Scott motions toward the door. “Come on, I saw the desserts here. Didn’t look fresh at all.”
“Okay,” I agree. We head out, and the car is still in the lot by some miracle I don’t understand.
“Where to?”
He’s giving me a chance to call it a date and go home. But going back to my apartment alone is the last thing I want to do right now. Reaching across the space between us, I put my hand over his.
“Show me more of you,” I say. “I feel like you’ve seen me at work, came to my apartment, and I picked skating because I was comfortable with it. I want to see you too . . . the real you. Take me wherever that is, whatever feels right.”
He pauses, looking out ahead. “You sure?”
My heart hammers in my chest. I don’t know where he’s going to take me, but somehow, I know exactly how it’s going to end. And I don’t know if I should be overflowing with excitement or fucking terrified.
Despite the emotions I feel bubbling inside, I flash a radiant smile. “Absolutely.”
Scott grins and starts the car, and again I’m serenaded with the purr of the engine. This time, it turns me on.
“Buckle up.”
Chapter 10
Scott
Daily Horoscope, September 30th
Scorpio - Opening yourself to the slings and arrows of others also opens you to new opportunities.
Turning down Bane Boulevard, I glance at Madison, who’s looking around agog. “Ever been in this neighborhood before?”
She nods, then shakes her head. “Does catching the bus to go to the DMV count? I mean, I’ve ridden through here, but that’s about it.”
I nod and point ahead of us. Danger Tower dominates the downtown skyline. It’s like a fortress rising up in the middle of the city. Sure, maybe by the time I retire, there’ll be bigger buildings. Bane is growing by leaps and bounds, after all . . . or maybe I’ll be the one to build something bigger and better than Danger Enterprises.
Either way, as we pull up, Madison’s neck is twisted as she tries to crane to see the whole building. She looks to me as we enter the parking structure underneath. “All of this is Danger Enterprises?”
“No, just the top five floors,” I reply. “We rent out the rest. Makes the company a tidy profit.”
I lead Madison over to the executive elevator, which allows me to bypass normal night security with the swipe of an ID card and a PIN code. “I’ll take you up to my floor first.”
Our stomachs drop as we go up, the express elevator creating a type of whoosh effect. Madison squeals, “Whoo, oh my gosh!” as she stumbles a bit.
I reach out to steady her, my hand on her hip. I can feel the dip in her waist beneath my palm, and I’m tempted to squeeze her, pull her closer to me, but she’s just getting her footing. I look down at her. “Should’ve warned you about that. I’m just used to it, I guess.”
“Not sure I’d want to get used to that. It felt like a roller coaster.” Madison laughs, and I’m delighted that when she’s surrounded by all this fancy steel and chrome inside a building most folks would love a chance to visit, she’s impressed with a fast elevator ride. Something so simple, and yet . . . new, with her by my side.
I watch her reactions closely, knowing she’ll love what comes next. As we get higher, the back wall becomes transparent, giving a tinted view of the city before and below us. I see her eyes light up and her jaw drop as she gasps . . . but she’s more beautiful than the view outside.
“Oh, my God, it’s a glass elevator! I feel like Willy Wonka!”
“Yep, best views in the whole building from here,” I admit. We’re silent, watching Bane reveal itself as we climb into the sky, stopping three floors from the top. “Here we are.”
I feel a familiar change as the doors open, and as I step out, I’m not just Scott Danger, guy on a date with a really sexy woman anymore. I’m also Scott Danger, Executive Vice President of Danger Enterprises. The weight of the change is a heavy mantle on my shoulders, but it feels right. Or at least it feels . . . normal.
“This is the bullpen,” I say, referring to the short cubicle area that dominates the center of the room. “All of my junior analysts work