Chapter Three
Leo drove his SUV through Cammie’s neighborhood, taking in his surroundings through a narrowed gaze. The GPS built into the dash told him her apartment building was on the corner up ahead, but the thought made him cringe.
The house to his right had bars on the windows and an overgrown yard with garbage strewn across the dead lawn. The building across the street was dark, and because the streetlight at the end of the block was out, he couldn’t be certain, but thought he saw graffiti on the side of the building.
He didn’t like the idea of Cammie, the barista who exuded smiles and sunshine, living in a dangerous neighborhood.
He pulled his car to the curb and parked, planning to look at his phone and double check her apartment number before going inside. Before he could look, he saw her standing at the front of her building, looking adorable in dark jeans and a cream-colored sweater with a pink beanie on her head.
He glanced around, worried someone might be watching her standing alone, but he didn’t see anyone. Still, an uneasy feeling settled in his stomach as she walked toward him with the same smile on her face that she greeted him with every time he came into the coffee shop.
He climbed out of the SUV and strode around to open the passenger door as she approached. “Get in,” he said in a tight voice.
Her smile faltered, and he realized he wasn’t starting this night out on a good note. Still, how could she be so cavalier and not look around or be aware of her surroundings?
She slid into the SUV, and he closed the door behind her, then walked around his vehicle, opened the driver side door, and slid into his seat. He immediately clicked the locks.
She tipped her head to the side. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“From now on, when someone is picking you up, I want you to wait inside. In fact, you stay in your apartment until they come to get you,” he said through nearly clenched teeth.
“Aah. I get it.” She glanced at her building before looking at him again.
“It might not look like much, but this neighborhood isn’t all that bad,” she said, gesturing to an old woman coming out the exit, holding the arm of a man that looked to be in his twenties.
Her son or grandson, maybe. “There are a lot of good people here,” she went on. “We just don’t have a lot of money.”
If she’d spoken to him in an angry voice, he could have handled it. Hell, he’d have deserved it. It was her normal tone that had him feeling ashamed for being so judgmental.
“It’s also too cold to be outside for long periods of time,” he muttered.
Cammie chuckled. “Nice save.”
Maybe, but he was a spoiled asshole. He put the SUV in drive and headed toward his destination.
“Mind if I play with the radio?” she asked.
“Go ahead.”
She started tapping buttons and he was in no way surprised when she landed on a station and Christmas music filled the vehicle. They’d just finished learning what Mariah Carey wanted for Christmas when Leo pulled up in front of a restaurant he enjoyed.
A valet waited out front. The restaurant had squared-off brick trimmed with greenery planted beneath the windows. Yellow light peeked out through the slats in the wooden blinds and there were white twinkle lights lining each window and the doorway.
Cammie stared out the window, then glanced down at her jeans with a frown on her expressive face. “I’ve heard of this place. It’s one of those pricey, fine dining restaurants, right? I didn’t exactly dress right for this.”
Once again, he’d stepped in a mess of his own making. “You’ll be fine,” he assured her. He would make sure of it.
He often visited this restaurant when treating his clients to an upscale meal, and because he always wore a tailored suit, he hadn’t given the dress code a thought.
He didn’t anticipate a problem but if they had one, he’d slip the host a hundred-dollar-bill to solve the problem.
The thought made him wince as he realized even that attitude wasn’t one Cammie was used to.
He hoped she wouldn’t feel too uncomfortable among the other diners, who were undoubtedly dressed more formally than she was.
He exited the SUV and handed his keys to the valet, before he strode around and opened Cammie’s door.
She gave him a warm look, then stepped out of the vehicle.
He led her inside, his hand at the small of her back, a gesture he’d used with many women, and yet he could feel Cammie’s body heat through the sweater. It was strange how aware of her he was, and how natural it felt to be close to her like this.
Before he could think about his feelings, the host, standing down the hall at a desk, scanned Cammie from head to toe and wrinkled his nose in distaste.
Leo had cash in his hand before they reached the man, and he slipped the money to him while Cammie wasn’t looking. He also gave the ma?tre d’ a curt shake of his head.
The host picked up on what Leo didn’t say—do not upset her—and plastered a smile on his face as he led them to the table Leo had reserved.
Gleaming silverware had been set on a crisp, white tablecloth and low lighting gave off an intimate vibe, especially when he would be sitting across from a beautiful woman.
The host left them with menus and an extensive wine list.
Cammie glanced at the menu and bit her bottom lip as she studied the wine list. “We’re here to get to know each other, right? I’ll start with the fact that I don’t like wine.”
“That’s good to know since it might come up at the party. Speaking of things we need to know about each other, I don’t dance.”
She raised her eyebrows. “You can’t dance?” she asked, surprise in her voice.
He smirked. “I didn’t say that. I just don’t.”
Cammie chuckled. “We’ll see what happens when you get a couple of drinks in you. That and some Christmas spirit might have you on your feet in no time.”
“There you go with that Christmas spirit again. You’ll realize I’m a lost cause soon enough.”
Before she could reply, the waitress came to their table, and they ordered their drinks-Cammie a sparkling water and Leo his favorite wine.
Cammie glanced around the restaurant. “You really didn’t need to bring me to such a fancy establishment.” She grinned at her use of the word fancy. “I would have been fine ordering a pizza and hanging out at my place.”
Leo frowned, unable to hide his distaste at the mention of her apartment.
“I guess you’d object to that plan?” she asked.
He let out a groan. “Look, I don’t mean to be offensive. I just didn’t like the look of your neighborhood.” As soon as those words left his mouth, Leo knew he’d probably been even more offensive.
Instead of the angry or hurt reaction he expected, Cammie grinned. “Let me guess… you live in Hudson Yards. Or maybe Tribeca?” She named the most expensive neighborhoods in the city. Yes, Leo had grown up in Tribeca, and his family still lived there. Not that he’d admit as much to Cammie.
His lips quirked up in a smile. “Actually, my condo is in Central Park South.”
“Ah.” She picked up her menu and started perusing it.
“What does ah, mean?” he asked.
She glanced at him through her hooded eyes. “Oh, nothing. Just that I’m not surprised you found my neighborhood… lacking. I bet you live in one of those luxury high-rises, huh? Great views of the city?”
“The best.” He worked hard and wasn’t too proud to admit it. He leaned closer and noticed that the flecks of darker blue in her eyes added depth to the captivating orbs. He’d always found her pretty, but now, he was starting to truly appreciate her beauty.
She flicked her tongue out to wet her lips and his cock perked up, making him glad he was seated with the tablecloth covering his lap.
“Maybe you’d like to check out the view after dinner?” It seemed like a good idea to him.
He was attracted to her, and if they were going to get to know each other for the party, it would be a hell of a lot more enjoyable if they could spend some of that time horizontal. In his bed.
She shook her head. “Do you always invite women back to your place on a first date?” she asked, softening her rejection with a smile.
He hadn’t considered this a date, but he wasn’t going to correct her. “I don’t date much,” he admitted.
Before he could elaborate, the waitress returned with their drinks. They ordered food, and the waiter left them alone at the table again.
“So… you don’t date much. Why is that?” Cammie picked up the conversation where they’d left off.
“Going right for the tough questions, huh?”
She shrugged. “Isn’t that why we’re here? To get to know each other?”
Leo sighed. She was right, but he didn’t exactly feel comfortable sharing all the details of his love life, or lack thereof.
Considering how she’d reacted to his offer to go back to his place after dinner, she didn’t seem to be the casual sex type and that was all that he’d had over the past year. Ever since his last relationship ended.
He decided to share a partial truth. “I work a lot. Over the past year, I’ve put in a lot of long hours, and I don’t have time to give any woman the attention she deserves.”
What he left out was that his decision to start throwing himself into work had started as a way to distract himself from a breakup.
Despite it being a mutual decision, made when his girlfriend moved away for a new job and neither of them wanted to do the long-distance thing, he wasn’t used to being single and he figured his energy would be better spent in the office.
Now, a little more than a year later, he was still putting in a lot of hours. Too many, most women would say.
“That’s it? You work a lot?” Cammie sounded disappointed and he chuckled.
“Were you hoping I’d reveal some interesting, nefarious reason I don’t date?”
“Maybe.” She laughed. “So, you’re a workaholic. What is it you do exactly?”
This, he was comfortable discussing. “I’m a financial analyst at an investment company. Basically, I analyze investment opportunities and manage portfolios for my clients.”
“And you enjoy that?” she asked, her gaze on him so intent he believed she was truly interested in his career.
He paused at her question. He’d never thought about whether he enjoyed work. He liked the perks. The high pay. The job security and great health insurance.
But the work itself didn’t spark any excitement inside of him. “Honestly, I don’t like or dislike it. It’s just something that I do to live a comfortable life.”
“Wow.” Her eyes opened wide. “I can’t imagine devoting all of my time to something that I didn’t feel passionate about.”
The word passionate aroused other feelings inside him, ones that kept him up at night thinking about Cammie, her pouty lips and all the things she could do to him with them. But she was talking work so he refocused himself on the mundane.
She didn’t seem to mean her comment in a judgmental way, but her words got him thinking.
Why was he spending so much time at the office?
Sure, he made a lot of money, but he couldn’t remember the last time he did something enjoyable with it.
The cash accumulated in his bank account and he spent most days behind a desk.
The one indulgence he allowed himself during the workday was his trip to the coffee shop. For the peppermint mocha, sure, but also to see the pretty barista with the great laugh.
Cammie propped her chin in her hand, watching him through curious eyes, and he felt an unfamiliar feeling of discomfort at the way she saw through him so easily. Though this was the beginning stage of getting acquainted, she was obviously an intuitive person. Smart. Curious.
The waitress arrived with their food, and Cammie changed the subject, which was a relief because Leo wasn’t prepared to evaluate his entire life at the moment.
As they ate, she talked about graphic design, and it quickly became apparent she was passionate about her chosen career and eager to land a job in her hoped-for profession. He made a mental note to reach out to his sister soon to arrange that interview.
They spent the rest of the meal learning things that any two people in a relationship would already know about one another, like their favorite books, foods and hobbies.
When he mentioned the only hobby he did outside of work was going to the gym every day, she let out a loud sigh, as if she’d caught him in an embarrassing admission.
Then, she covered her mouth with her napkin in embarrassment.
Still, at the mention of the gym, he didn’t miss the way her gaze appreciatively roamed over his chest or the flush on her pale cheeks as she studied him. She definitely felt the same burning attraction, and he wondered if he could convince her to come back to his apartment after a second date.
Then, he was startled to realize that he was thinking about taking her out again. He told himself that spending more time with her would be necessary to pull off their ruse, but that didn’t explain the anticipation thrumming through him at the possibility.
The bill came and Leo took the portfolio, paying the check and then leading her out of the restaurant.
They stepped toward his SUV, which had been brought around by the valet.
As he walked around to her side, she looked at him with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “I know you probably have to work early tomorrow, but what would you say about going someplace else tonight? Somewhere fun?”
That thrum of anticipation picked up inside him again, and he found himself mentally agreeing without thought. “Sure. What did you have in mind?”
She smiled. “A place with a little Christmas spirit,” she said, and he groaned.