Page 50 of Hooked
“I have many thoughts.” Jeremy finished his cocktail. “That I’ll vent when I’m out with my buddies and not on a date.” He tried to protest when the server came by and Tayla grabbed the leather envelope with the check. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t even try.” She opened her wallet. “This date was mine to plan.”
“Yeah, and it was a lot fancier than mine.”
She shrugged. “But not as labor intensive. Seriously, this one is on me.”
He reached across the table, took Tayla’s hand, and kissed her knuckles one by one. “Thank you for dinner.”
Mmmmm. If paying for dinner got her that response more often, she’d be more inclined to offer. Jeremy had been the epitome of a gentleman all night—save for his slipup on the desk at the escape room. She wanted to get him alone and see if he’d slip up more.
“Are you ready?” She left cash for the server. “Should we have our driver take us back to my place?”
He nodded, his eyes lighting up. “That sounds like a great idea.”
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Chapter Eleven
They drove backto Tayla and Emmie’s apartment, and it was everything Jeremy could to do keep his hands to himself.
Teenage boy watching through rearview mirror. Must. Not. Grope. Tayla.
He held her hand and played with the smooth curves of her fingernails as they drove the few blocks back to her place. Tayla slid her ankle along his when she crossed her legs.
Keep. Hands. To. Yourself.
Jeff stopped at the curb and quickly exited the driver’s door to let them out. Jeremy got out first, then waited for Tayla to exit, extending a hand to help her out of the low sedan.
“Jeff, thank you so much! I already paid your grandpa, but I want to—”
“Let me.” Jeremy stopped her before she reached into her purse. “Let me get it.”
She paused a second before she nodded.
Jeremy handed the young man a very generous tip. “Thanks, man. You’re a great driver.”
The boy’s eyes bugged out before a grin lit up his face. “Thanks, man. Have a good night. Bye, Tayla!”
“Bye, Jeff. Tell your grandpa I said hi.”
“I will.”
The Cadillac sped off into the night, leaving Tayla and Jeremy on the sidewalk.
“That was a pretty nice tip,” she said.
“I remember being that age.” He put his hand on the small of her back. “Can I walk you upstairs?”
“I was just about to invite you in for a drink.”
Jeremy hesitated. “Are Emmie and Ox—”
“Staying out at the ranch this weekend. It’s his mom's birthday.”
“Nice.” Privacy. It was a novel concept for Jeremy these days. “Then I would love a drink. Thank you.”
She unlocked the front door, and they made their way through the darkened bookshop, up the stairs that led to Tayla’s apartment.
