seriously, aren’t you?” she commented with knitted brows and wary eyes.
He ignored her brief look of distrust. He didn’t blame her, given what she’d gone through in the last twenty-four hours and her past experiences with Nash. Of course she had reservations, but he’d make damn sure she’d come to know that
he
wasn’t Andrew Nash.
“Don’t worry, Candace, I’m beginning to like the role. Humor me. It’s not often I get a chance to play the good guy. And,” he added with a grin, “I’m going to milk it for all its worth. So, what do you say? It’s your call.” He reached over to gently brush crumbs from the side of her mouth and gave her a penetrating look he knew she’d be unable to resist.
“That’s not fair,” she grumbled. “How am I supposed to say no to those eyes?”
“You’re not supposed to say no. You’re supposed to say yes.”
• • •
They spent the morning together running his errands. Afterwards they had lunch and then stopped by Candace’s house to check on the locksmith. He felt it was too soon for her to face the destruction again, but she’d insisted, wanting to see the damage in the light of day. The woman had a stubborn streak the size of Texas, and though he’d rather not admit it, he found it adorable. She also refused his offer to buy her something new to wear for their dinner date. She maintained she had a closet full of clothes and could certainly salvage something from the mess. They’d arrived at her house in time to meet with the locksmith and pick up the new set of keys.
When they went inside, she got upset all over again, but her reaction was far different from that of the night before. Instead of being frightened and confused, she felt angry and violated. Brice was right; she wasn’t ready to deal with this yet. She needed more time. She was lucky she had a place to go to distance her from the problem. She trusted him enough to take advantage of the refuge he offered. She gathered together a few extra things to take back to his place, and they left.
Chapter 16
“I hope you don’t mind this last stop before dinner. I promised my parents I’d look in on their place while they’re away. It won’t take but a minute.” Brice’s parents owned a penthouse above the high-rise hotel residences of the St. Regis Atlanta Hotel. Each residence featured expansive, open spaces with high ceilings, private outdoor terraces, and breathtaking views of the city.
The two entered the private lift that would take them to the top floor.
“Of course I don’t mind. Besides, this is nice. I’ve never been inside a private elevator before. I’m impressed.”
“Good. Then my plan is working.”
“What plan is that?”
“To blatantly entice you with extravagant material trappings, of course.” Brice leaned against the side of the elevator with a slight smile on his face and both hands stuffed deep inside his pockets. “The idea is to distract you with shiny trinkets and pretty baubles to keep you from looking too closely at the man. Otherwise,” he reached out to tuck that one stubborn and unruly curl back in place behind her ear, “you might see all his faults and find him sorely lacking.”
Candace smiled up at him, leaned in close, and draped her arms around his neck, pressing her body flush against him.
“I’ve got news for you. It’s too late,” she murmured under her breath as she sensuously moved against him, no longer able to resist the intoxicating pull of his erotic scent. “I’ve already seen your flaws. The only ‘pretty bauble’ I’m interested in at the moment is the tall blue-eyed Ice King standing in front of me.”
So far, she’d been a good girl. She’d kept her distance. She’d held up her end of the conversation and laughed at the appropriate moments, all while looking but not touching. She’d tried her darnedest to ignore those broad shoulders, rippling muscles, and flat abs hidden beneath his shirt, and that impressive
He ignored her brief look of distrust. He didn’t blame her, given what she’d gone through in the last twenty-four hours and her past experiences with Nash. Of course she had reservations, but he’d make damn sure she’d come to know that
he
wasn’t Andrew Nash.
“Don’t worry, Candace, I’m beginning to like the role. Humor me. It’s not often I get a chance to play the good guy. And,” he added with a grin, “I’m going to milk it for all its worth. So, what do you say? It’s your call.” He reached over to gently brush crumbs from the side of her mouth and gave her a penetrating look he knew she’d be unable to resist.
“That’s not fair,” she grumbled. “How am I supposed to say no to those eyes?”
“You’re not supposed to say no. You’re supposed to say yes.”
• • •
They spent the morning together running his errands. Afterwards they had lunch and then stopped by Candace’s house to check on the locksmith. He felt it was too soon for her to face the destruction again, but she’d insisted, wanting to see the damage in the light of day. The woman had a stubborn streak the size of Texas, and though he’d rather not admit it, he found it adorable. She also refused his offer to buy her something new to wear for their dinner date. She maintained she had a closet full of clothes and could certainly salvage something from the mess. They’d arrived at her house in time to meet with the locksmith and pick up the new set of keys.
When they went inside, she got upset all over again, but her reaction was far different from that of the night before. Instead of being frightened and confused, she felt angry and violated. Brice was right; she wasn’t ready to deal with this yet. She needed more time. She was lucky she had a place to go to distance her from the problem. She trusted him enough to take advantage of the refuge he offered. She gathered together a few extra things to take back to his place, and they left.
Chapter 16
“I hope you don’t mind this last stop before dinner. I promised my parents I’d look in on their place while they’re away. It won’t take but a minute.” Brice’s parents owned a penthouse above the high-rise hotel residences of the St. Regis Atlanta Hotel. Each residence featured expansive, open spaces with high ceilings, private outdoor terraces, and breathtaking views of the city.
The two entered the private lift that would take them to the top floor.
“Of course I don’t mind. Besides, this is nice. I’ve never been inside a private elevator before. I’m impressed.”
“Good. Then my plan is working.”
“What plan is that?”
“To blatantly entice you with extravagant material trappings, of course.” Brice leaned against the side of the elevator with a slight smile on his face and both hands stuffed deep inside his pockets. “The idea is to distract you with shiny trinkets and pretty baubles to keep you from looking too closely at the man. Otherwise,” he reached out to tuck that one stubborn and unruly curl back in place behind her ear, “you might see all his faults and find him sorely lacking.”
Candace smiled up at him, leaned in close, and draped her arms around his neck, pressing her body flush against him.
“I’ve got news for you. It’s too late,” she murmured under her breath as she sensuously moved against him, no longer able to resist the intoxicating pull of his erotic scent. “I’ve already seen your flaws. The only ‘pretty bauble’ I’m interested in at the moment is the tall blue-eyed Ice King standing in front of me.”
So far, she’d been a good girl. She’d kept her distance. She’d held up her end of the conversation and laughed at the appropriate moments, all while looking but not touching. She’d tried her darnedest to ignore those broad shoulders, rippling muscles, and flat abs hidden beneath his shirt, and that impressive
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