to go home and clean up before coming back to open the club.”
“Hey, Morgan, if you’re tired of this guy, you’re invited. But fair warning: don’t show up wearing any jersey without a Bears’ logo on the front.” Nick’s eyebrows lift. “It’s always a wild party.”
“What?” She clamps her hand on her chest. “The only jersey in my closet is blue with a silver star on a helmet.”
“No! You’ll start a riot.” Nick laughs, watching me closely. I growl at him, mostly because he expects it.
“Good night, Nick. We’ll talk soon.” I stop to tell Gabriel I’m driving Morgan home, explaining to her my car was in the parking lot and her face brightens.
“You were already here at work and stopped to ride in with Gabriel to pick me up?”
“I did. He was ready to leave when I decided my paperwork could wait. I wanted to see you.”
Morgan slips her hand in mine. “I like that. A lot.”
We walk to my car and I help her get seated. I fasten her seatbelt and kiss her before I close her door. I walk around to the driver’s side and slide in. “I didn’t mean I’m taking you to your apartment. By home, I meant I am taking you to mine.”
Morgan shakes her head. “I’d like that, but I really shouldn’t. My friends will be out looking for me if I’m not home tomorrow when they come looking for a full report on tonight.”
I know she’s experienced a lot of new things in the past couple of days and probably needs some time away from me to digest everything she’s experienced in our short time together. I’m hooked and have been since we first met but I’ll give her the breathing room she needs. I reach over and rest my hand on her knee. “I’ll take you to your apartment on one condition.”
“What’s that?” I can see the renewed excitement in her eyes. She wants what I’m offering.
“I want to see where this takes us. I don’t want to put an end date on what we have.”
Morgan’s gaze holds mine for a second. I can see in an instant she agrees with me. She leans across the console and runs her fingers across my cheek. “I don’t know how you do it. Two jobs would kill me, yet you still have the most incredible sex drive. I want to continue exploring mine with you.”
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her palm gently. “Being the boss is convenient. My staff is incredibly self-sufficient, so I don’t have to be in the office unless I have meetings. But this is a busy week coming up, and I won’t have a lot of spare time. A couple of my largest investors have their account reviews scheduled. After tomorrow, I’ll be too busy to sleep late in the morning.”
“You’re lucky to have people you trust.”
“You’re right. Earning my trust isn’t an easy thing.”
“You were very much in love with your ex-wife and she broke your trust.”
In the past, I’ve refused to discuss my divorce with anyone, but Morgan’s voice is sincere and compassionate. “I thought so at the time. Hell, it may have been my fault. I worked day and night building the brokerage firm. I left her alone a lot.”
“My grandmother believed a person shouldn’t let other people’s failures influence their attitude. I forgive them and move on.”
“Really? Even Dale Loften?”
“I don’t hate him. I’ve cut him out of my life.”
“So you don’t hold a grudge of any kind?”
“I try not to. Of course, sometimes I fail.” Morgan chuckles.
“What’s funny?”
“You’re pretty slick. That’s twice you’ve turned the subject around and avoided talking about yourself.”
“It’s a talent.” I squeeze her knee just as she yawns behind her hand.
“Sorry.” She shuffles in her seat.
“You’ve had a busy night. We’re about twenty minutes from your apartment. Close your eyes. You’re safe with me.”
She slips off those shoes that hurt her feet, leans the seat back a notch, and closes her eyes. “Zack.”
“Hmm?”
“I know I’m safe with you.”
My gut clenches at Morgan’s words. Glancing over, it strikes me how beautiful she is at rest. Her eyes are closed and her body’s relaxed. I fish around in my head for an explanation of why I’m so attracted to her. We’re moving fast, yet I don’t want to slow down. Shaking my head, I keep my eyes on the road.
The second I turn off the ignition, Morgan opens her eyes and glances at the clock on the dash