“Nope?”

“It’s a surprise,” he informed her as he opened the car door for her and then slid onto the back seat once she’d gotten in.

“You should know that I'm not crazy about surprises.” Florence shot him a dubious look as she buckled up.

“Relax, you’ll like it. I promise,” he added when she still didn't look convinced.

“If you say so,” she muttered under her breath.

“You know you're cute when you pout like that.”

“Cute?” She made a face. “I'm twenty-seven, way too old to be cute.”

“Wrong, I think you're adorable. Sexy too.” He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger and turned her face to meet his. When he kissed her, he took things slow, letting his tongue explore every inch of her mouth, tasting her and wondering what the rest of her tasted like. He couldn’t wait to have her naked, and in his bed, he was going to taste every inch of her sweet body before he buried himself so deep inside of her it would seal their connection forever.

By the time he finally broke away they were both breathing heavily, and if he wasn't serious about what he’d planned for them tonight, then he would have asked his driver to take them straight back to his hotel room or to his penthouse. But this was something he really wanted to do.

“How’s your head?” he asked as they turned into Eighth Avenue. His finger softly traced the lump on her temple.

“Much better. Although, I'd say it was still awful if it means you’ll make me more of that amazing soup.”

“You don’t have to be sick for me to cook for you.” Eli kissed the tip of her nose. “And if you love the soup, then you're going to love it when we move in together, and you get to come home to my cooking every night.”

A flash of uncertainty washed over her features, but he saw her resolutely push it away and smile at him. “Since I'm not much of a chef, I definitely will.”

Score.

He’d wondered how she’d reacted when he so blatantly told her where he saw things going between them. She shouldn’t be surprised though, he’d been upfront with her from the beginning. Florence called it cocky, but to him it was just recognizing what you wanted and going for it.

“We’re here,” he said as the car came to a stop.

“And where is here?” she asked as they both climbed out of the car.

“Here is Tig’s Tattoo and Piercing,” he replied.

“A tattoo parlor?” Her nose scrunched up in an adorably confused look. “This is where you’re bringing me for a date? You want me to get a tattoo?”

“Nope.I'mthe one who’ll be getting the tattoo. My first tattoo in fact.”

“Oh?” Now she arched a surprised brow. “Playboy that you are, I would have guessed you had at least one.”

“Never really saw the appeal. Not until I saw yours anyway.” Eli took her hand and led her inside the tattoo parlor. His gaze immediately went to the large tattooed man sitting on a stool by the desk. “Tig, I presume.”

“Mr. Lennox?”

“That’s me.”

“And your lovely lady is?”

“I'm Florence,” she said, holding out her hand to shake his.

“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am. You both getting tats?”

“Actually, the design I asked about when I called you earlier, it’s a replica of one that Florence already has,” Eli explained.

“It is?” Florence looked up at him wide-eyed.

“You got the design?” Eli asked Tig.