He looked up at her. “You noticed that?”
She smiled, and it was like the sun had come out. “Yes. I notice a lot about you. Like how you frown, right here, when you're worried about something.”
She leaned across the table and gently pressed her fingertip into his brow. “When it's something you don't want me to feel bad about, you get these little lines near your eyes. Right now, you have both.”
“Come here,” he said, motioning to her. She grinned and happily settled into his lap. He loved the way she felt against him. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her shoulder, breathing in the soft scent of her.
She smelled like flowers and his soap. He loved the way she smelled like him. Like she was now a part of him.
“You smell so good,” he murmured. He nuzzled her shoulder with another kiss.
“I need a shower,” she replied with a giggle. She turned in his lap and grinned. “Care to join me?”
As if he could say no.
In a smooth motion, he picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. She giggled and clung to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He loved the sound of her laughter. He loved the way she felt in his arms. He loved everything about her.
And he was going to show her just how much in the shower.
“I wish we could just stay like this the rest of the day,” Cassie murmured. Her hand drew lazy circles on his bare chest as they lay tangled in bed sheets. Her breasts pressed against his ribs, reminding him she was there with every breath she took.
He'd already had her in the shower, and then again now in the bed, yet, with her breasts touching him like that, he was practically ready to go a third time. With Cassie, he felt like a teenager. She made his body feel young.
“I would like that,” Wyatt agreed. He tried to ignore the clock on the nightstand. It was almost time for his date, and they both were avoiding it. With every moment that ticked closer, dread settled a little more firmly around his shoulders.
“Brianna says the hotel is finally losing some of the photographers. Lenny has been telling them I'm not there all week, but then he loves to preen for the camera and tell them all about how our hotel attracted such a big name.” She shook her head. “I hope I can go back to work soon.”
“You don't have to, you know,” he said, trying to keep his voice neutral. He didn't plan on asking her to the island just yet, but if it was a natural question...
She sighed. “I know. I just miss my old life.” She stilled and then sat up on her elbow to look at him. “I mean, I love having you here. I do. I just miss being able to go to the grocery store. I miss working and being busy. This has been great, but I don't think I could live like this forever.”
Wyatt nodded. He took a deep breath. He could ask her now.
“Anyway, that's not really important right now.” Cassie smiled down at him. “You have to get ready. I don't want Lorna complaining because you were late. Knowing her, she'd just say that means she gets to keep you for double.”
Wyatt let out the breath. He would ask later. In business, timing was everything. If you asked a client for something too soon, you would lose the deal. It paid to be careful and make sure that the client was in a mood to say yes before offering a contract.
Slowly, reluctantly, he rolled out of bed. Cassie kept her eyes on him, watching him dress. He loved the wicked gleam in her eyes and the way she looked at him.
He dressed in dark blue slacks with a matching business jacket. No tie. He wanted to look presentable to the restaurant, but casual at the same time. He didn't want to give Lorna any ideas that this was anything more than a pre-arranged meeting.
“Now, don't forget me,” Cassie said, coming out from the bed. Her naked form stole his breath as she sashayed up to him. She went to her tiptoes and planted the sexiest kiss he'd ever had on him. There was something incredibly hot about being fully dressed while she was bare.
“As if I could,” he whispered. His body was begging to go another round with her. He didn't know how she did it to him. She just kept turning him on, and his body kept responding. With Cassie, he felt like he would never run out of sexual energy for her.
She grinned and pulled her hair back. “It won't be that bad. At least you're going to have good food.”
He kissed her, pulling her soft skin into his clothed body.
“You should get dressed,” he told her, keeping her close to him. “Your friends will be here soon.”
She gave him one more small kiss and then pushed him away. He didn't want to go. He would rather go have a root canal than spend a romantic dinner with a woman that wanted him only for his money.
Slowly, he left the apartment and the woman he wanted to spend the evening with behind.
Chapter Thirty-One
Wyatt