We drive in silence for a while and I realize we’re going the wrong way. My heart begins to pound a little and I speak up.

“Where are we going?” I ask, watching the world flow by.

“Well, I had to ask you a question, but I wanted to sweeten the deal first,” he says with a glance my direction.

My heart beats faster.

“So just ask me,” I demand, hating the way this feels. “I don’t like secrets or surprises,” I say, feeling that need to close down and shut him off coming up.

His next glance is quizzical. “How do you survive the holidays?”

“Very funny,” I say. That’s not what I meant, but I imagine he knows that.

“How about I give you some information?” he asks, his voice telling me he’s willing to meet me halfway… which means I have to meet him halfway. I have to trust him. And I do. I just still hate surprises.

“Okay.” I agree, feeling his hand tighten on my thigh a moment as if he’s trying to give me strength. The sweet gesture surprises me and I take a deep breath. I can do this.

“I’m taking you home,” he says.

“Okay,” I say as my worry melts into excitement. I wonder what he’s up to. Because he’s obviously got something up his sleeve, and I’m curious more than worried now. And I’ll admit, part of me is hoping for some of what happened last time we went back to his place.

Because oh, my god it was fucking amazing. He’s easily the best lover I’ve ever had. Easily. Hands down. No contest. Thinking about it makes my panties damp and my heart kick into overdrive.

I shift, pressing my knees together as his finger finds my clit once more and he begins to stroke it through my leggings. The back and forth isn’t enough to make me come, but holy crap it’s good. So good. It feels amazing.

We can’t get back to his place fast enough. When we pull up, He’s quick to say hi to Rich, who nods at him with a grin. I’m struck by how kind he is to everyone. Even the people who work for him. I’d heard so many horror stories about him. And I guess to anyone who doesn’t actually know him, he could come across as a hard ass, as someone only out for himself. But at the core, he’s really a kind person.

He parks and I get out, excitement quickening my steps toward the front door. I’m bursting with excitement. I want to know what he did, what he’s doing, what he’s got planned, it’s driving me nuts!

Once we’re in the front door, I close it and lean on it as he turns to face me. “Tell me!” The words burst out of me and I watch him arch a sexy eyebrow at me.

“Is that an order?” he asks in that deceptively soft voice that’s lined with steel.

“Please?” I add and his expression shifts to something dark and dangerous. Something that sends a bolt of excitement right to the core of me. I feel my body tingle to life and a hum begin at the juncture between my thighs.

He takes a step toward me, a single long stride that leaves me trapped between him and the front door I’d pressed myself against. His fingers reach out and capture a stay strand of hair that’s hanging down along my cheek and he tucks it back behind my ear before his fingers trace the line of my jaw to the point of my chin.

It’s like he’s touching something precious, something beautiful and it melts my heart.

When he speaks, his words surround me and all of him inundates all my senses in the way only Gavin Rossi can. “I’ve got a charity ball—a work event—I’d love for you to come with me.” His eyes meet mine and all I can think about is kissing his lips. “As my date,” he adds.

I’m frozen in place, stunned by the offer.

He wants to take me out in public as his date. In front of people. In front of the world, actually. I know those events are often covered by media, magazines do articles; it’s a big deal.

And he wants me to go as his date!

I saw his date last year on the cover of Vogue. She’d been a stunning up and coming actor. They’d made a gorgeous couple.

But reality crashes down on my shoulders. “I can’t,” I whisper, feeling miserable all of a sudden. What the hell would I wear? Leggings and the coat he’d given me? There’s no way in hell I could fit in at one of those things.

But he takes my hand. “I’ve got something to show you,” he says and I follow him. My feet feel as heavy as my heart and I internally curse myself. Of course I could never do something like that. It was stupid of me to ever think I could be Rossi’s date for anything. He’s so very out of my league in every possible way. It’s sad, really, that he’s even stringing me along like this.

He opens a door and I walk in, staring at my worn shoes, thinking about how I could never stand shoulder to shoulder with the giants that Gavin keeps company with. We come to a halt and I look up at him, wondering what he’s doing. Then I look forward.

On a mannequin is a beautiful, brilliant blue dress that I’d swear is the same shade as my eyes. The bodice is stitched with shining silver embroidery and set with what looks like glittering diamonds.

The shining gems give way to a full skirt that bells out beautifully to the ground. Beside it are some silver shoes. Around the mannequin’s neck is a heavy looking necklace that’s stunning and pale blue stones set with diamonds in silver. It’s beautiful.

I look up at Rossi and see his dark eyes are on me. “For me?” I ask, and he nods.

“Will you go with me?” he asks and I nod, looking back at the beautiful dress. How could I say no?