Page 73 of Wrecked By You
Not for the first time, I considered taking the lead and making the first move. Telling him everything and opening myself up might encourage him to open up, too. Yes, I’d previously thought otherwise, but one of us had to be brave. Might as well be me. It was a risk, but life was full of them. I had some money stashed away. If it went badly, I could run.
Decision made. First chance I got after we returned to Los Angeles, I’d tell him everything and hope my honesty didn’t bring about the end of us.
I just wanted to have this one special weekend first.
Maybe that was a little selfish of me, but I couldn’t bring myself to take the chance of ruining these few days away.
“Mommy.”
I turned back to Chloe. “Yes, little bug?”
“Leave a light on.”
I nodded, turning down the dimmer to a soft glow. I blew her a kiss and closed the door.
“Well, look at you.” Ginny heaved herself out of the chair, rubbing at her lower back. “Pretty as a picture.”
I smiled, smoothing a hand over my lime-green dress that finished just above the knee. I’d gotten it last week at a thrift store, one of those that occasionally had a real gem and if you were lucky, you’d happen upon it. It had cost me ten dollars, but it looked like it was worth twenty times that, if not more.
“Thanks, Ginny. Are you sure you don’t mind babysitting Chloe?”
Despite what she’d said about relishing a night in, we were in Vegas, and I’d hate for her to think she wasn’t entitled to go out and enjoy herself, too, even if Johannes’s idea to bring her was to provide childcare. There was always room service. And if he didn’t like that, tough.
“Are you kidding me? Have you sat on that couch? It’s like relaxing into an angel’s wings. Not that I’ve ever done that, but I have an imagination.” She patted my arm. “You’re young, beautiful, and in Las Vegas, the city of sin.” She winked. “And you have a rather handsome young man to sin with. So take advantage and go enjoy yourself.”
Heat rushed to my face, and I ducked my chin to hide my blush. “I’ll try.”
The door to Johannes’s bedroom opened, and he strode out in his customary black turtleneck and matching black slacks. I shook my head.
“It’s a hundred degrees outside.”
“And the restaurant will be closer to sixty.”
Always quick with an answer to his unsuitable attire. But now wasn’t the time for pushing. After I’d told him the truth, then I’d have the right to demand the same from him. Until that time came, I had no intention of spoiling what I hoped would be a magical evening.
He held out his hand, and Ginny’s eyes went all soft as she pressed a palm to her chest. She was such an old romantic. I checked that she had contact details in case Chloe needed me. She rolled her eyes, muttered something about not being senile yet, and turned on the TV.
Her message for me to stop fussing and just go couldn’t have come across any louder if she’d yelled it.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere Nolen won’t gate-crash our dinner. If we eat at the hotel, at some point, he’s going to turn up and ruin my evening.”
A limousine waited outside the front entrance of the hotel. Johannes guided me inside, then climbed in beside me. My mind went to the transformation from the man I’d first met to the one sitting beside me. Sometimes I wondered whether he had an identical twin and they’d switched places when I hadn’t been looking.
“Drink?”
He opened a mahogany door set into the side panel of the car. Behind it was a fully stocked bar.
“Is this your limousine?”
“It belongs to the hotel. VIP guests have several for their personal use.”
“I’ll have a tonic water if it’s available.”
He poured me a drink and one for himself—it looked like whiskey—then sat back and threaded his fingers through mine.
“I’m glad you’re here.”