She looked up at him skeptically. "Now?"
"No, a real date with a real dinner." He could see the apprehension that came over her, and he couldn't quite figure out why. "Is this... Did I mess something up?"
She shook her head. "You didn't mess anything up."
"But you don't want to go out to dinner with me?" he asked, getting only silence in reply. "Just give me a chance, Charlotte. I don't know exactly what you think of me, but I can assure you that this isn't some—"
"It's not you."
Jordan stepped closer and reached for her hand. "So give me one dinner then. Just one."
Charlotte took a deep breath, slightly hesitating as she looked at him. Then she gently pulled her hand out of his grasp and held it up in front of him, palm towards the ceiling.
"What's that mean?" he asked in a confused tone.
"How are we supposed to arrange dinner plans if you don't have my number?" she asked. "Give me your phone."
He smiled and pulled his phone from his pocket, punching in his password before handing it to her. She sat down on the bench under his jersey, the fabric brushing her shoulder as she tapped a few numbers. Then he heard the phone ring in her purse next to her.
"Was that the James Bond theme song?"
She handed his phone back to him. "I'm thinking about writing a spy series some day. Figured I would try out the theme music first."
Charlotte Stone, always full of surprises. He smiled as he pocketed his phone and shrugged on his sheepskin jacket before reaching over to straighten out the collar on hers.
"Did you park out in the VIP lot?"
She nodded and he smiled before putting his hand on her back again to gently lead her out of his locker room. As they opened the doors to the main hallway, he took her hand again, thankful that she didn't pull it away from him. And when they finally made it to the parking lot, he could barely feel the cold night air on his skin. It was too on fire from this woman who seemed to suddenly have some sort of control over him.
"This is me," she said, walking over to a black Aston Martin.
"You really are going for this spy theme, eh?" he asked, leaning up next to her car door.
"I could never drive a car like this in Manhattan," she lamented. "Another perk of living here, I guess."
"So dinner? Is sometime this week good for you?"
"Maybe sometime this week will work," she said.
He pushed himself off of her car and leaned over, gently kissed her good night, and then lingered in her warm vanilla smell. He finally pulled away, but not far.
"Good night, Charlotte," he whispered, his lips teasing hers before he finally stood back a bit. "I promise I'll call you."
"I hope so."
Jordan held her door open as she climbed in before gently shutting it for her. He turned and headed for his car across the lot, determined not to look back at her again. He didn't want her to think he was desperate. But once he climbed into his own car, he finally allowed himself to take another look at her, this time it was in his rear view mirror as she pulled away. He took a deep breath and put his key in the ignition.
Charlotte Stone had bewitched him, and there was no going back.
Chapter 6
I just drove up, see ya soon
Charlotte checked the text message again and shoved the phone in her black purse before hurrying out to the elevator. She didn't know why, but she didn't want to keep Jordan waiting. Perhaps it was just the nervousness of going on an actual date with Jordan King, captain of the Detroit Pirates. Or maybe it was the kiss in his locker room two days ago, a kiss she couldn't get out of her mind.
As she walked out of the elevator into the lobby of her building, she could see him through the glass doors standing next to his SUV in gray dress pants, a button down shirt with a black tie, and a dressy black wool coat. As soon as he saw her, his face changed. It was a smile that she really couldn't describe other than amazing.
"Good evening, Charlie," Jordan said as he gave her a quick peck on the cheek before opening the car door for her. "I'm sorry about the Land Rover. I don't really mind that it's a bit tall, but I also never climb in with a skirt and heels on."
