A driver opened the back door for them, bowing at Eric. “Sir.”
“Jacob.” Eric smiled at the man, clapping him on the back. Jacob had dark skin, black hair, brown eyes, and was easily a few inches over six feet. He was almost as tall as Eric. “How’d Jessica’s game go?”
Jacob’s smile widened, showing white teeth. “Excellent, sir. She scored twenty points.”
“You wait. Those colleges will be knocking on your door someday, begging you to send her to their school.”
“I hope so, sir.” Jacob tipped his hat in respect. “I hope so.”
Eric turned back to Shelby, who had been quietly watching this whole exchange. He seemed so friendly. So very…open. Not what she’d been expecting at all. “After you, Shelby.”
Shelby took a deep breath and slid into the limo, taking in the purple rope lights that lit up the interior. She loved purple. It was her favorite color. The seats were black leather, softer than any leather couch she’d ever owned, and music played in the background.
Classical.
Something told her that this was his thing.
He wooed women on expensive dates, plied them with champagne—which was more than likely in this limo somewhere—and then seduced them into his bed. He probably had a perfect track record because, well, look at him. He was handsome, muscular, quick witted, and rich.
Most women probably ate that up.
She wasn’t most women.
Knowing he probably did this with all his dates, played the same moves and did the same things, only made that tightness in her breath ease a little bit more. She could do this.
She could scare him off.
“Thank you, Jacob.” Eric slid in beside her, and the driver closed the door behind him. He shot her an easy smile, and adjusted himself on the seat. “Jacob’s daughter plays basketball. He’s a single father, and he never misses a game. That’s why it was good you were a little late. I texted him and told him to stay and watch the rest of the game before coming over.”
“That’s…nice.” Ugh. It really was nice. And obliging. And unselfish. All things she hadn’t associated with him after he ignored her existence for almost six months straight. “Do you know him well, then?”
“Well enough. He’d been with my family for years.” He lifted a shoulder. “Even if I didn’t, I’d do the same thing. I try to make life as easy as possible on people. It’s the thoughtful thing to do, right?”
He was thoughtful toward others? Since when?
“Right.” She adjusted her dress around her legs, smoothing it. He watched. “So, let me get this straight. You have a driver you can call, whenever you want him, and he just shows up with a limo?”
“My family does, yes.” He offered her a smile. “I don’t usually bother him, and prefer to drive myself, but I wanted to be free to share a few drinks with you tonight. Speaking of which…” He opened a fridge she hadn’t even seen, and pulled out a bottle of champagne. “Thirsty?”
She choked on a laugh.
She’d been right about the champagne.
“Sure.” She watched him pour. “Why do you live in the apartment building?”
He frowned, finished filling her glass halfway, and handed it over. “What do you mean?”
“You’re obviously quite…comfortable.” She gestured at him and took her glass. “What I mean to say is that you clearly have money. Lots of it. So why live in a building where someone like me can afford a place, instead of living in a bigger, nicer place uptown?”
After filling up his glass, he leaned back. “Because I like to earn what I have. Yes, I could go to my parents, ask them for a house, and they would buy it for me. That’s the kind of parents they are, and they have the money to do so. But that’s not the kind of son I am. I live in our building because I’ve been saving up money, and I’ve been waiting to make junior partner before moving into my own place.”
She lifted the glass to her lips, taking a small sip. She didn’t usually like champagne, but maybe she’d been drinking the wrong stuff. This was delicious. She took another sip. “Didn’t you just make junior partner, though?”
“How did you know that?” he asked, his voice colored with surprise.
“I pay attention.” She gave him the side-eye. “Unlike other people I know, when I work with someone, and live in the same building as them, I try to learn who they are.”
His cheeks turned red. “Shelby—”