"Oh."
"But understand that at the end of the night, your place is in my bedroom." I chuckled as a warmth spread through my core and even lower, and he laughed right after. "Now go take your shower, there's a change of clothes in your room, and after dinner...we're going to have some fun outside."
"You've done this before?"
"No, I've thought about doing this before, I just had no one special to do it with. Now, please go get ready."
The grand bedroom had stunning cherry wood furniture all over the place. The bathroom that was attached looked like it could fit at least the two of my bathrooms easily. After my shower, which somehow seemed even more relaxing and luxurious than the ones I tended to take at Blake's loft, I got dressed and headed toward his bedroom. He was standing up, looking in the mirror, fixing his outfit. I walked over to him but stopped short when I realized he was on a call using his speaker phone.
"Mr. Slate, Ms. Madison has left several messages for you."
"Has she?" There was a smirk across his face.
"Yes, sir," the woman, who I can only assume is his secretary, told him. "Do you want me to read you the messages?"
"No, I have a clue of what they entail. I will check them when I come back to the office tomorrow afternoon."
"Yes, sir."
"In the meantime, please tell her that I'll get back to her after I finish work." I got a quick glance at his dark green eyes through the mirror, they almost looked black.
"Yes, sir. I'll let Ms. Madison know that you are tied up with work and that you'll talk to her when you come back."
"Please make sure you forward that message."
He hung up. I looked back and contemplating tip-toeing back to the bedroom. I could pretend that none of this ever happened. I could go plop on the bed and act like I never left the room at all. If only I could be the type of woman who didn't really attack things head on. It's just who I am. That's why I'm so successful in marketing. If you don't go for things at full speed, you will never get the results you want or the answers you seek. And right now, I think I'm due for some answers.
"Am I work? Is that what we're calling me?" I walked into the bedroom with my arms crossed protectively over my chest.
"What?"
"Your secretary called and you said you were at work. Ms. Madison thinks you're working?"
"She has to."
"Huh?"
"Remember, her and I are going through this business deal. She's trying to play around with the deal. I need her to think that I have other options." He walked over to me and kissed me on the cheek. "It's all business, nothing personal."
He led me to the dining room and the weaker part of my mind gave in to his excuse. With all of the effort he's putting in for me, how could I believe there was some other reason for his lie? Blake wants me, he's made that more than clear.
There were candles everywhere and the lights were low and soft. It was so breathtaking. He pulled out my seat for me like a true gentleman, and I did a little exaggerated curtsy before taking my seat. Dinner was already set: lobster bisque as the appetizer, flame charred steak as the main, and a light raspberry sorbet for dessert. Everything was impeccably put together, like he'd given it a lot of thought and given the chef strict orders. We were laughing and cracking up the whole time. The candlelight highlighted his face. When he smiled and his green eyes glowed, I couldn't help but blush back. Somehow, Blake made every night we spent together more perfect than the last.
"That was fantastic," I said sleepily, patting my mouth with the cloth napkin. "Remind me to leave a note for the chef, thanking them for everything."
"How are you so sure that I didn't cook the meal?" he asked, bemused.
"Do I really need to remind you of how financially blessed you are? I suspect you know a few good chefs."
"That is true." He sipped on some wine, hiding the small smile I coaxed out of him.
"Also, in the ten years we've spoken, you've never once brought up the fact you can cook."
"You remember every conversation we've ever had?" His eyes bored into me intensely, and I squirmed in my seat nervously.
"I remember a lot about them," I responded shyly, looking away from him. That familiar yearning in my body was beginning to stir up and I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd need to feed my other appetite. Blake had this incredible way of bringing that side of me out. I needed to change the subject. "But now I'm going to gain all this weight if you keep feeding me all this incredible food."
"I know a way we can burn it off."
***
"This is stupid," I yelled over at him.
"Come on, live a little!" He was smiling and laughing. "When was the last time you had fun?"
"Uh-oh, the last time you said that, I was walking towards a helicopter."
"Let's not think about my helicopter right now."
"I feel so silly."
"Don't you worry, no one can see us."
"Alright. Just don't hit me in the face."
"Well, I am a gentleman by nature," he laughed.