something tomorrow, but I wanted to tell you that you don’t need to take me to my work party. I’m sure you’ll be bored to death stuck in a room with a bunch of lawyers and their significant others. It’s really just an excuse to dress up, eat expensive food, and gripe about country club memberships.”
Kyle smiled at her. “I’ll remember to bring my shark repellent then. I know I don’t need to take you, but I want to. Will you allow me to escort you?”
“Why?” she asked and he tried to think of an answer quickly, but he wasn’t sure why. The idea of the party didn’t appeal to him at all, but he didn’t appreciate the assumption Magda was making that Lanie wouldn’t have a date. In the end, he said the only answer that would make sense without making either of them uncomfortable.
“If Brad’s taking Cassie, then I should take you.”
She seemed satisfied with the answer, but Kyle wasn’t because it lacked honesty. He wanted to take her, and the idea terrified him. He wasn’t a suitable companion to escort a lady to her work function. Rather, he was the right man to call if the lady in question wanted sex after the function. These things always required introductions, and he never wanted to be introduced as someone’s boyfriend. It was still a few weeks away. Maybe by then he could come up with an excuse to blow it off. He knew she would understand because Lanie, if anything, was an understanding kind of girl. The whole thing was confusing, but he put it out of his mind. He had a story to write, after all.
Chapter Eleven
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” Lanie asked Kyle, sipping the espresso he’d bought for her. He’d said early, but she hadn’t thought he meant eight in the morning. She’d stayed up late working on her case and was very tired. They had been driving for over an hour. At least Kyle’s SUV was roomy and comfortable, Lanie thought as she shifted on the smooth leather of the passenger seat.
“I told you it’s a surprise,” he replied and clasped her hand. He was wearing a black Henley and snug jeans that gripped his hips perfectly. His black leather jacket and ruffled, dark hair made him look incredibly sexy. Lanie had spent most of the ride looking out her window, but his clean, masculine scent permeated the space, making it difficult to sit still.
“Are you going to take me somewhere secluded to ravish me?” she asked as a joke, hoping to mask her nervousness.
Kyle cocked his eyebrow is surprise. “Is that what you want? Because if so, I can just pull over and cure your virginity right now.”
“Cure? You’re acting like it’s a disease, Kyle.”
“It’s a choice, but I’m still in awe of how you managed it all these years. You’re a pretty girl. I would think a guy would have tapped you by now.”
“And you’re a total romantic, but thanks, I guess.” Lanie tried to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks by turning her head away from him. “It wasn’t really a conscious decision. I was just too busy.”
“You understand sex doesn’t require a huge time commitment, right?”
“Shut up. Of course I know that.” She tried not to roll her eyes at him.
“So, we’re good with now then?” Kyle flashed a wicked smile at her, and she felt a fluttering deep in her belly, causing her to seriously consider his offer.
“Keep driving, buddy. I’d like my first time to be in a bed. I’m not sixteen, you know.”
“Baby, I doubt you ever were,” Kyle retorted, taking her hand and kissing each finger. He rested his hand on her knee, rubbing it slowly. Lanie was enjoying it, but she shifted, realizing it was turning her on too much.
“You’re not an adolescent either, Kyle,” she said softly.
She saw Kyle tense at her words, and she wondered if he thought she was going to lecture him. She gave him a bright smile, and his shoulder immediately relaxed. “You might get a cramp.”
Kyle‘s laughter boomed through the car.
Kyle smiled at her. “I’ll remember to bring my shark repellent then. I know I don’t need to take you, but I want to. Will you allow me to escort you?”
“Why?” she asked and he tried to think of an answer quickly, but he wasn’t sure why. The idea of the party didn’t appeal to him at all, but he didn’t appreciate the assumption Magda was making that Lanie wouldn’t have a date. In the end, he said the only answer that would make sense without making either of them uncomfortable.
“If Brad’s taking Cassie, then I should take you.”
She seemed satisfied with the answer, but Kyle wasn’t because it lacked honesty. He wanted to take her, and the idea terrified him. He wasn’t a suitable companion to escort a lady to her work function. Rather, he was the right man to call if the lady in question wanted sex after the function. These things always required introductions, and he never wanted to be introduced as someone’s boyfriend. It was still a few weeks away. Maybe by then he could come up with an excuse to blow it off. He knew she would understand because Lanie, if anything, was an understanding kind of girl. The whole thing was confusing, but he put it out of his mind. He had a story to write, after all.
Chapter Eleven
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” Lanie asked Kyle, sipping the espresso he’d bought for her. He’d said early, but she hadn’t thought he meant eight in the morning. She’d stayed up late working on her case and was very tired. They had been driving for over an hour. At least Kyle’s SUV was roomy and comfortable, Lanie thought as she shifted on the smooth leather of the passenger seat.
“I told you it’s a surprise,” he replied and clasped her hand. He was wearing a black Henley and snug jeans that gripped his hips perfectly. His black leather jacket and ruffled, dark hair made him look incredibly sexy. Lanie had spent most of the ride looking out her window, but his clean, masculine scent permeated the space, making it difficult to sit still.
“Are you going to take me somewhere secluded to ravish me?” she asked as a joke, hoping to mask her nervousness.
Kyle cocked his eyebrow is surprise. “Is that what you want? Because if so, I can just pull over and cure your virginity right now.”
“Cure? You’re acting like it’s a disease, Kyle.”
“It’s a choice, but I’m still in awe of how you managed it all these years. You’re a pretty girl. I would think a guy would have tapped you by now.”
“And you’re a total romantic, but thanks, I guess.” Lanie tried to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks by turning her head away from him. “It wasn’t really a conscious decision. I was just too busy.”
“You understand sex doesn’t require a huge time commitment, right?”
“Shut up. Of course I know that.” She tried not to roll her eyes at him.
“So, we’re good with now then?” Kyle flashed a wicked smile at her, and she felt a fluttering deep in her belly, causing her to seriously consider his offer.
“Keep driving, buddy. I’d like my first time to be in a bed. I’m not sixteen, you know.”
“Baby, I doubt you ever were,” Kyle retorted, taking her hand and kissing each finger. He rested his hand on her knee, rubbing it slowly. Lanie was enjoying it, but she shifted, realizing it was turning her on too much.
“You’re not an adolescent either, Kyle,” she said softly.
She saw Kyle tense at her words, and she wondered if he thought she was going to lecture him. She gave him a bright smile, and his shoulder immediately relaxed. “You might get a cramp.”
Kyle‘s laughter boomed through the car.