Page 85 of Mr. Romantic (Mister 2)

“Not tonight. Tonight you get all of it if you want. The romance. The fantasy. Even the truth if you’re still interested.”

“The truth?” Her smile drops. “About… that night?”

I shrug. “If you still want to know. I’ll share. It’s the least I can do considering what will happen after.”

She looks very uncertain. Does she still want to know? Will it scare her off? Will she see it through my eyes? Or the eyes of my presumed victim?

“That sounds… perfect. I do want to know. I don’t know what to think about you right now, but I’d like to learn more.”

I lean into her, pushing her body back, until she almost trips over the threshold. Until we are inside her foyer and I have her pressed against the coat closet. “Good,” I whisper in her ear, my lips dragging down her neck before I bite her shoulder. “Good. Because I’m about to show you everything, Ivy. All the secrets,” I say, taking her hand in mine and placing it over my heart, “in here.” I kiss her on the lips and her mouth is soft, and sweet, and tastes like peaches. “Are you ready for that?”

She sighs into my mouth and says, “Let me get my purse.”

Chapter Thirty-Four - Ivy

I’m breathless as I grab my envelope clutch from the side table. Nolan is staring at me when I turn back, looking like a wolf who wants to eat a rabbit.

I have been thinking about how this night will go all afternoon. Thinking, and overthinking, and wrestling with cold feet and hot desire for what he’s offering.

But now that he’s here I can’t help but feel a little thrill. He’s dressed in a very nicely tailored black suit with a yellow silk tie that matches my dress to perfection. And now that the slap has released some of my pent-up apprehension, I realize I want this more than anything else in my entire life.

More than my first pony, which I bought with my own money. I worked in the school kitchen for two years to afford that pony so I could take lessons on my own horse like the other girls at school. But by the time I got her, I was almost too big.

More than I wanted the free-ride scholarship to Brown, which was the only way my father could afford to send me there, even with his tuition discount as a board member.

More than graduating Brown with honors. Not just part of the top twenty percent of my class, but in the top five.

I want Mr. Romantic, everything he’s offering tonight, more than anything. So I’m going to trust him to keep me safe and make me happy.

Nolan is smiling so big, I have to suck in a breath. “What?”

“I’m just happy you agreed.”

“I’m trusting you for one night, Nolan. Just one night. Please,” I say. “Please don’t disappoint me.”

He extends his hand and when I take it, he pulls me close again, and says. “I won’t, I promise. But when I tell you the truth about what happened ten years ago, please do me the same favor.”

I nod, swallowing hard. What does that mean? What did he do? Will I be able to go through with this night after I know the truth?

“Are you ready?”

I nod, unsure, yet completely sure at the same time. “Yes. Let’s go.”

We walk to his car and he opens my door, taking my hand to help me get in, and then closes me up and walks to his side.

Nolan slides into the butter-soft leather seat and starts the engine. It purrs like a sports car, but it’s a classy sedan, the Porsche logo on the steering wheel telling me all I need to know about his taste in cars.

“So,” Nolan says, once we are on the road and headed towards the river. “Do you like seafood?”

“I’m from New England.” I laugh.

“Small talk, right? I don’t want you to feel weird about the silence that seems to have taken over in the last few moments. Anyway, I got us a reservation at Waterman Grille. Even got them to give us a semi-private table near the river.”

“Do you plan on starting our fantasy in the restaurant?”

“You’re the one who gets say go, Ivy.” And then he winks. “Or no, as it may be. The second you say no and I’m doing something rough, we start. So if you tell me to stop playing with your pussy under the table, you’ll regret it later.”

“Oh, my God. What am I doing?”