Sinful Desire

“Thank you. Though that’s not all from my pocket. I do give a lot to every cause I raise money for, but my bigger job is simply asking others to open their wallets. I’m lucky to know many generous people I can call on,” she added, as if that somehow lessened the accomplishment.

He tapped her knee lightly with his fingertips. “And you convinced them to part with their money for a good cause. It’s amazing, however you slice it. Why did you decide to go into philanthropy?”

She reached for her glass and took a long drink. “Because I could.”

He brushed his fingers along her thigh, loving the simplicity of her answer. She’d chosen to do good because she was in the rare position of being able to. She could have done anything with her time, her money, and her access, and she’d opted to donate the hours in her day to help others. The choice was a deliberate one, and it said so much about her, in his view, that she’d picked this particular path. “Beautiful answer. I love that. I respect that. Did you ever think about starting another company? So many other entrepreneurs launch additional businesses.”

“I had no interest in being a serial entrepreneur,” she said, shaking her head. “I know I’m lucky to have had the successful run I had with my company—to start it when I did and sell it when I did. And now I’m lucky enough to use all my business skills to help with things that matter more in the world. I’ve raised money for animal charities, for sick children, for cancer research, for kids in need, for troubled kids, and so on. I’d much rather devote my time to doing that.” Then added, almost apologetically, “Even if it can be just as much work and take just as much management as running my own company.”

“I hear you on that. It must be consuming at times. Everyone needing and wanting things,” he said, flashing back to the gala and the way the two ladies there practically hunted Sophie down to make their own cases for the children’s wing.

“That’s true. Which is why it’ll be all the more fun to go for a joyride in my new car,” she said with a glint in her eye.

Though Ryan could jet off to Europe with her and hole up in a five-star resort on his dime, she could do all those things for herself, too, and then some. Ryan did well for himself, but he wasn’t in a position to drop that kind of cash on a car, and she was. Perhaps for the first time he was keenly aware that while he was successful, Sophie was in another class. It didn’t annoy him and didn’t make him feel any less of a man. But he wanted to make sure she was fine with everything. “There’s not much I can give you materially that you can’t get on your own,” he said, matter-of-factly. “Does that bother you?”

She laughed loudly. “Not in the least,” she said then reached for his hand, lacing her fingers through his. Her smile was gentle and tender. “You don’t have to shower me with expensive gifts. You don’t have to give me presents at all if you don’t want to. I loved the peach tulips, and the pinot grigio, and I am in some kind of mad love with the dress you had your sister track down for me. It’s beautiful, and it’s perfect for me, and I didn’t have one like it, and I’ve been coveting one. So thank you,” she said with a squeeze of his hand, then added softly, “Besides, the things I want from you don’t cost money.”

He tensed for a moment, shoulders tightening and chest burning. He wasn’t ready to have a more serious talk about commitment. Letting her in and talking more was all he could handle. “Such as?”

She took her time answering, trailing her fingers along his bare arm. “What I want is for you to take me for a ride in my new car someday.”

A groan rumbled through his chest, escaping his lips. My God, she was so fucking giving. He’d struck gold when he met her. She was precious and rare. “Pretty sure I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

“So that means you’d like to get behind the wheel?”

“There’s only one thing I want to do in that car more than drive it,” he said in a low voice, raking his eyes over her gorgeous figure.

She tapped her index finger against her lips and peered skyward. “Hmmm. You mean you want to see how far back the passenger seat goes?”

“Exactly. That’s exactly the kind of test drive I want to give you in your new car.”

She gestured to her iPad. “What if I told you I had pictures of it?”

He made a show it to me now gesture with his fingers. “I want to see that car,” he said then ran his palms up and down her calves, his way of imploring her. She murmured softly, a sound that said she was enjoying his touch. He took advantage of it, digging his thumbs into her ankles, and working his way up her legs, stopping to kiss her calves along the way.

She reached for her iPad, swiped a finger across the screen and then called up the email. “Are you ready to be dazzled by its beauty? Can you handle it?”