“Ready?” Holt asks me. For the last twenty minutes, I’ve been curled up on his couch with my nose stuck in a book I found on his library shelf.
“Yes.” I reply, setting the book on the end table. Holt has showered and changed into a pair of faded blue jeans and a dark gray sweater. Day-old stubble peeks out along his jaw line and his fiery blue eyes pop against his dark hair. He looks like he stepped off the pages of GQ.
I follow him down a hallway and through a mudroom where he opens a door that leads to an oversized garage. A black Cadillac Escalade is parked in one of the three parking spots. He opens the car door for me, and I step up into the vehicle.
As we back out of the garage, I break my silence. “I thought we left your car at the bar last night?”
He shrugs and fights off a smile. “We did. I just didn’t tell you I had another vehicle in my garage.” He eases out onto the street. “We’ll pick up my other car this afternoon.” He glances at me out of the corner of his eye, and I shake my head, letting out a small laugh.
After navigating through the downtown Chicago streets, we pull up in front of my building, parking on the street. He follows me up to my condo and pulls the key from my hand, opening the door for me. Inside, Evelyn hollers from the living room, “Saige. Get your little ass over here. You stayed the night with Mr. Sex on a Stick, didn’t you?”
My cheeks flush, and Holt clears his throat as we step into the open living room where Evelyn sits on the couch, typing away on her laptop.
She looks up and her eyes go wide when she sees Holt. “You have got to be kidding me.”
Holt raises his eyebrows, looking at me, amused. He mouths, “Mr. Sex on a Stick?” and smiles widely. I shrug and pretend I have no idea what she’s talking about, but I’m pretty sure the grin on my face says otherwise.
With a shit-eating grin, Holt clears his throat. “Good morning, Evelyn.”
“Good morning.” She purses her lips at us, then asks curiously, “What do you two have planned today?”
“We’re headed to the park,” Holt answers, sitting down next to Evelyn. He makes himself right at home, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. I drop my purse on the ground next to the couch and pull off my shoes.
I beam at Evelyn’s questioning eyes. “I’m going to go shower and get ready. You two have fun catching up!” Jogging off down the hallway, I chuckle to myself because I know Evelyn is going to give Holt a hard time, and I know Holt is going to dish it right back at her.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m showered, lotioned up, and wrapping my wet hair in a towel on top of my head. I toss on a pair of white linen shorts and a navy and white long-sleeved striped shirt, perfect for the late summer Chicago weather.
I brush some loose powder on my face, line my eyes, and touch up my lashes with mascara before quickly blow-drying my hair. My dark hair hangs in long waves down the middle of my back. I line my lips and brush on some lipstick as I finish getting ready.
The bathroom door opens and there stands Holt. He smiles at me and steps into the bathroom. “You smell good,” he says, pressing his lips to my neck. “I like your perfume.”
I groan lightly as his soft lips press against my neck. He pulls away and reaches his hand out to the counter, snatching my toothbrush and toothpaste.
“What’re you doing?” I ask, following him out of the bathroom.
“Packing your bag,” he responds, matter of fact.
I frown. “What bag?”
“The one I found in your closet. You need some essentials and since I don’t know your particulars yet—”
“Holt!” I interrupt him when I see the clothes he’s set out on the bed. “What is all this?”
“Stuff.” He tosses my toothbrush on the bed with the neatly folded stack of clothes. I reach over to see what he’s set out.
“Yoga pants, sweatshirt, Converse,” I list off the items and look up at him.
“For changing into after the park.” He smiles at me.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Bra and panties.”
He smirks at me. “Never hurts to have a spare pair unless you’d rather not wear undergarments.” I roll my eyes at him and leave the underwear.
“Red shift dress and black peep-toe pumps.” I raise an eyebrow. “What would I need those for?”
“For work tomorrow,” he says like it’s obvious, then he looks at me lustfully. “I’ve been dying to see you in that red dress again.”
My eyes shoot open widely. “Excuse me?” Work tomorrow? He thinks I’m staying at his place again?
“You wore it the first day of work, remember?” He grabs me by the hips and pulls me close. “Oh, and don’t forget to pack your make-up. Not that you need it, but I want you to have everything you need.” He presses a sweet but firm kiss to my temple.