When I came back downstairs, Paisley was still watching The Jungle Book, so I went ahead and packed everything for our picnic. Twenty minutes later, I was done. Poking my head in the living room, I realized Beatrice and Paisley hadn’t moved one inch.
“We’re ready to go,” I said.
Predictably, Paisley asked, “Can I stay and watch some more?”
The corners of my mouth tugged up. “You can watch more another day. Let’s go out and enjoy the sun.”
Beatrice nudged Paisley. “Your dad messaged me, asking me to spend the evening here. We’ll watch more tonight.”
“When did Tate message you?” I blurted.
“Now,” she answered, looking at me with a very knowing smile.
Oh sweet Lord. The man moved fast.
I smiled nervously as we all got ready to go out.
The day was perfect for sunbathing and relaxing, but I couldn’t wait to get home for the first time since I became Paisley’s nanny. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy spending my time with her and Beatrice. But I was too excited about the date, and that feeling multiplied once I received a message in the early afternoon from Tom, the owner of the small deli next to my building, telling me I had a special delivery that I had to pick up from him.
Lexi: What is it?
Tom: I am under strict instructions not to tell you.
I stared at my phone.
Lexi: Who is it from?
Tom: Tate Maxwell. That’s all I’m allowed to tell you.
I laughed at my phone, shaking my head. Tate had bribed him not to tell me what he sent me? Well, well. And I thought I was on good terms with Tom. I had to take my bribing game to another level.
The day rolled by fast—probably because I spent half the time daydreaming about the evening.
“Why don’t you go ahead?” Beatrice asked sweetly at five o’clock when we returned to the house after a day of sun, snacks, and laid-back fun. “Paisley and I are good.”
I couldn’t help but blush. Could she tell what was on my mind? That all I could think about was Tate and what the evening would bring?
Who was I kidding? Of course she could tell. That explained the knowing smile.
“Are you sure?” I asked, not even bothering to pretend that I didn’t want to go home as soon as possible.
“Yes, yes. Paisley and I can entertain each other.”
Oh sweet Lord. By the way Paisley looked at Beatrice, as if she walked on water, I knew she was going to spoil the young girl nonstop. That was fine. That was a great-grandmother’s prerogative. I’d only had a few years with my grandparents—they passed away when I was pretty young—but the one summer I spent at their house was one of my happiest memories.
Once I arrived at my building, I went straight next door to Tom’s deli, impatiently drumming my fingers on his counter.
“Okay. I’m here. I want my present.”
“Girl, whoever this guy is, he’s a keeper.”
“How exactly did this happen?”
“A delivery guy came. He gave me his phone, and I spoke with Tate Maxwell, who made a very convincing case for why I shouldn’t tell you what you got.” Bending at the waist, he disappeared for a few seconds under the counter and then came up with a box of my favorite kind of chocolates—they had cherries inside.
Wow. I couldn’t believe it. My mouth was already watering as I took my box of chocolates.
I was lucky that the elevator wasn’t too crowded. I was getting the side-eye from my neighbors, probably because I was smiling like a kid on Christmas morning. Once I got inside my apartment, I texted him.
Lexi: I got the chocolates. And they are my favorite kind!!!!
Tate: I know. You told me you loved them.
Oh, sweet heavens. He remembered? Who is this guy?
Lexi: How did you do this?
Tate: That’s my secret. But it involved Gran too.
Lexi: So family conspiracy for the perfect date, huh?
Tate: All the best for you Lexi. Only the best.
I sighed, planning to look absolutely gorgeous for this date. I washed my hair and styled it in waves with my large round brush. Then I applied makeup, carefully following the steps, using face cream and then foundation. I played with eye color until I got it right; I was wearing a white dress and black sandals, so I could get pretty creative with eyeshadows. Choosing a few shades of green, I put a lighter color starting from the inner corner of the eyelid and going darker toward the outer corner.
Once I finished the makeup, I put on my white dress. It was strapless with sewn-in bra cups so my nipples wouldn’t show. It was made of a stretchy fabric that highlighted my curves. I turned around, looking in the mirror, and decided to pair it with some fun earrings.
In my spare time, I liked to make jewelry. It was nothing fancy; I liked crafts, having done it a lot with the kids at school, and it became a habit that relaxed me more than even being outdoors. I put on huge hoops with all sorts of trinkets on them. I liked wearing neutral colors because it allowed me to play with accessories and makeup.
Turning around again in the mirror, I smiled at myself, happy with my work. I still had two minutes left until Tate arrived, so I quickly put on my shoes, which were pretty high and made my legs look endless. I couldn’t wait to see Tate want to devour me the second I opened the door.
I even sent my friends a pic of the chocolate box after I’d updated them on my night with Tate.
Jenny: He’s a keeper.
Ella: Holy shit, girl. Where did you find this guy?
I grinned at their responses. One and a half minutes later—yes, I was counting—my doorbell rang. I opened it without even checking the peephole.
Wow. Was Tate even hotter tonight? He looked absolutely delicious, with a five-o’clock shadow, the top button of his shirt open, and his sleeves rolled up. He was pure muscle, and I loved every inch of him.
“Good evening, Lexi.”
“I’m ready.” I felt a bit ridiculous as I posed in front of him, jutting one hip out to the right and placing my hand on it. I stayed like that for a few seconds before picking up my black clutch.
Tate didn’t take his eyes off my face. He seemed oddly still.
Okay, this is not the reaction I was hoping for. I’d hoped he would at least look at me up and down, but he was staring firmly at my face.
We walked back out to the corridor, and I locked the door, before we headed to the elevator and pressed the button. It came quickly, as it usually did in off-peak hours. It took forever to catch an elevator very early in the morning or in the evening when everyone left or and came home. Everyone seemed to leave and arrive at the same time.
The elevator was empty, and the second we stepped inside, I felt a shift in the air. When the door closed, I noticed Tate’s appearance in the mirror. He was standing behind me. The hunger in his eyes made my skin turn to goose bumps.
He pushed my hair to one side, kissing my naked shoulder.
“Lexi,” he whispered. “Fuck.” Then he promptly turned me around and covered my mouth with his, kissing me hungrily, tangling our tongues, taking his time with his deep-and-dirty kiss. He buried one hand in my hair and rested the other one on my waist.
I was so turned on that when he parted my legs with his knee, I nearly rubbed myself against his thigh. Holy shit, he could make me lose my decency in record time.
I gasped, and he pulled back with a groan.
“Damn it. I thought I could hold back.” He was looking at me up close, dragging his thumb across my lips. “But like I told you once, you make me feel too much. Want too much. There is no in-between with you.”
I took a step back as the elevator doors opened, laughing nervously. “Can I point out that you had excellent restraint back in the apartment? I was wondering what was up with that. You were looking at my face and nothing more.”
Tate looked incredulous for a few seconds before bursting out laughing. “That’s because I knew if I looked too closely, I was going to lose it.”
I grinned, wiggling my eyebrows. “That was exactly the reaction I was hoping for when I got dressed,” I said as we walked down the hallway toward the exit.
Tate put an arm around me when we stepped outside, feathering his fingers up and down my left arm. It was such an intimate touch. I loved it. I wanted more of it. I wanted everything.
We walked to the edge of the street, and I only realized he was calling a cab when I saw him lift an arm. I was so used to Ubering everywhere that I didn’t even pay attention to cabs anymore. Still, they were quite convenient and circulating a lot in the summer in the evenings because people spent a lot of time outdoors.
“Where are we going?” I asked when he opened the door of the cab for me. I slid in, moving to the center of the seat so he could get in on the same side.
“Navy Pier,” he told the driver, who simply nodded, and the car lurched forward.
“I haven’t been there in a long time,” I said, fidgeting in excitement. “What are we doing?”
“We’re going on the Ferris wheel.”
I squealed like a teenager. “Oh my God, really? That’s so awesome. I’ve never been on it.”
“I know. You told us that when we made the waffles.”
My eyes widened. “I did. That’s right.”
I smiled, and he smiled right back before bringing his mouth to my ear and veering left at the last second to where my jaw met the neck. I thought he might tell me something, but instead, he placed a kiss there. It was innocent at first, just a brush of his lips, but then I felt the tip of his tongue, and I instantly clenched my thighs. Desire poured through me, especially between my legs.
Then Tate straightened up, and I caught his smug smile before he turned to look out the window.
This man had some serious seduction skills.
