looked over at me with a wild grin on his face that sent adrenaline pumping through my veins. The vague reminder of how spontaneous my life used to be came flooding back to my memory. I’d never actually been to Chicago. I’d only seen it from a distance while passing beside it. Andy had driven by it on our way into Stillsville after he’d lost his job, promising me that one day he’d take me to the city for a weekend and show me off to the world.

But it looked like Gray would end up fulfilling that promise.

I settled back into the seat and watched as the city passed us by. Tall buildings and neon signs illuminated with all sorts of letters and offerings for food. I gawked at the numerous stores and the people walking along the sideways laughing with their friends. I was completely taken by the life and happiness that bled through the veins of the Windy City.

Then, Gray pulled into the poshest hotel I’d ever seen.

He rolled down the hood of the convertible and jumped out, tossing his keys to a valet. He came around to my side and opened my door, then offered me his hand. I smiled up at him as he helped me out, then he threaded our fingers together.

“Make sure to get the car washed as well,” he said to the man. “And keep it out of the sun.”

It felt weird going into a hotel with no luggage, but Gray marched us right in there like it was completely normal. I followed closely on his heels, feeling his strong, confident hand threaded with mine as we made our way to the main desk.

“Good evening, and welcome to The Peninsula. How may I assist you this evening?”

“Is your penthouse suite available for the weekend?” Gray asked.

“The weekend?” I asked.

He shot me a look before smiling at the front desk attendant.

“It is, sir. Would you care to book it through Sunday?”

“I would. I would also like to book a couple’s in-room massage for tomorrow morning,” Gray said.

I gawked up at him when the words fell from his mouth. I’d never gotten a professional massage before.

Gray booked the room for the entire weekend before dragging me over to the elevator. We stepped in and he held me against his body, staring into my eyes while the encasement climbed to the top. The decadence of the elevator was enough to make me feel undressed, but the second we stepped into the hotel suite, I felt severely underdressed.

The floor to ceiling windows looked out over the expanse of Chicago. It rose above many of the buildings and had a small in-balcony pool with two chairs beside it. My white t-shirt and jean shorts had no place in the world we had stepped into, and I wondered what the hell I was going to wear for the entire weekend.

“Don’t worry,” Gray said, as he wrapped his arms around me. “We’re staying in tonight and ordering a late dinner. Then tomorrow, we’ll go shopping for some new clothes.”

“It’s—I’ve never—”

His lips fell to my neck, silencing my words as my head fell off to the side.

“Welcome to my world, Michelle Danforth,” Gray said. “Now, what would you like for dinner?”

Chapter 21