Page 26 of Dating the Rebel
She knew what would help most with the stress, and it wasn’t food or wine. It was him. Just him.
But dare she bring him home with her? All having sex with him had done was make her want him more. But remembering the pleasure he’d given her, the toe-curling release that she needed...
She knew it was worth the risk, even if tonight was only half as good as the other night with him had been.
She drained her flute of champagne and said, “The evening’s not over.”
He arched a brow. “What are you saying?”
“That you’re coming home with me.”
He’d planned on kissing her outside the door to the lobby of her apartment building. That was all Grant had allowed himself to count on this evening.
Good food. Good wine. Fun conversation.
And a wistful, longing kiss good-night.
Hell, he hadn’t even counted on that; he knew all too well how stubborn she could be.
And now he knew how surprising.
Even after having the waiter pack up their dessert and the chauffeur drive them to her apartment building, Grant expected to be stopped on the street—especially when the doorman eyed him suspiciously as he approached with her.
“Il est en sécurité,” Miranda said in French.
Grant chuckled as he translated to English what she’d said. “I’m safe?” He didn’t feel safe; he felt very uneasy, on edge, and it wasn’t just because he wanted her so badly.
Or at least that was only part of it. He wanted her so badly and was worried that she was still going to toss him out. But at least he got past the doorman, who held open the door for him, however begrudgingly.
Despite the man’s unwelcoming attitude, Grant slipped him a big bill. Maybe that would soften him up some.
Had the wine and the food softened up Miranda?
Was now the time for him to talk to her about Blair and Teo? He’d forgotten all about them last time he’d been alone with Miranda. This time he’d been reluctant to bring up anything that related to her business. Tabitha had told him that was why she was so stressed—because Teo’s interview had pissed off so many of their female members.
Apparently everyone wanted a billionaire of her own—even Tabitha. Why didn’t Miranda?
Why hadn’t she gone out with Teo herself?
Oh, because of her rule...
The one that meant if she ever signed Grant up for the service, she wouldn’t go out with him again. Maybe he shouldn’t have made this date so perfect...
“I think you’re scared,” she said.
He glanced up and realized that she stood inside the elevator, holding open the doors for him. He hadn’t even realized it had arrived; he’d been lost in thoughts...of her.
He’d rather be lost in her, though. He stepped inside with her, but a pang of regret struck him that they were not alone. An older woman stood in the corner of the elevator; she held a small dog in her scrawny arms. The dog bristled and growled at Grant, and he wasn’t sure how long the woman would be able to hold on to it.
Used to dealing with unpredictable creatures, Grant emitted a high-pitched whistle for only the dog to hear. It dropped his head down to the woman’s arms and stared at him balefully.
“What did you do?” Miranda asked, her pale blue eyes narrowing in suspicion.
She was young enough that she must have heard it. The dog’s owner was blissfully unaware.
“And can you teach me how to do that?” Miranda continued.
“Dogs love me,” Grant said. “You know they’re excellent judges of character.”
