Authors: Anna Robbins
“The Governor… of California?” She couldn’t help the shock in her voice. She had been lulled by good food and friendly conversation in the sandwich place, making her forget exactly who he was and what he did for a living.
“That would be him.” He laughed at her blank expression, but sobered quickly. “I’m still that guy from the club, Abby. I’m just a normal person.”
“I know. It’s just a little jarring. You live a totally different life than me.”
“Not so different.” He cupped her face in his hands, raising her gaze to his. “I’m just a guy that plays pool in a bar, throws peanuts on the floor with kids, takes gorgeous women for dinner on yachts, and one that looks for any excuse to kiss you.”
When he bent down, giving her a quick, playful kiss, she laughed, relaxing at his words.
He was right. He was still the same person she had been spending time with. None of that changed because of what he did. Or more important, what he had. “I’d love to go with you.”
“Great. It’s formal attire. Will that be a problem?”
“It shouldn’t be.”
“I’ll pick you up at five.” He leaned down for a soft kiss, and she sighed at the flavor of him. Even the small contact had her pulse jumping. “I’ll see you soon.” He opened the door of her car, helping her in before closing it.
With a last smile, she drove down and out of the structure, glancing at him through her mirror until she couldn’t see him anymore.
With a deep breath, she merged into traffic, trying to focus on her route home instead of the fact that she was in love with a man more complicated than anyone she had ever met.
Chapter 8
Sitting in front of her vanity, Abby applied a slick coat of fire-engine-red lipstick. She wasn’t normally so bold with her make-up, but tonight was special, and she had a feeling she might need the extra boost to her confidence.
Glancing at the river of ruby silk draped across her bed, she felt a nervous flutter within her stomach. It wasn’t a dress that she would have normally picked, but shopping with Ashley, she had agreed that this dress notched up her wow factor. It fit her in sinful perfection, accentuating her slim waist, drawing attention to her best features while downplaying her less-desirable ones.
She had already gone to the hairdresser, scheduling the appointment early enough so she wouldn’t feel rushed. This was the one night she didn’t want to rush. At the stylist’s suggestion, she left her hair loose, tumbling down her back in soft curls. It felt airy, light in its simplicity.
He would be here soon. Another flutter.
She slipped on her dress, shivering as the cool silk kissed her skin. It heated quickly, adapting to her own temperature.
It was simple in its design, a hidden zipper at the side, emphasizing the beautiful material with few embellishments except for the gathered fabric at the scooped neckline. The thin straps across her shoulders didn’t have a utilitarian purpose, more artistic than functional, but they drew the eye to her creamy shoulders. The gold chandelier earrings she slipped on finished the look. Sexy, smooth, sophisticated. And not quite safe.
For the first time in her life, she didn’t want to be safe. She didn’t want to be held back, unable to move forward because of her natural reserve. She wanted to be bold.
Dylan had touched a part of her that she had never given to anyone before. And no matter how their relationship ended, she wanted to know that she had given him everything and had held no part of herself back.
“Just enjoy tonight,” she told herself in the mirror. Tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed.
The doorbell sounded and her lips curved. Checking her gold clutch, she made sure she had everything she needed before opening the door.
Seeing him, the fitted black tux making him look more muscular than she had ever noticed and the look of heat that strung into his eyes at his first look of her, made her grateful for the purse in her hand. It kept her from reaching out and pulling him inside.
“You take my breath away.” It wasn’t said with the smooth tone she had heard from other men on previous dates, but with an appreciation that made her insides go hot.
“You do too.” Standing at her door, looking at each other, an awareness moved between them, through them, pulling them closer together. And she knew that something would happen tonight. Something that would change their relationship.
How it might change, she wasn’t certain. But instead of anxiety, she felt a surge of excitement. She didn’t know where they were headed, but she couldn’t wait to find out.
Holding out his hand, she placed hers in his and was charmed when he instantly curled it into the crook of his arm. Leading her down the path, she couldn’t stop staring at him.
She felt like she was floating, no matter how ridiculous it sounded.
“After you.”
His words gave her a jolt, and she realized he was waiting for her to get in the car. No, not a car, she corrected. A limousine.
The chauffeur held the door open, offering her a reassuring smile, but she felt too stunned to do anything more than offer a small smile in return.
She lowered herself into the vehicle, and the smell of leather and polish stung her nose. It looked new, and she guessed, top of the line. The vehicle she had ridden in to her prom ten years ago couldn’t be described as a limo when compared to this.
Dylan climbed in behind her and moved to sit next to her on the seat.
“Let me guess,” she said, forcing a hint of humor into her voice. “It belongs to the company you work for?”
“Bingo.” He grinned. “Want a drink?”
“No thanks. You go ahead though.”
He poured himself some water with ice. “I thought this might be more comfortable than a car. It takes an hour to get there without traffic, but considering what time we’ll be traveling through downtown, I’m guessing it will be longer. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Don’t mind? You’re kidding right?” she laughed at his questioning look. “It is taking all my will power not to press every single button in here. I’ve only been in a limo one other time, and it was obviously a base model.”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing what all the buttons do.” He handed her a remote. “Knock yourself out.”
It was silly, but she couldn’t help herself as she pressed four different buttons, ohh-ing and ahh-ing as doors slid open and closed, the flat screen turned on, and the sun roof opened. “Okay. I need to stop now or I’ll never let it go. Is there anything it can’t do?”
“It can’t make the car teleport. That’s about it.” He rocked the ice in his cup before setting it down. “I like you like this.”
“Hmm?” She turned to him with a smile.
“Inquisitive, relaxed. You aren’t as nervous as when you first got into the car.”
“Oh.” She flushed. “I guess I should try for worldly.”
His gentle fingers caressed her face, turning her gaze back to him. “Not at all. I can’t remember a time I enjoyed the limo more.”
“I’m sure you’re just used to it. Same as the yacht.”
“Yes. But I wasn’t always. You help me to remember how magical it all is.”
Her brows creased. “You didn’t grow up with things like this?”
“No.” Seeing the hesitation in his eyes, she moved to tell him he didn’t need to delve into anything, but stopped when he began speaking. “I didn’t have money growing up. In fact, I didn’t have anything. I was in foster care.” Stunned, she didn’t know what to say, and was relieved when he didn’t wait for a response. “Everything I have now, I’ve worked for.” The satisfaction he felt was evident.
“I think that’s wonderful.”
“It doesn’t matter that I don’t have a family?”
“No. I can’t imagine not having mine, but that’s not it. What you’ve done, what you’ve accomplished, not many people can make the same climb. It takes a drive and ambition well beyond the normal person to do that. You must be very proud.”
He looked into her eyes a moment as if searching for something before he turned away, filling up his glass with more water. “Not many people feel that way. They usually see a lack of family as inferior breeding.”
Her eyes narrowed as she looked down at her lap, seeing him only in her periphery. “What nonsense. I never understood the idea that you are somehow better because you were born with more.” A slow smile curved his lips. “What?”
“Just you. I’ve never had someone so willing to defend me.” He leaned in for a soft kiss. “Thank you.”
Thrown off by the tender words, his gratitude, she blushed again. “Well, I meant it. No one can look at you now, at what you’ve done, and think you’re inferior to anyone.”
The lull in conversation gave her the chance to compose herself.
As the sun set, the lights came on inside the vehicle, accentuating their soft conversation until the driver interrupted. “We’ll be there shortly.”
It only took a few more minutes to pull up to the museum that was hosting the benefit. Situated on a hill overlooking the city, the modern structure was composed of a range of buildings all constructed in the same rose granite. The Hardy museum housed a range of pieces that pleased even the pickiest guest. With large courtyards and a variety of gardens surrounding the grounds, it boasted breathtaking views.
“Ready?” he asked her as they pulled up, only nodding to the driver now that the privacy screen was down when she answered.
The door opened, bringing in the crisp night air. The sounds of a string quartet mingled softly with the conversation of arriving guests.
Tucking her hand into his arm, Dylan nodded to a few people as they walked in, allowing her the chance to fully experience the atmosphere.
It was warmer inside, and her nose twitched at the faint mix of perfume in the air. Large crowds shuffled by the buffet tables, jockeying for the choicest morsels. Others twirled around the dance floor, entertaining the nearby onlookers who hovered at tables arranged around the floor.
It was obvious that this particular building was where the more ancient pieces were housed; the classical décor whispered of a bygone time. It was easy to imagine men and women in Regency–style dress dancing a quadrille on the marble floors, surrounded by Doric columns and silhouetted by candles.
The lighting, though modern of course, was muted, casting a rosy haze over the dancers as they swirled across the floor, occasionally catching a flash of the crystals above.
Dylan leaned down, whispering in her ear. “What do you think?”
“I think I’ve never seen anything like this. It looks like it should be in a magazine.”
“It probably will be.”
Her jaw dropped at the thought.
“Dylan, it’s nice to see you.” A gentleman with graying hair stopped to greet him.
“You too, Spencer. My I introduce my date, Miss Abby Carter?”
She turned toward the man, offering him a polite smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine, I assure you.” Though he looked to be the same age as her father, he cast her an appraising look that made her want to blush. “I would stay close to this one, Dylan.”
“I plan on it.”
The man laughed before moving on to speak with someone else.
“Don’t mind him,” Dylan whispered in her ear as he led her farther into the room. “He hasn’t yet figured out that not every woman desires him.”
“How is that possible?”
Dylan shrugged after nodding to another person. “Usually someone worth that much money can have whoever he wants, regardless of his age.”