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Even now, as he sat outside her apartment, he was lying to himself. Pretending he could take her out for a “practice” date then bring her home while offering her nothing more than another lesson on good-night kisses.
He was full of shit.
Because if tonight went like every other night he’d spent in Penny’s presence recently, he was going to level up in the game—and the next level included taking her to bed.
She claimed to need lessons in seduction, but as far as he could tell, she was already an expert. God knew she’d been seducing him for weeks. Maybe even months.
Gage climbed out of the car then took the elevator up to her place, casting a glance at the closed door of her neighbor’s apartment across the hall, the man who’d apparently been the impetus for Penny’s makeover. He tried to pretend the sudden rush of anger he felt toward the man was based on the fact he’d hurt Penny’s feelings by asking out another neighbor, not jealousy.
He kept walking and knocked on her door. Penny answered it within two seconds, as if she was hovering right behind it, waiting for him.
He considered instructing her to wait a minute or two before answering the door, that it would look better if she didn’t appear so eager.
But he didn’t, because helikedthe idea of her being excited to see him.
Her smile was wide and infectious. “Hey,” she said cheerfully.
“Hey,” he said back.
“You want to come in for a minute?”
He shook his head. If he followed her into her apartment now, chances were slim the two of them would make it for their dinner reservation. She was wearing one of his favorite purchases from the boutique in Rittenhouse Row. The electric-blue cocktail dress brought out the blue in her eyes. The flared chiffon skirt ended just above her knees, while the plunging neckline ensured he was about to spend the next few hours issuing his cock the old “down boy” command.
“We need to go now; we have reservations at XIX Nineteen.”
“Seriously? I’ve always wanted to eat there.” She paused. “But you know, we could have gone anywhere tonight. Chili’s or Outback or Cheesecake Factory would have been fine. It’s just the dating experience I need. I hate that—once again—you’re spending a fortune.”
Gage reached for her hand and pulled her toward him, nabbing a quick kiss. “We’re not going to Cheesecake Factory. You’re beautiful, Penny, and I want to show you off.”
Her face flushed, clearly pleased by his compliment. It bothered him that she’d gotten so few of those in the past that her immediate reaction was an embarrassed blush. He was going to break her of that, telling her over and over how beautiful she was until she believed it.
Dinner with Penny was a much different affair than it had been with Meredith. The conversation was entertaining and nonstop, the two of them laughing throughout most of the meal. They had so many shared interests, it felt seamless as they bounced from one topic to the next, while polishing off a delicious dinner and bottle of champagne on the rooftop bar that overlooked the city.
They’d gotten into a humorous discussion involving their favorite fonts, with Gage confiding he wouldn’t read anything if it was in Comic Sans. He fucking hated Comic Sans. Of course, Penny found that hilarious and promised that henceforth, all her emails would be in that font, which prompted him to threaten to fire her.
A threat that had been a mistake when the cheeky woman reminded him she had another job offer. He really needed to find a way to lock her into a long-term contract. When he suggested a second wager over a game ofMario Kart, Penny demanded he finish fulfilling the terms of the current bet first.
Which sent his mind straight to the gutter in terms of all the ways he planned tofulfillher.
“Although,” Penny said, completely oblivious to the kinky places his thoughts had landed, “I have to admit I’m proud of how forward-thinking we are. I mean, how many grown-ups allowCall of DutyandMario Kartto drive all their important life and business decisions?”
Gage chuckled. “The world would be a happier place if everyone adopted that practice.”
Penny took another sip of her champagne and looked around once more. She’d done so constantly. “It’s so beautiful here,” she mused for the tenth time.
Friends with the manager, Gage had managed to swing it so that he and Penny had the entire balcony to themselves. Dining by candlelight, under the stars, with the Philadelphia skyline as their view, created for a romantic—and yes, beautiful—atmosphere. Not that Gage had taken more than a cursory glance. He was too busy looking at her.
After he paid the bill, they held hands, sharing sweet, almost innocent kisses while they waited for the valet to return with his Audi.
The ride back to her place was sexually charged, the air practically humming from the electricity sparking between them.
He stole a few more kisses in the elevator then walked her to her door.
“Invite me in,” he demanded. A gentleman would let the decision be hers, but the beast she’d unleashed when she opened the door in that gorgeous dress was fighting hard to break the chains barely tethering him and keeping him from kicking down the door and carrying her straight to her bed.
“Come in,” she whispered, the words so sensual, so packed with hunger and need, he lost all patience. He took her key from her hand, unlocked the door, ushered her in, then shut it behind them. Penny shuddered when he threw the dead bolt.
“Gage,” was all she managed to say before he pushed her back against the closed door, kissing her like the plane was going down.
