She yelped in surprise before turning around. “You, sir, have a playful side I like very much. You kept it hidden until now.”
“I don’t think I was aware of it,” I said truthfully.
She grinned. “So it’s just for me?”
“Just for you, I promise.”
She leaned in for a quick kiss, then smoothed the collar of my coat. “Well, let’s go finalize things with the realtor. Then you can go back to the brownstone, or David will hand me my ass.”
I growled. “First, David’s going nowhere near your ass. It’s mine.”
“And second?”
“I want to spend the day with you.”
I had no idea where this came from, but it was an impulse I wanted to follow.
“But I remember you and David going on about all the things you had on your to-do list today.”
“I know how to sell this to David. I’ll just tell him I’m getting to know your business better. Honestly, he’d probably approve. He’d also show me the middle finger for skipping work, but he’s always making fun of me for being so stiff about schedules and lists.”
Tess grinned again. “So I bring out the playful side of you and make you want to skip work? I’m not so sure I’m good for you.”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
“Okay. Our store is covered by two sales associates, so I don’t necessarily have to go there.”
We both headed outside, and while Tess talked to the realtor, I texted David. As I predicted, he answered with a middle finger emoji.
Laughing, I dropped the phone back in my pocket.
“It’s all done,” Tess said as the realtor left. “So...how serious were you about spending the day with me?”
“Dead serious. What was your plan?”
She blushed. “I was going to pick up some fabric from the store, then head home and experiment a bit. The back room is full of orders waiting to be shipped, not exactly spurring creativity.”
I wiggled my eyebrows. “I’ll gladly watch. Or help.”
“And how exactly do you plan to ‘help’?” she asked with air quotes.
“Any way you want me, Tess. I’m very good at taking off your lingerie.”
She gasped lightly before pointing at me. “You will do no such thing. Promise.”
I cocked a brow.
“Not until I’m finished with the experiments,” she amended.
“That’s better.”
“Okay, then. Let’s go.”
We stopped by the store first before heading to her apartment near Bryant Park.
I only walked her to the door last night when I dropped her off, so this would be the first time I’d gone inside. She glanced over her shoulder several times as she unlocked the first door. Is she nervous?
We left our coats and shoes at the entrance, and then she led me to the living room.