The Gallery (Contemporary Reverse Harem 4)

“I’m sorry, Sumner. That was so rude of me. I haven’t been sleeping well. I have a lot going on, and I probably had too much champagne.” I reached back to rub my neck, stiff from multiple nights of tossing and turning.

He nodded while his sultry gaze studied me. It was unsettling. In a good way.

“Yeah. I guess everyone knows my business these days,” I sighed.

“People know some of your business. But not all of your business.” He stood and extended his hand.

I let him pull me to my feet. I was amazed at how my fatigue had suddenly weighted my arms and legs. Funny how that sort of thing sneaks up on you.

“Let me take you home,” he offered.

“Okay.”

I wasn’t sure what he had in mind, but I figured I’d find out pretty quickly.

I’d sent my driver home long ago, so it was nice to have someone hail a cab for me. He followed me into the backseat.

“Oh, I forgot to say goodbye to Blu,” I said, reaching for my phone to send a text.

Sumner glanced at his watch. “He usually heads out about this time. He has his own social circle to catch up to.”

I gave a small laugh. “Isn’t that the truth.”

He turned to face me. “Avril, you are so beautiful tonight,” He brought my hand up to his mouth and ran his lips across my palm.

Good lord. And the way he looked at me. If I wasn’t careful, I might melt right there on the backseat of the cab.

He smoothed his fingers across my cheek to reach my hair, letting them tangle in and out of it. Devon had done that when we were first married, but I could no longer remember the last time he had.

Sumner’s hand, expansive and strong, was warm, actually hot against the back of my neck. I let my eyes flutter closed and dropped my head against him.

When I turned my face to look at him, he brushed a light kiss over my lips. And almost before I could register what he’d done, he was already looking out the cab window again, the streetlights flashing over his face as we passed each one.

That was all I was going to get?

I screwed up all my courage. “Would you like to come in with me?” I tried to sound bold and worldly, but I think it might have come out as more of a squeak.

Holy shit, had I really just said that? I immediately regretted it.

But the evening had been so sexy, and Sumner was so damn gorgeous.

And it had been so long…

He ran his hand through his black hair and sighed before looking back at me.

“Yes. I would like to. Actually, I’d love to. But I’m not going to.”

Geez. Way to make a girl feel good.

“I will, however, come in with you another night, after I’ve taken you for a proper evening out, when you are not on the brink of falling asleep, and when you are not already buzzed by several glasses of champagne. I make it a practice to never go home with women under the influence.” He smiled down at me.

Goddamn. Where had this man come from?

And he was right. It wasn’t the right time. It melted my heart that he respected me enough to want it to be a special evening. We pulled up in front of my building, and he walked me to the door.

“I’d like to have dinner with you this weekend,” he said, waiting for me to turn my key in the lock. “And I want to give you a heads up that Chase may be calling you, too. Actually, all the guys probably will.”

I still didn’t get it.