Stars Over Castle Hill (On Dublin Street 6.6)

Tingles rushed through all my womanly bits at the compliment. “Let’s steer this conversation back on track because I’m in a grocery store where there are too many ears.”

“Of course,” he said, being all gentlemanly. “So. Your address?”

“Shouldn’t we meet at the place, wherever it is, instead? In case you’re planning to abduct me.”

“I’m picking you up in a taxi. I think you’ll be safe.”

I rattled off my address.

“I’ll see you at seven,” he said.

“See you then.”

“Looking forward to it, Jocelyn.” His voice had gone low, a little throaty, and definitely full of sex. But I didn’t have time to respond because he hung up.

And I was left dazed in the supermarket, wondering what the hell I’d let myself in for by accepting a date from someone who made me feel things I’d never felt before.

Things that scared the shit out of me.

***

Formal wear wasn’t something I owned so I had to go shopping. Not my most favorite thing in the world.

By the time Braden pulled up in a taxi outside my building, I was ready to go. I’d given myself plenty of time to prepare as I didn’t want to be a hot, sweaty mess when he showed up.

My phone rang as I was grabbing my wrap. Braden. “Hey, on my way down.”

“I’ll come up. What’s your flat number?”

Ah, no way was he getting in my apartment yet.

Ever. No way was he getting in my apartment ever.

“I’ll be right down.” I hung up.

When I opened the main door to the building, Braden was standing right there, waiting for me. The breath whooshed out of me at the sight of him again.

I kept forgetting how goddamn sexy he was.

He was wearing a black three-piece suit that fitted him to utter perfection. My eyes traveled over his broad shoulders, down his tapered waist and long legs. An involuntary, very sexual shiver rippled down my spine.

I was so busy staring at him, it took me a minute to realize he was devouring me with his eyes. During my shopping expedition, I’d found the perfect black dress. Knee-length with a fitted silhouette, a square neckline that hinted at my cleavage, spaghetti straps, and a sexy open back. I’d paired it with black strappy stiletto sandals.

The outfit was classy with a hint of sex.

Apparently, Braden agreed.

The heat, the undisguised lust in his pale blue gaze, made me want to run back into my apartment as much as it made me want to jump him.

Braden leaned into me and I startled. But he was only leaning in to brush a kiss across my cheek.

I smiled at my idiocy.

“You look beautiful, Jocelyn,” he said as he pulled back. His eyes narrowed and he gave me that arrogant, hot-as-fuck smirk. “Why so jumpy, though?”

“I’m not jumpy.” I skirted around him, striding toward the taxi. “I’m not very good with surprises.”

Braden moved past me, pulling the taxi door open. “I think you’ll like this one.” He took my hand and like a perfect gentleman, helped me into the cab.

When he settled in beside me, he gave me no room, even though there was plenty. His strong thigh pressed against mine. My chest felt a little tight as his huge presence overwhelmed me all over again.

I wondered if I’d ever get used to the magnitude of my attraction to this man.

Part of me wanted to tell him to take me up to my apartment so we could get the sex over with, so I could get him out of my system.

Instead I held strong, staying quiet, staying put as the taxi pulled into traffic. Obviously Braden had told the driver where we were going before they collected me.

“You’re really not going to tell me?”

He chuckled beside me. “No point. We’ll be there soon enough.”

Wherever we were going was in the city?

“Did I tell you how beautiful you look?” he said.

I glanced up at him, feeling breathless all over again at how close we were. It would take no distance at all for our lips to meet. Our eyes locked, and yes, they were full of desire, but his expression, his words, were filled with sincerity, too.

“Yes. Thank you,” I said, feeling goosebumps along the rise of my breasts. “You look great, too.”

He gave me a nod in thanks and continued to stare into my eyes.

The heat started to build between my legs. I wanted him to touch me. I’d never wanted anything so much in my life.

“Up here, then?” the cab driver called, breaking the spell.

We jerked back from one another, and I realized that Braden’s mouth had almost been upon mine before the driver interrupted us.

Braden frowned and looked outside. His expression cleared. “Yes, thank you.”

I peered out the window, surprise of the very best kind moving through me as I stared up at the theater building and the signage for Tosca across its glass front.

Speechless, I allowed Braden to pay the driver and then help me out of the cab. He didn’t let go of my hand, instead threading my arm through his as we walked up the steps toward the building.

“How?” I finally managed.

He smiled down at me. “I know people.”

I stared up at him in wonder at his thoughtfulness. “Thank you.”

He squeezed my arm. “You’re very welcome.”

And as it turned out, Braden hadn’t only managed to get tickets to an apparently sold-out performance, he’d managed to get us front row, first-level seats, right in the middle, giving us the best possible view of the stage.

As we settled into our seats, I was very much aware of how intimate the seating was. Or maybe it was because Braden was such a big man. His arm brushed mine, his knee touched my leg, even our feet touched.

Theater seats weren’t the most comfortable for a guy his size, which made me appreciate this gesture all the more.

“Did I say thank you?” I said, staring straight ahead so he couldn’t read how much he was affecting me.

However, I should have known Braden wouldn’t let me get away with that.

I felt his fingers touch my chin gently, turning my face toward him. I shivered at the touch, and the arrogant bastard smiled.

This time it was the sound of the orchestra that broke our gazes.

For a while, even as excited as I was to see Tosca, all I could think about, all I could feel, was the heat of Braden’s presence next to me. My breathing felt sharp, shallow, and I was painfully aware of every little movement he made.

Eventually, I was drawn into the opera.

Then I recognized the first strains of “E Lucevan Le Stelle” and I felt a moment’s panic. It tapped into my emotions. It made me cry, when I wasn’t really much of a crier.

I tensed, hoping my tension would stop me from falling into the moment. But I did. I forgot about Braden, I forgot about everything but the way the music and the tenor’s voice made me feel. Though I couldn’t relate to the tenor’s words, the pain in his voice while he sang … I didn’t need to understand the words to understand that kind of pain. Like always, the tears fell down my cheeks before I could stop them.

When the moment was over, I felt the gentle touch of Braden’s lips on my wet cheek. I closed my eyes as his kiss lingered, and more tears spilled beneath my lids. He felt the new tears and in response, his fingers lightly caressed my naked arm in comfort.

When he slowly pulled away, I stared at my lap, unable to meet his eyes.

This time he didn’t push me. Instead

he laced his fingers through mine and refused to let go of my hand for the rest of the opera.

***

As we were leaving, I was silent due to my emotional response to the opera. Braden put his hand on my back and it was like being touched by electricity.

My nipples tightened and the soft fabric of my dress felt like a caress, I was so sexually aware of him. But it was mingled with something more than mere physical attraction now.

That connection I’d felt to him in the elevator was back with a vengeance. It did not want to be ignored, and as Braden guided me out of the theater, I wondered how I could possibly try to pretend it didn’t exist.

“I’ll get us a taxi,” he said, pulling me closer into his side as I shivered in the cool night air. “Take you home.”

I tensed in surprise because I hadn’t expected the night to end after the opera. Usually these kinds of dates were followed by drinks at a bar or something, right?

Or in bed.

I glanced up at him and as if he read the confusion in my eyes, he smirked, obviously pleased. “I promised to be a gentleman, Jocelyn. If I don’t take you home now, I don’t think I can hold to that promise.”

“You say that as if I would let you not be a gentleman? I do have a choice, you know.” It came out sharp, a little snotty even, because he had me frazzled. He had me backed against an emotional wall, and my defenses were up.

In answer, he trailed the back of his knuckles along my naked spine and I shivered. Visibly.

I glowered at his smug reaction.

Braden threw his head back in laughter.

And I wanted to laugh with him too. I wanted to curl into his body and feel the vibration of his joy against me.

But all of that terrified me.

I was glad when Braden called for a taxi and it appeared minutes later.

Needing to be away from him, I slid to the farthest side of the bench in the cab and stared out the opposite window.

I almost breathed a sigh of relief when he didn’t breach the distance between us. As the cab pulled away, I heard his soft exhalation and turned to frown at him.

His brows creased together as he stared at me.