his head to the side. “We’ll have to change that.”
“No thanks.” I pushed away from him. “So, you’re mom is still hooking you up with her friends’ kids after that?”
“Yeah.” He sighed. “She thinks I’m older and smarter now. I feel like I should fuck one of her married friends who always hits on me. Then she’d stop for sure.”
“Or you could just take someone that you’re dating …” My voice trailed off. I really just wanted to find out if he was dating anyone.
“I don’t date. I’m not dating anyone.” He shook his head. “In fact, I haven’t fucked anyone in over two months. And I certainly wouldn’t be taking the last woman. I had to block her number. No way in hell I’d take her with me.”
“Hmm, okay.” I wasn’t sure how I felt about what he’d told me. I was happy to know that he wasn’t dating anyone, but the fact that he never dated didn’t make me feel great. What was the most I could expect from Tate if I got involved with him? And how much did I care?
“Yeah, I’d never take a woman I’d fucked home.” He looked thoughtful for a moment and then grinned as stroked my face with his free hand. “You know what I just realized?”
“What did you just realize?”
“I’ve never fucked you.” He kissed my cheek. “And you work for me.”
“Yeah, and?”
“You can come with me on a work assignment.”
“Come with you—?” My eyes narrowed as I realized what he was saying. “No, Tate, no, I’m not going to South Carolina with you.”
“What if we go to do some business?”
“But I already know it’s not for business. I’m not pretending I’m your girlfriend to your parents.”
“You don’t have to pretend to be my girlfriend.” He shook his head. “You just come as the woman I’m currently fucking.”
“But we’re not fucking.”
“That’s why it won’t be complicated.” He grinned. “Please come with me. I promise I won’t try to make you actually come for me.”
“Very funny.” My skin felt hot. “We’d be lying to your parents.”
“Trust me, my parents aren’t saints.” He gave me a level stare. “I’d really appreciate it if you helped me out here.”
“But, but …” I chewed on my lower lip. “I don’t know, Tate. It seems like a lot, and I’m meant to go to Los Angeles and visit my own family soon.”
“So I’ll give you some time off and you can do that when we get back.”
“I don’t know, are you sure?” I wasn’t so sure that any of this was a good idea.
“I’m more than sure.” He pulled me into his arms, crushing my breasts against his chest. “I want you to, Jane,” he whispered. “I really want you to.”
“But we don’t even know each other that well.”
“Come over to my place on Sunday before we go to brunch at Jagger and Magnolia’s place. We can get to know each other better.”
“I guess.”
“So you’ll do it?” he asked me hopefully.
Slowly, I nodded. I wasn’t sure if I was making the right decision, but I knew that I couldn’t resist that face. “Yes,” I whispered.
His face broke into a grin and then he leaned in and kissed me hard. I kissed him back, knowing we were already breaking the rules, but I just couldn’t stop myself. We were taking our relationship to the next level, one way or another. I just wasn’t sure what that level was.
Chapter 13
Tate
The last couple of days had passed in a blur. Ever since Jane had agreed to go to Charleston with me, I’d felt like I was floating on a cloud. I wasn’t going to have to deal with my parents’ bullshit, though I was also nervous about the fact that I hadn’t told Jane what snobs they really were. I wasn’t sure if it was fair of me to expose her to them. They weren’t always the nicest people, but I was hopeful that they would at least be respectful to someone I brought home with me.
I checked my watch and went to the kitchen to take out the cheese I’d bought to pair with some French bread and grapes. We were going to a late lunch at Magnolia’s place in a few hours, so I didn’t want to ruin our appetites, but I did want to provide some light snacks for her. I cut up the bread, which I placed on a plate, and then headed back to the living room. This was the first time Jane was