CHAPTER 16
Tobias
The shock of having Scarlet so unceremoniously show up to my office had made me forget all of my home training. My rules about appropriate office behavior had gone completely out the window, and I hadn’t been able to keep my hands off her. Needless to say, I felt rather guilty about it afterwards. I had, after all, completely lost my cool back when I’d had the misfortune of catching my best friend and my sister in a similarly uncompromising position at our firm’s gala the previous year; I didn’t take much pride in knowing that my behavior with Scarlet had essentially been the equivalent of the pot calling the kettle black.
Things are always so much different when the shoe is on the other foot, I marveled.
I momentarily put my thoughts on hold as my navigation system chirped, telling me the next turn I needed to take as I headed for Scarlet’s hotel.
After our impromptu hook-up in my office, she had hurriedly dressed and left, stating that she would have to talk to me later.
“I realize it was a mistake to come to you at your workplace like this. Very unprofessional. I’m sorry. I…I can see you later?” she’d said.
I had nodded. “I don’t care about professionalism when it comes to you Scarlet. I just care about all the naughty things I can do to you, but yeah. Let’s have dinner. Tell me where you’re staying and I’ll come pick you up.”
“What time?”
“Let’s shoot for seven.”
“Okay.”
And then she had left, and I’d been forced to spend the rest of the day catching Courtney looking at me from the corners of her eyes.
I hoped Scarlet and I hadn’t been too loud…
Scarlet and I had been so drawn to each other that very little words had actually been exchanged between the two of us, which seemed to always be the case whenever we were together. I hadn’t even gotten a chance to ask her why she was in town. I wasn’t naïve enough to believe that she had come all the way to Chicago just to see me, although I would have been beyond flattered if that was the case.
Hopefully over dinner though, I could learn more of her story. Maybe we could finally have time to simply talk, and get to know each a verbal level.
It was silly, but for some reason, I was nervous as left to pick Scarlet up from her hotel.
After texting to let her know I was there, I checked myself out one last time in the rearview mirror before getting out and entering the hotel lobby.
“Hello, sir. Can I help you?” the receptionist at the front desk asked. She was a young woman who looked to be about college-aged.
I smiled politely. “No. I’m just waiting on one of your guests. She should be here in a moment.”
“Okay. Please feel free to take a seat,” she said, gesturing to the couches.
“Thank you,” I said, and took a seat. The couch cushions were all worn out, and as I looked around, it became apparent that the hotel was fairly old and had seen better days. If I had known Scarlet was in town, I would have happily given her better arrangements, or even opened the doors of my home to her. But then I recalled her discomfort over the money I’d spent on her during our prior rendezvous. Somehow, I doubted she’d appreciate if I offered her a fancy hotel, or my home.
I suddenly felt grateful for deciding to drive on my own rather than pick her up in a limousine. I could already tell that Scarlet wasn’t exactly the type of woman whose affection could be bought. Money wasn’t going to win her over.
Is that what I’m trying to do? Win her over? The thought alarmed me. I had warned myself repeatedly to not let my feelings run too deep with Scarlet, because what we had going on wasn’t serious. Deep down though, I knew I hadn’t exactly succeeded with that plan, especially since I’d been thinking about her nonstop since the last time we were together.
Still, it was a slippery slope. I had to stay realistic and accept that even now that we had reunited, there was no guarantee things would go any further. Last time may not have been our final goodbye, but who was to say that this time wouldn’t be?
Unless I tell her that I want to keep seeing her, I thought to myself. What’s stopping me?
Thoughts of my ex suddenly came to mind. My trust issues remained a hinderance that I worried I would never get over. That’s what was stopping me. Stupid.
I sighed and leaned back on the couch, realizing that the receptionist was still looking at me, although she was doing her best to pretend she was busy with some task or other. I chuckled, wondering if she thought I was shady or something.
I was just about to attempt engaging her in small talk before I heard the elevator ding. I turned, seeing the doors open.
Out stepped Scarlet, looking like beauty personified.
I thought back to when I took her out to dinner before, how stunning she had looked. That was no comparison to how she looked now though. In a long flowing dress with her hair elegantly pinned up, she took my breath away. There was something different about her that I couldn’t place my finger on. Whatever the case, she was positively glowing. The deep burgundy dress she wore made her skin look absolutely radiant. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it or not, but her figure seemed slightly fuller, and it looked wonderful on her.
The receptionist looked at her with wide eyes. “Wow,” she said. “You look gorgeous, Ms. Kale!”
Scarlet smiled. “Thank you.” She then turned her gaze toward me, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I wanted to pay her a compliment, but she had left me speechless. And judging from the way her eyes sparkled and how her lips curved upward into a sly grin, she knew it.
“Well,” she said, “I guess it’s time for us to leave?”
I nodded. “Yeah,” I said, finally finding my voice. “Damn, Scarlet. Could you get any more beautiful?”
She stared at me for a long time, seeming as if she wanted to say something, but then changing her mind. “Let’s go. I’m starving.”
I smiled, holding my arm out to her. Laughing, she looped hers through mine, and together, we exited the hotel.
I led her to my car, where I opened the passenger’s side door for her.
“You know, I was worried you were going to show up in a fancy stretch-limousine or something.”
I laughed awkwardly, officially grateful that I hadn’t. I then got into the driver’s side and we set off on our way.
“So where are we going? I’m not overdressed, am I?” she asked, once she had fastened her seatbelt.
I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. You’re perfect.”