Chapter 49
—Reed—
While Kase reeled from the kiss, I propelled her to the passenger side and deposited her in the seat before she could protest. Grinning like a fool while rounding the hood, I slid behind the wheel of the late-model Mercedes.
I took a moment to appreciate the light leather upholstery. “Does your mom know you took her car?”
Kase avoided eye contact. “No comment.”
My eyes narrowed. “She doesn’t, does she? We could have caught an Uber, babe.”
The look on her face screamed guilty to the third degree, and she covered it with snark. “What’s with the twenty questions? I’m here, aren’t I?”
Exasperated, I ran my hand down my face. “That’s not the point. The point—” I cut off when I realized the anger in her expression was a Band-Aid for the tearful sheen in her eyes.
Both Banks and Mom had warned me about Kasey’s potential unpredictable moods and volatility. While she wasn’t overly confrontational, my interrogation had visibly shifted her mood.
I gave a little smile and squeezed her hand in reassurance. “It’s okay. You got here safely and that’s the main thing. Thank you.”
There was no point in embarking on a lecture. I was here to spend quality time with her, not fight and sour the entire weekend. I put the car in drive and eased from the valet parking entrance.
“Which way, babe?”
A long, audible huff deflated her lungs. “Left onto the E470. We’re heading for Baker.”
~
That evening, I got Posie settled in the nursery at Arty and Georgia’s house, then got myself ready for my date with Kase. She didn’t know it yet, but tonight I was going to wine, dine, and spoil her to within an inch of her life. I had no plans for where we would end up—her parents’ place or in a hotel—we’d see where the night took us.
Twenty minutes later, I kicked back on the dark suede couch in the living room, across from Arty.
Her parents’ house was a modest and stylish example of the other homes in the area: two-storied and red-brick down in “Old Denver”. The interior was rich with wooden flooring and ceilings, and the walls were painted an appropriate sage green for the era. It kind of reminded me of Mom and Dad’s place, only more urban.
Arty and I held a casual conversation while waiting for Kasey to come downstairs. I didn’t bother checking my watch—we still had heaps of time before our dinner reservation.
“Moooom,” I heard her holler from the floor above.
Georgia rushed through the living room and up the stairs, ready and willing to be at her daughter’s beck and call. Arty snickered as we sipped from our glasses of red wine. The small talk came easy between us, and so did the lulls in conversation.
I waited another ten minutes before Kasey appeared on the stairs, and Christ she was worth the wait.
I rose and left my glass of wine on the side table. “Wow, Kase. You’re stunning!”
Looking over the black sparkly dress brushing her ankles and the split tastefully showing her thigh, I had to remind myself to swallow.
A dazzling smile pulled wide on her red lips as she set her hand in my outstretched one. Her mom watched from above while dabbing away tears, just like a prom night.
“Thanks,” Kase murmured, running her eyes up and down the length of my body.
I’d opted for a navy blue suit, crisp white shirt, and dark-tan dress shoes, completing the look with an expensive watch from my collection.
“I love what you’re wearing too,” she replied.
I arched a brow. “Ready?”
Her wide smile appeared. “I am. Are you?”
“Absolutely.” I shifted my attention to her mom coming down the stairs. “Posie should be down for a while, but if you need me at all, please don’t hesitate to call. I’ll be back in a flash.”
Georgia waved me off. “Don’t be silly. We’ll take the best care of her and if she wakes in the night, I’ll sort her out. You two enjoy your date.”
“We won’t wait up,” Arty called, followed by a long rolling laugh.
“Dad!” Kasey yelled as she pulled on her coat. “Oh my god, I’m sorry about him.”
I snickered and guided her through the front door into the cool evening. “He’s just having a laugh.”
My hand remained on the small of her back as we walked to the car waiting at the curb. I’d hired Tomos, a private chauffeur, for the evening.
“So, where are we going tonight?” Kase asked as our driver opened the rear door for us.
Kase thanked him, then slid across the leather seat, and I followed her in.
“Depends. Where do you want to go?” I asked, scissoring our fingers.
Her brows drew low in the shadows cast from the streetlights. “Have you not booked anywhere?”
“Of course I have, darlin’, but plans can be changed.”
“We’re already dressed up.”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “Okay, I’m going to ask you some quick-fire questions, and I want you to answer truthfully.”
“Sure.”
“Restaurant or street food?”
“Street food,” Kase said without hesitation.
“Street food it is.” I gave her fingers a loving squeeze, then leaned forward to update our driver.
Kase tapped my shoulder furiously before I could get a word out. “I didn’t mean for you to change our plans. We can get street food any time.”
I gave her a wry look. “We can also go to a swanky restaurant any time too, babe.”
“But…” Her indecision grew into panic that mounted by the second. I angled toward her and took both her hands in mine.
“Babe, tonight is totally about your enjoyment. Please, be brutally honest with me—I can handle it,” I drawled. “There is no right or wrong answer, I just want you to tell me which you’d prefer.”
She nodded while holding my eye contact. A little smirk tugged her ruby-red lips. “Can we do both?”
I cocked my head to the side. Both. I hadn’t considered that. “Fuck yeah, we can. Fine dining at Savour first, then we’ll see where the night takes us.”
Kasey gasped. “Savour? The food there is meant to be orgasmic.”
I laughed, loving that a peek of Kasey’s old personality snuck through. “I guess we could start with oysters, since they’re considered an aphrodisiac.”
“After the other weekend, I don’t think oysters are needed.”
I groaned under my breath, willing the blood to stop flowing to my dick.
A low snicker came from Tomos in the driver’s seat, and Kasey’s cheeks glowed a pretty hue of pink under each streetlamp we passed.
With nothing more to add than a dirty little smirk, I relaxed into the seat until we pulled up outside the restaurant.
Tomos rounded the car and opened Kasey’s door with an elaborate sweep of his arm.
I met her at the trunk and took her hand in mine. “Our first destination awaits.”