Bachelor Swap - Lacey Black Page 0,38

of Kyla’s building. Since I’m early, I opt to go upstairs and knock on the door, something I haven’t really done in a while, but it gives it the true official date feel. When the right rear door is opened, I slip out and head for the front entrance.

The same doorman from my last visit is working and smiles as I approach. “Good evening, Mr. Wilder. Miss Morgan is expecting you,” he says, leading me to the elevator. He goes through the security process before nodding and sending me on my way.

It doesn’t take long before the elevator is stopping on the top floor. The door dings before it opens to the penthouse foyer. I’m able to take about three steps off the car before I’m stopped in my tracks by sheer beauty. Kyla is descending the stairs from the second floor. The moment she sees me, a smile crosses her pink lips.

She walks to me, since I’m suddenly unable to move. “You’re early,” she says.

“You’re beautiful.”

Her entire face lights up with my compliment as I reach for her. She’s wearing a light purple wrap dress that hits just below her knees and a pair of nude heels. Her brown hair is down in curls that make my fingers tingle to touch, and she’s carrying a black sweater. It looks delicate against her soft pale skin, a sight that goes straight to my groin.

“Are you going to tell me yet?” she asks as she steps directly in front of me.

I bend down and kiss her offered cheek, but all on their own, my lips detour to hers. I don’t mean for anything but a sweet, chaste kiss, but that’s not what happens. The moment my lips meet hers, I want to devour, to claim her as my own and never let her go.

That’s a startling revelation.

I pull my mouth from hers with a pop and gaze down at her face. There’s the slightest hint of a smile on her lips and her eyelids are still closed. “Well, hello to you too,” she quips.

When her eyes finally meet mine, hers are dancing with delight and maybe a little desire. “Are you ready?” I ask.

She takes in my appearance. I’m wearing dark jeans and my boots and paired it with another one of my brother’s crisp button-downs. For a second, I considered throwing on a tie, but since I could count on one hand how many times I’ve worn a tie, I decided against it. They’re just not for me. “You look nice.”

“You look gorgeous. No one will even know I’m there once I’m standing beside you,” I state. The compliment heats up her cheeks a touch and makes her smile, which I realize is my goal for the rest of the night. To make her grin as much as humanly possible.

“Doubt that,” she replies, threading her arm through mine.

I guide her to the elevator, which is still waiting on the top floor, and escort her inside. We’re both quiet as we move downward and the door opens again, depositing us on the ground floor.

“George is here,” she states, noticing my brother’s town car sitting in front of the door.

“I thought it’d be nice to have a driver tonight,” I reply as we step outside.

“Good evening, Miss Morgan,” George greets, offering a wide smile.

“George, lovely to see you this evening,” Kyla replies, as she slides into the back seat of the awaiting car.

I nod at my driver as I slip into the back seat, the door shutting securely behind me. “So, are you going to tell me where we’re going yet?” she asks, setting her sweater on the seat beside her and buckling the seat belt.

“I am not,” I answer, fastening my own belt.

Kyla gives me a withering look that makes me laugh. “Really?”

“Really,” I state, reaching over and grabbing her hand. Once our fingers are threaded together, we sit back as George merges into traffic and takes off toward our destination. The partition is up, giving us privacy to talk freely without being overheard. The entire drive, we catch up on things that happened since the last time we spoke, which was last evening, and before I realize it, we’re pulling in front of the large building.

She turns and looks out, her eyes wide with shock as realization sets in. “This is Butterfly Meadow.”

“It is,” I reply, as George opens the door for us to exit.

“Mr. Wilder, so good to have you with us this evening. Miss Morgan,” the manager greets