He leaned forward. “Would you like me to?”
She shot him a glare. He went back to his lounging but lowered his gaze to the white lace circling her knees.
She planted her feet on the floor, closed her eyes, and arched up off the leather seat as she yanked her skirt and panties up at the same time.
“Slow down.” Nathan’s voice held both humor and arousal. “I’m enjoying the view.”
Chloe pulled her skirt back down. “You’re enjoying bothering me.”
“You bother me just by sitting there.”
The intensity in his voice restoked the heat between her thighs. She hid her reaction by rummaging in her handbag again. When she pulled out a brush and lipstick, Nathan pushed a button. A mirrored panel dropped down from the ceiling. One glance and Chloe went into high-speed repair mode.
Nathan gave a loud sigh.
“What?” Chloe looked away from the mirror.
“You’ve lost that I-just-had-sex-in-a-car look.”
“Then my job here is done.” She dropped the brush and makeup into her purse and shrugged into her blazer.
He pushed the mirror back up before he reached across the space between them to pull her onto the seat beside him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and bent to imprint a hot kiss on the side of her neck before he murmured. “I’ll pick you up after work tomorrow and we’ll go shopping.”
She stiffened as he reminded her of the upcoming ordeal of his father’s wedding. She’d managed to shove that to the back of her mind.
“You agreed to accept my gift of clothing,” he said, misinterpreting her tension.
“I know.” That wasn’t the problem. “I’d like to go to Saks Fifth Avenue.”
She felt him shake his head. “I have a personal shopper coming to my home with a selection of whatever she thinks you’ll need for the wedding.”
The closet in his guest room flitted through her mind. All designer clothes. All expensive beyond belief. “I’d rather go to Saks.”
“Fine.”
Surprised by his easy capitulation, she tilted her head to look up at him. “Fine?”
He returned her gaze with a raised eyebrow. “She’ll bring the clothes to Saks.” Then he kissed her, long and deep, until she clutched at his lapel to pull herself in closer. She felt the warmth of his palm on her thigh as he slipped his hand under her skirt.
The car stopped and Oskar’s voice came through the intercom, announcing they were at Ms. Russell’s home. Nathan cursed softly.
Chloe felt a zing of satisfaction that his attempt to distract her from the shopping issue had been more successful at frustrating him. “Language,” she said, laying a finger across his lips.
“But I need time to do this,” he said, moving his hand farther up her thigh until his fingers just brushed at the lace between her legs. He found a way under the panties and slid one finger inside her, making her throw back her head. He flexed it once and withdrew, the friction sending exquisite heat curling through her. Locking his gaze on her, he licked his finger.
She was going to have to face Grandmillie with the image of Nathan tasting her seared into her brain. “I’ll get you back for that tomorrow,” she said, giving him a nudge since his long body was between her and the door.
“Retaliation can lead to escalation.” He reached up to hit some sort of release before opening the door and unfolding himself out of the car. Turning, he held her hand to help her out of the car, his gray eyes lit with desire and a touch of mischief. “I look forward to it.”
“Good evening, Chloe.” Grandmillie’s voice was like a bucket of cold water on the bonfire Nathan had lit.
Chloe spun away from him to see her grandmother standing on the front porch, the door open behind her. “Bring your young man inside for a minute.” Grandmillie gripped the head of her cane with both hands. “I’ve baked scones.”
Chloe turned back in time to see Nathan rake his fingers through his disheveled hair and yank his shirt collar higher. As satisfying as it was to find that he was not immune to Grandmillie’s tone of authority, Chloe didn’t want him in the house, invading her world.
“You don’t have to come,” Chloe said in a low murmur. “Say you have business to get back to.”
Nathan looked down at her. “But I want to meet your grandmother.”
“Why?” Chloe asked between clenched teeth.
“She’s part of your life.”
He said it matter-of-factly, but his words gave Chloe pause. She’d been telling herself that Nathan saw her as a fling, a few weeks’ entertainment. That had allowed her to let go of her inhibitions, to consider this an acceptable deviation from her usual sensible approach to relationships, because it wouldn’t continue.