AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s up to you, Scary Spice. Date or not, I just know I want you there with me.”
A beautiful flush works up her neck and spreads to the tips of her ears. “So, if I said it could be a date . . .”
“I wouldn’t complain in the slightest.”
A stray curl slips from behind her ear when she looks away, and I fight the urge to reach toward her and twirl it around my finger.
“But there’s no pressure. As long as you come with me, I don’t care what you’re coming as—date or friend,” I add.
Her eyes meet mine again. They’re more reserved than they were just moments ago, and I frown. “What kind of party is this? I don’t have much dating experience, but I’m pretty sure having a first date around a large group of people isn’t exactly ideal.”
“So, it would be a date?”
“Did you listen to anything else I said?”
“Yes. And I know it’s a bit unorthodox to have a first date surrounded by all of my family and friends . . . actually, you’re right. That sounds far less appealing when I say it out loud. Friends, then?”
I try to ignore the pang of disappointment that label brings and slip a smile on my face. I mean, come on. What man in his thirties brings a woman to meet his family on the first date? I inwardly wince. Maybe I am a bit rustier in the dating world than I thought.
“I don’t do well with big crowds. I’m not exactly a people person,” she says.
“Luckily for you, I am. Let me worry about the schmoozing.”
She lifts a brow. “I find it hard to believe you’re okay with dating someone who would rather find a quiet, empty room to sit alone in than gossip with the girls.”
“Dating? How presumptuous of you, Scarlett.” I smirk.
Scarlett glares daggers at me. She jumps to her feet, huffing. “You’re infuriating.”
I grab her wrist and gently pull her toward me. There’s still feet of distance between us, but I’ve become sucked into her orbit. Her skin is warm and smooth beneath my fingertips. I revel in the hitch of her breath when I run my thumb over her wrist bone.
“I’m sorry. I know what you meant,” I begin. She stares down at my hand around her wrist. “And to put it bluntly, I don’t give a flying fuck if you want to sit in a quiet room and take a break. Tell me you want to go, and I’ll come with you. Tell me you want me to stay, and I’ll keep up appearances for the both of us. Personally, I’m partial to option number one. I’m sure there are plenty of things we can do to keep ourselves occupied in the dark.”
Her eyes travel up the length of my arm and torso before finding mine. They flare with a fierce heat that makes my dick stir.
“I came in here for a reason,” she says breathlessly.
I release her wrist and slowly, cautiously, touch her fingers. When she doesn’t pull away, I slip them between mine and test the way it feels to hold her hand. “Tell me you’ll come with me this weekend.”
“You’re sure you want me there? This is your last chance to change your mind.”
“Absolutely. Without a doubt.”
“And this has nothing to do with you helping Willow? Because she’s outside your office right now thinking her life is about to end.”
I tighten my grip on her hand. Scarlett’s protectiveness of Willow is becoming one of the most stunning things about her. “You could tell me to shove my offer up my ass right now and I would still do everything in my power to help that girl.”
She gifts me a small smile. “Then yes. I’ll come.”
Triumph blares in my ears, but I try to silence it. Yes, I might want to throw my arms up and shout a quick boo-yah, but there is a concerned sixteen-year-old waiting for me to tell her everything is going to be okay.
“Then let’s go find Willow.”
SCARLETT
Mom rubs her hands down my arms for the third time in a row before stepping back and placing the tip of her finger to her chin. She squints her eyes, examining me.
“Well?” I ask, ignoring the urge to rip out the small hoops in my ears. I don’t remember the last time I wore earrings, but I doubt I like them any more now than I did then. “Do I look private yacht worthy?”
