Page 40 of To Steal a Heart
He shook his head as if trying to digest it all. A slow smile stole over his lips as he sized her up. “You’re a New York Times Best Selling Author,” he mused.
“I am.” She felt a quiver of pride.
His smile widened. “That’s impressive. No wonder you weren’t worried about the cost of the sailboat rental.”
“Or covering my living expenses in Carmel while I research,” she inserted. She quirked a grin. “I told you it was no big deal for me to cover the sailboat rental.”
Amusement sparked in his eyes. “And yet you nearly ripped that dude apart who was trying to steal your car.”
She drew her brows together. “That’s because Norman is important to me.”
“Norman?” he asked dubiously.
“That’s the name of my Mercedes.”
Laughter flowed from his throat, helping to dissolve any remaining tension between them.
He made air quotes. “Who’s your ‘boss’ who called you?”
“My literary agent, Jenna. She’s been hounding me about getting my first three chapters to her by the deadline.”
Crew took hold of her hands and looked her in the eye. “Let’s get one thing straight. I don’t care if your last name is Croft, Chasing, Smith, or Jones.” He gave her a pointed look. “What I do care about is that I feel something for you that I’ve never felt before.” His voice caught. “You make me want to be a better man. Trust me when I say that I’m going to do everything in my power to prove to you that it’s Arden that I want. Not the fake, watered-down version. I want the real Arden—fearless, bold, and blunt.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” she retorted.
He released her hand and touched her hair. “I’m glad you came into my life.”
“Me too.” She took in a deep breath. “Okay, while we’re on the subject of Chasings, there’s one more thing I need to ask.”
He frowned. “Do I need to be worried?”
“Nah, it’s nothing you can’t handle.”
Curiosity kindled in his eyes. “Okay, shoot.”
“How do you feel about black-tie events?”
He shrugged. “I can hold my own.”
“I sensed that about you. How would you feel about attending a party with me in the Hamptons?” She held her breath, waiting for him to answer.
“As your plus-one?”
She didn’t bat an eye. “No, as my boyfriend.”
A pleased smile curled his lips, revealing perfect white teeth. “I think I can handle that.”
CHAPTER 10
Arden’s nerves were jumping like a jar of pent-up crickets. She sucked in a forceful breath as she smoothed her hand over her copper-colored gown.
Crew offered a smile that was so carefree and unencumbered that it made her chuckle. He slid his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. “I thought I was the one who was supposed to be nervous,” he murmured. His warm breath tickled her skin, making her forget her anxiety for a moment. “You’ve got this.”
She reached for his hand and linked her fingers through his. “With you by my side, how could I go wrong?” She settled into the curve of Crew’s shoulder. He had no idea how much strength his very presence was giving her.
Much to her mother’s dismay, Arden had gotten Crew and her adjoining suites at a cozy inn not far from the Laramies’ home. Mom wanted Arden and Crew to stay at the Laramies’ mansion with the rest of the family. However, Arden insisted that she and Crew needed their space. It was hard enough to get thrown into the lion’s den for the party and other events. Arden didn’t intend to sleep in the lion’s den for the duration of the trip. The plan was for Crew to spend the weekend, and then he would head back to Carmel for work. Arden, on the other hand, would fulfill her familial duty and stay through the end of next week. Being apart from Crew would be torture. However, it would be nice to get some writing done. She was finished with her first draft of chapter one and was ready to dive into chapter two.
The Uber pulled up in front of the Laramies’ mansion, which was a glittering jewel atop a gently sloping hill. Crew paid the driver and helped Arden out. He glanced around as he let out a low whistle. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many limos in one place.”