Page 54 of Treasured
The bedroom door behind me opened, and I pivoted around. Mary breezed out of the bedroom in a blue dress that fit her perfectly, and her hair was up like it’d been the night I met her. I couldn’t breathe. Bruce wiggled out of my arms, and I took a few steps closer and kissed her cheek. She brushed her hand to my cheek and asked, “So, how did it go?”
I spun her around so I had a full view. “You look amazing.”
Her face reddened a little, but she shook her head and said, “Thanks, but you didn’t answer the question.”
I’d already committed to running the company, but she was beaming at me, clearly wondering how my day had gone, but instead of answering her, I said, “Having a legal team explain my responsibilities and contracts for me made understanding my job easier.”
Her brother laughed as Bruce raced into his arms, but Mary crossed her arms and asked, “But did you like running it, or are you going back to Cole Securities?”
I turned her around and discreetly pinched her ass as I said, “I belong here, with you, especially in that dress of yours.”
She patted my chest with the tie around my neck still and said, “We met when I was super fancy.”
Tonight was on, then. I was luckier than my brother ever was because I had Mary in my life. I let my gaze trail over her body. Her breasts were like orbs that I ached to suckle right then, but I only said, “You’re beautiful, no matter what you’re wearing or doing.”
Her brother then huffed from the couch and said, “Okay, both of you, leave. Bruce doesn’t need to learn all the mushy stuff this early.”
I called out as we headed to the closet, “Thanks again for babysitting, Joseph.”
Bruce clung to him as Joseph said, “You literally moved into my building so I get to see you both all the time.”
“I needed a babysitter I trusted,” Mary called out as she slipped her matching blue shoes on.
I chose my shinier black shoes for the night.
Joseph carried Bruce over and walked us to the door, saying goodbye.
Mary pressed her lips together and stared at me. My skin prickled as I thought that maybe something was going on, but she didn’t say a word. We made it to the front lobby with the all-black marble fountain in the middle, and she just sailed beside me. When we stepped out, her mouth dropped. “You got us a limo?”
Maybe whatever she had to say wasn’t that bad. I swallowed and scooted behind her into the limo as I said, “It seems I run a well-funded company.”
She relaxed in her seat but held her belly like she’d eaten already. “And you’re splurging on me.”
Was that her big secret? She’d made me promise a place that offered small meals. So my gaze narrowed as I said, “Even frou-frou French dinner doesn’t hurt the bottom line.”
Her eyes widened as she asked, “Champagne?”
I nodded as the limo stopped in front of the restaurant we had reservations at as I said, “I’m a classy guy.”
She patted her head like she wanted to massage her scalp but then didn’t want to ruin her hair. My mother used to complain about pins when I was a boy, but I could be wrong with my guess. I didn’t ask and offered my arm as we slipped out of the limo. However, as the door closed behind us, she sucked in her breathe and tugged my arm. “I can see that. And I’m impressed, but can we go somewhere else?”
My gut twisted, but I nodded, and she directed us to walk away as I asked, “What are you thinking?”
She pointed to the reservoir we’d strolled the first night I showed up in Pittsburgh while she said, “The park.”
I glanced up. The full moon would make it slightly lighter, but I’d keep her safe when I said, “In your heels.”
She let out a sigh and said, “If we walk in the grass, I can take them off.”
I tugged my ear and then nodded. “Sure. Do you want dinner?”
She tilted her head. “A slice of pizza and being alone with you.”
If she ate, all she had to do was tell me. I kept my hand on her lower back but pointed to the wine store across the street. “Easy to please, but how about a bottle of wine?”
Her eyes widened like I’d caught her, but she quickly shook her head. “Sounds much better than sitting across from you at a table, but no thanks.”
I pointed behind us. “The restaurant had white tablecloths and classy music.”
