where, opposite the aquarium, there was a white screen for viewing films. A tap at the door caught her attention.
Grant opened the door a slit and reached out. He turned holding two wine glasses and leaned to close out the noise on the other side. He strode to her and handed her one of the glasses. Sinking into one of the leather chairs, he pointed at some of the fish and named their species.
“It’s beautiful. Why does he keep the place locked up?”
“This was Lauren’s favorite room. She loved to have parties and then show their latest find on the screen. Made a big deal of it. After they divorced, he did one party in here but some idiot threw a bunch of trash at the tank. He was so pissed he made it off limits to visitors.”
“You like this room, don’t you? Not that I can blame you; it’s gorgeous. Who wouldn’t?”
“It’s soothing. I could sit and watch the fish for hours. Kind of puts me in a trance.”
“Thanks for showing me.” She glanced at her watch. “I’d better get going.” She yanked up on the dress again before starting for the door.
God, he was in love with that dress.
“Jen, David took the car. You’re probably going to need a ride.”
“My car? He took my car?”
“Yeah, you left it with the valet, didn’t you?”
“That doesn’t make sense. He doesn’t even drive. Or at least he doesn’t like to. He normally has someone else take him everywhere.”
“Like who?”
“One of his band guys. Or me. Especially if he drinks, which he hasn’t done in over a year.”
“Well, he’s driving now. Has your car. And, you probably don’t want to know this, but he
was
drinking. Come on, I’ll take you home.”
“No, thanks. I can get a cab.” She slid her thumb along her iPhone and dialed. When it rang, she looked up at Grant.
He had watched her turn her back to him and fumble under her dress for the phone she’d slipped into the elastic of a garter that lined her upper thigh. Rather crude, but wow, it totally kicked him in the ass. What more can he say about the frickin’ dress?
Grant narrowed his eyes and turned toward the fish tank. Get a grip, asshole. She’s grouchy as hell. Completely complicated. Yeah, but look at her. She’s completely gorgeous too.
He stood and pulled the phone from her fingers. “Jen, I’ll take you. You don’t need a cab. It’s the least I can do after you drove me all over the city a while back.” He smiled.
“Guess I figured out what that bump in your dress was that I felt earlier when you kissed me. What else are you storing down there?”
“Nothing. Where else was I going to put it? This dress has no pockets and I didn’t bring a bag.”
“Did you bring a coat?”
“Yeah, a short jacket that goes with the dress. Someone took it at the door.”
He made a call, the jacket was delivered to them, and they exited out a side door to the fish room, walked down a short hallway, then turned to a concrete drive where his little red car was parked. Grant focused on the phone with hopes that he’d see it returned to its hiding spot. No such luck.
Chapter 13
Grant opened the little red convertible’s roof and eased the car out of the drive, careful to avoid the crowd that spilled into the yard of Hodge’s home. Millions of stars twinkled above them. The air was crisp and Jenny leaned her head back into the seat to feel the wind on her face.
“Cold?” he asked.
“Not really.”
“I’ve turned up the heat and seat warmers so it ought to be pretty toasty even with it open.”
“Thanks. Just curious — why do you drive something like this? It looks too small for someone your size. Aren’t you cramped?”
His knees rested just under the steering wheel. “There’s more room than you think. I guess I drive it out of spite and lack of choice. I dated a girl for a long time, in fact was engaged to her for a while. I bought her this car as a gift when we moved in together. She loved it. Women love convertibles, I
Grant opened the door a slit and reached out. He turned holding two wine glasses and leaned to close out the noise on the other side. He strode to her and handed her one of the glasses. Sinking into one of the leather chairs, he pointed at some of the fish and named their species.
“It’s beautiful. Why does he keep the place locked up?”
“This was Lauren’s favorite room. She loved to have parties and then show their latest find on the screen. Made a big deal of it. After they divorced, he did one party in here but some idiot threw a bunch of trash at the tank. He was so pissed he made it off limits to visitors.”
“You like this room, don’t you? Not that I can blame you; it’s gorgeous. Who wouldn’t?”
“It’s soothing. I could sit and watch the fish for hours. Kind of puts me in a trance.”
“Thanks for showing me.” She glanced at her watch. “I’d better get going.” She yanked up on the dress again before starting for the door.
God, he was in love with that dress.
“Jen, David took the car. You’re probably going to need a ride.”
“My car? He took my car?”
“Yeah, you left it with the valet, didn’t you?”
“That doesn’t make sense. He doesn’t even drive. Or at least he doesn’t like to. He normally has someone else take him everywhere.”
“Like who?”
“One of his band guys. Or me. Especially if he drinks, which he hasn’t done in over a year.”
“Well, he’s driving now. Has your car. And, you probably don’t want to know this, but he
was
drinking. Come on, I’ll take you home.”
“No, thanks. I can get a cab.” She slid her thumb along her iPhone and dialed. When it rang, she looked up at Grant.
He had watched her turn her back to him and fumble under her dress for the phone she’d slipped into the elastic of a garter that lined her upper thigh. Rather crude, but wow, it totally kicked him in the ass. What more can he say about the frickin’ dress?
Grant narrowed his eyes and turned toward the fish tank. Get a grip, asshole. She’s grouchy as hell. Completely complicated. Yeah, but look at her. She’s completely gorgeous too.
He stood and pulled the phone from her fingers. “Jen, I’ll take you. You don’t need a cab. It’s the least I can do after you drove me all over the city a while back.” He smiled.
“Guess I figured out what that bump in your dress was that I felt earlier when you kissed me. What else are you storing down there?”
“Nothing. Where else was I going to put it? This dress has no pockets and I didn’t bring a bag.”
“Did you bring a coat?”
“Yeah, a short jacket that goes with the dress. Someone took it at the door.”
He made a call, the jacket was delivered to them, and they exited out a side door to the fish room, walked down a short hallway, then turned to a concrete drive where his little red car was parked. Grant focused on the phone with hopes that he’d see it returned to its hiding spot. No such luck.
Chapter 13
Grant opened the little red convertible’s roof and eased the car out of the drive, careful to avoid the crowd that spilled into the yard of Hodge’s home. Millions of stars twinkled above them. The air was crisp and Jenny leaned her head back into the seat to feel the wind on her face.
“Cold?” he asked.
“Not really.”
“I’ve turned up the heat and seat warmers so it ought to be pretty toasty even with it open.”
“Thanks. Just curious — why do you drive something like this? It looks too small for someone your size. Aren’t you cramped?”
His knees rested just under the steering wheel. “There’s more room than you think. I guess I drive it out of spite and lack of choice. I dated a girl for a long time, in fact was engaged to her for a while. I bought her this car as a gift when we moved in together. She loved it. Women love convertibles, I
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