He maneuvered the stick shift as if the car were a part of him, the high speed no match for the powerful man. Which made me wonder more about him.
“So what do you do for a living? Besides invest in nightclubs?” I asked.
“Various things.”
I rolled my eyes. “Such as?”
“I own hotels and nightclubs,” he said.
“It’s better than you being on Wall Street,” I mused.
“Technically, one of the hotels is on Madison, but I live off the East River.”
I whistled before I could stop myself. “Swanky address.”
“Decklan picked you up on your way from the Hamptons. Not so rough yourself,” he reminded me.
I swallowed hard. “That’s over.”
Yet here I sat, en route from one man’s cushy beach house to another’s deluxe apartment. I exhaled and said what I should have from the beginning. “Thank you for helping me out.”
“My pleasure, kitten.”
The term of endearment sent a rush of warmth skittering through me and a distinct pulsing between my thighs.
“Stay as long as you need.”
I shivered at the prospect of being alone with Gabe. I wished I knew how long I’d need to remain there, but the hard truth was, his generosity would help me get my head on straight and give me breathing room to make decisions about my future.
“If I stay, I need to earn my own way.” I was finished being kept by any man.
“So we’re back to prostitution after all?” he asked, laughing before I could take offense.
I blushed, my cheeks hot. “I just don’t want to take advantage of your kindness.”
“I’m not kind,” he said, his severe words at odds with the lightness from seconds before. “But if you insist, we’ll work something out.”
I exhaled in relief. More relaxed now, I leaned my head back against the sturdy leather and closed my eyes, when a very unwelcome thought intruded.
I bolted upright in the seat. “Won’t your girlfriend have a problem with me staying over?” Even before I’d been on the receiving end of being cheated on, I drew the line at going after another woman’s man.
His gaze slid to mine. “It won’t be any of her concern,” he said, the words clipped but certain.
“I… Oh.” I bit down on the inside of my cheek, not knowing how to respond to that or what he meant.
We remained quiet, only the rain lashing down on the windshield breaking the silence. I shut my eyes and let the steady beat wash over me, lulling me into oblivion.
“Wake up, kitten.” A familiar, soothing voice washed over me.
A gentle shake and I came fully awake, my surroundings registering. Gabe’s car.
“We’re home,” he said in the deep voice that caused a flood of moisture between my thighs and a distinct softening of my brain.
The one that told me I was in trouble. Sexy, compelling trouble.
* * *
Isabelle: Home?