“Mm-hmm.”
With a sigh, he pulls into the parking lot, then shuts off the car, giving me his full attention. So much so, I kind of want to squirm in my seat.
“Is there a problem?” I ask.
“Did you just say girlfriend?”
My eyes bulge. “Did I?”
“Yeah.” His tongue darts out, and he wets his bottom lip. “Yeah, I think you did.”
Well, crap. We haven’t hadthe talk. I mean, we haven’t necessarily needed to, but since I’m coming as his plus-one to a family event, I guess I just assumed? “Oh, well I…”
I start to pull my hand from his, but he stops me. “No takebacks now, Little Thief.” A sexy smirk teases the corner of his mouth. “Stealing hearts, relationship titles, the whole gambit, huh?”
I rub my lips together, my vocal cords useless. He said so himself. No takebacks now. And the truth is, I don’t want to. I really like Jagger. Like,reallylike him. So, if that’s the case then…is a title likegirlfriendreally such a big deal?
“All right, girlfriend,” he murmurs. Leaning over the center console, he moves my hair behind my ear. “We’ll go inside.” His lips skate across the shell of my ear. “Did I mention how beautiful you look?”
I peek over at him, sharing his breath. “You may have mentioned it when you picked me up.” I pause. “And I kind of pieced it together when you talked about shoving my dress up to my waist and taking me from behind, too, but, ya know.”
The quick peck he plants on my lips catches me off guard before he pulls away. “Glad we’re on the same page.” With a wink, he exits the driver’s side, then moves around the front, opening my door.
A shiver runs down my spine as I climb out of the car. It’s getting colder. The leaves are changing. The promise of winter clings to the air. I probably should’ve brought a coat. Oops. Arms folded, I lower my head, determined to get inside the building as quickly as possible before I freeze to death. Okay freeze is a bit of a stretch, more like catch a cold, but I digress.
“Damn, I failed,” Jagger mutters beside me. “I forgot a coat.”
“You and me both.” I rub my hands up and down my bare arms in an attempt to create some friction.
“I meant for you.” He laughs. “I forgot to send a coat with the dress. My bad. Here.”
Jagger starts to take off his black suit jacket, but I wave him off. “I’m fine?—”
“Vi—”
“And be accused of stealing something else that doesn’t belong to me? Again?” I challenge. “Seriously, let’s just go inside.”
He shrugs it off anyway and sets the warm material on my shoulders. “It’s cute how you think you can fight me on this.”
He’s right. I don’t know why I try. Even so, the idea of giving into him without dispensing a little snark in the process feels wrong, so I counter, “What about my fancy new dress?”
“You’d look pretty in a garbage bag. Besides.” He snakes his arm around my waist. “I like seeing you in my things.” The feel of his lips brushing against my forehead makes me damn-near swoon. Seriously, this man is way too smooth for his own good…or for mine. As if he can read my thoughts, he smiles against my forehead, adding, “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
The building is gorgeous. And huge. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but white pillars, large glass doors, rich red brick, and a literal doorman with white gloves, a black suit, and a top hat waiting to open the door for us was not on my Bingo card.
Okay, I’m officially nervous. I cling to Jagger’s side like Velcro as he leads me toward the entrance. When we reach it, the doorman opens it without a word, ushering us inside. On the opposite side, there’s another man. His suit looks more expensive, and in his hands is an iPad.
“Name?” He frowns, then stands and bows. “I apologize. Right this way, Mr. Harden.”
Between both gentlemen, I’m reminded of the Harden Nights and the security guard who pats everyone down before granting access. I wonder if this is where the boys got the idea. From shindigs like this one. I bite my tongue, withholding my joke about whether or not I should’ve left my phone in the car when the man moves aside so we can enter the actual ballroom.
“Thanks, Jeeves,” Jagger says, directing me past him.
“Tell me you’re joking,” I mutter under my breath.
His brows knit. “What?”
I look over my shoulder, confirming we’re far enough away that the guy can’t hear me. “His name is Jeeves? Seriously?”
