“First of all, we don’t have a thing to hide at Destiny, so it’s not really an inconvenience having you inside.”
“At Destiny,” I repeated.
“Second,” Tyler said, as if I hadn’t even spoken, “it occurred to me that I have a few social obligations coming up where it will be handy to have a woman on my arm. And even handier if that woman is a cop.”
“Oh, really? Like what?”
“Like you’ll find out tomorrow night. Did you bring an evening gown to Chicago?”
“Sure,” I said. “I packed it with the diamonds and furs.”
“We’ll shop tomorrow.” His mouth curved up in a slow, lazy smile. “That may be the highlight of my day. At any rate, those were my practical reasons.”
“And the impractical ones?”
“Mostly, Detective, I just want to fuck you. When I want, how I want, and where I want.”
“I see.”
“Sore loser, Detective?”
I regarded him for a moment, then slid across the bench and put the car in park. Then, before he could react, I took his face in my hands and claimed his mouth with my own in a long, deep, sensual kiss.
When I pulled back, he stared at me, and I almost laughed at the pleased surprise I saw in those brilliant eyes.
“I’m not a sore loser at all,” I said. “And if we’re playing this game, I’m damn well going to enjoy it.”
Chapter Seventeen
I was expecting to go straight back to The Drake, but Tyler surprised me by pulling up in front of a bright yellow building with a red and white awning.
“Hungry?”
“Ravenous,” I said, then smiled. “You helped me work up quite an appetite.”
“I’ll remember to re-stock the fridge. In the meantime, Jim’s will do just fine.”
I peered out the window. It was right around midnight and the place was hopping. “Doesn’t look like fine dining to me.”
“That depends on your definition of fine,” he said. “Amazing hotdogs twenty-four hours a day. You’ve never been before?”
I shook my head, my mouth already watering. “French fries?”
“Even cheese fries, if you want them.”
“You do know how to seduce a lady.”
He brushed a quick kiss over my lips before sliding out. When he returned, he handed me a bag with six hotdogs, along with French fries, cheese fries, and two Diet Cokes. “What?” he asked when he saw my amused expression.
“Hotdogs in The Drake hotel,” I said. “Talk about a contrast.”
“Ah, but we’re not going to The Drake.”
“Where are we going?” I asked warily. “Because, hello?” I gestured to the jacket of his I still wore. A jacket under which I wore no panties. Or anything else. “Not exactly up to most dress codes.”
“An interesting point,” he agreed. “Probably wouldn’t matter, but better to be safe.” He nodded toward the backseat. “Check my gym bag. Should be a T-shirt and sweatpants in there.”
I gaped at him. “Unless they belong to your petite lover—in which case, we’re going to have another problem—any clothes I find in that bag will swallow me.”