Chapter Twenty-two
Why the fuck are my hands sweating?
I have everything ready and prepped and planned to within an inch of its life; nothing can go wrong, and yet I’m sitting here shitting myself that the entire world is about to implode.
“Sir?” My driver catches my eyes in the rear-view mirror, “Did you want me to retrieve Miss Adams?”
I don’t use a driver often, preferring to drive us around myself, but tonight called for it. I want to give her my undivided attention, and I can’t do that if I’m navigating these city streets.
“No,”I wipe my palms on my thighs and reach for the handle, “I’ve got it.”
He dips his chin in acknowledgement and returns his attention forward, leaving me to go get my girl.
The rain is still coming down in sheets, drenching the city, so I rush into the apartment building and take the short flight of stairs up to Sidney’s floor. Lifting my hand to knock, the door disappears before I can make a connection and my whole breath gets lost in my throat.
I will never tire of looking at this woman.
Dark curls spill over her shoulders, the top section pinned back to show off her pretty face. She’s darkened her eyes with makeup, her lashes looking impossibly long, and slicked red lipstick over her plump lips. There’s a slight shimmer to her skin, a dusting of glitter that makes her sparkle in the right lighting, and that dress…
She’s only ever worn it a handful of times, but it is my favorite. The color against her skin and hair is a perfect contrast, the tight fit following the curves of her body. It flows down to her ankles, the material a soft satin that moves like air. She’s wearing a tall pair of heels, giving her a few more inches, so I don’t have to bend too far down to press a soft kiss to the corner of her painted mouth.
She smiles up at me, “You’re early.”
Turning my wrist, I check the time. “Only by five minutes.”
“Wait here,” she steps back, “I just need to put in my earrings.”
I watch her duck back inside, listening to the steady clip of her heels as she walks through her apartment,and then she’s back, still twiddling with the clasp on her earring before grabbing her black purse and returning to me.
“Where to first?” She asks, melting into my side when I pull her closer.
Natural.
Easy.
The perfect fit against my body.
“I need to feed you,” I tell her. “Then the surprise.”
“Can I get a hint?”
“Not on your life, cricket.”
“That’s mean,” she pouts.
“No, what’s mean is me having to look at you in that dress all evening and keep my hands to myself.”
“You asked for it,” she frowns.
Reaching up, I smooth away the crease. “I wasn’t complaining, Sid. You look stunning.”
“You don’t look too bad yourself,” she softens.
“Couldn’t let you show me up,” I wink, guiding her as quickly as her heels will allow through the rain and into the car. She gives a quick greeting to our driver and then buckles up before we move back onto the road, joining the early evening traffic.
“How was your day?” I ask.
“I think that wedding will get called off,” she tells me.
