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“Just like that?” she asked, a smile at the edge of her lips.
“Just like that.”
She gaped at him, a myriad of expressions crossing her face before it finally settled on relief. “I actually believe you can help me make this work.”
“Maybe our word is ‘partnership,’” he said, touching the corner of her mouth where a soupçon of worry still lingered.
The waiter brought their first course, and they settled into a comfortable, light conversation about Erik and the steps he and Didier had been taking to help him get over his awkwardness talking to women. Before long, she’d forgotten her worries about her work and Chris, and she was relaxed next to him again.
That made him feel like he’d carried his team to championship.
Dinner was good, but it was the company that made the evening. He listened to Rachel’s childhood stories and growing up with Lottie. His own grandmother was equally strong and forthcoming with her opinions, but more reserved in some respects. They were British, after all.
The only time Rachel withdrew a little was when she laughingly said she read that his grandmother was a countess and he’d confirmed it. He changed topics quickly, telling her a story about the time Coco had had a craving for coffee from a particular café she loved, so he’d driven her from Paris to Italy, only to find out the café was closed that day.
As dinner wound down, he texted his driver to have him ready. He’d already made private arrangements for tonight, on the off chance Rachel would be amenable to spending some time with him after. He’d imagined kissing, but now that he knew about her knickers…
Still, he wasn’t going to assume anything, and she was too important to rush into something. He had the long game in his sights.
Despite that, his stomach tightened with anticipation, becauseher knickers…
The waiter brought their check. As he reached for his wallet, Rachel began to reach for her purse. He watched her, thinking she was going to reapply her lipstick. When he saw her pull out her wallet, he stopped in stunned silence. “What are you doing?” he managed as he watched her open it.
“I’m paying for half,” she said as if it should have been logical.
He frowned, perplexed. He’d never had a woman offer to pay—his cousins didn’t count. He was at a loss how to handle it. On one hand it was ridiculous because he was a man who’d taken his woman to dinner. On the other hand, he understood pride and didn’t want to take that away from her.
So he lifted her chin and kissed her. “I’m taking you to dinner tonight, but thank you.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
The concern in her gaze made him want to throw her over his shoulder and keep her forever, but he just kissed her. “I’m sure.”
Taking care of it, he escorted Rachel outside, stopping to hold her arms before they reached the car. “Our car is here. He can take us home, if you want.”
Glancing at the car, she pursed her lips. “Lottie is at my home, and Didier and Erik are at yours.”
He nodded. “True.”
“So that wouldn’t be the most ideal in terms of privacy.”
“No, it wouldn’t.” He gestured down the block. “I didn’t want to assume, but I wanted to be ready for any eventualities, so I rented an apartment. I want to make it clear that I did it before I knew about your knickers, and not because I expected anything that involved taking clothes off. I just wanted us to have a quiet, private place where we could be together.”
Her eyes widened. “You rented an apartment? Like a sex pad?”
Could she be any more charming? He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Darling, it’s called making love.”
The blush that lit her cheeks was even more darling. “Whatever it’s called, I’ve never done it.”
“I haven’t either.”
She snorted. “Please. You’ve probably had tons of sex in places.”
“In hotels, yes, which is why I’m not taking you to one. And I’ve never made love, and I’ve certainly never made love to you.” He lowered his mouth to hers. “We can wait if you aren’t ready.”
“I don’t want to wait,” she whispered against his lips.
Relief made him lower his forehead to hers. “I’ll send the driver home and we’ll walk then.”
