29. Chloe
29
CHLOE
I gazed at him, feeling my frustration simmering beneath the surface.
The streetlights in the night sky cast a subtle glow, revealing the sharp contours of his features.
He was undeniably handsome, the kind of man who turned heads effortlessly.
But he was maddeningly vexing.
Today, it was the nonchalant aura he wore that left me torn between irritation and fascination.
The sleek black Rolls-Royce started its engine, and Sean put his hands on my shoulders and steered me to the waiting car.
“First, we’re going to eat,” he said and held the door open for me.
First?
“What’s second?” I asked, but he only glowered back at me.
“I’m going to make sure Will’s name never crosses your lips ever again.”
How exactly?
But the look in Sean’s eyes meant he wasn’t in the mood to talk anymore.
I could still feel the sensation of the tips of his fingers on my breast, out on the street, with cars roaring past us.
That memory only made me want to pull him to me again.
Not Will. Not any other man out there.
Just Sean.
I wanted to lick those lips and hear his voice rumbling over my skin while he whispered dirty secrets to me.
None of that was a good idea.
“ Now , Chloe,” he snapped, and I took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The interior was luxurious with leather seating that seemed to hug me as I settled in.
I fixed my eyes on him in the half darkness as he got in next to me.
“I’ve got a plan that involves feeding you something because I have no doubt that there’s no dinner for you at home anyway. That will keep us out for a while. So, you don’t have to tell the truth to your brother.”
“You’re crazy,” I said just as my traitorous stomach rumbled.
He smirked while the car began to move.
He reached over and pulled my seat belt out, fixing it in place as he kept his eyes on me.
“Would a crazy person be waiting for you outside your home at the time your date was supposed to show up?” he asked, his large body looming over me.
I stared at him, my mouth falling open as he finally sat back down.
“You were there?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
He was worse than crazy.
“You saw Will?”
He didn’t bother nodding.
“I saw the way he bailed on you, too, getting back in his car and driving off without you. I was so angry that I didn’t know if I ought to chase him down first and give him a much-needed kick in his balls or follow you.”
I exhaled deeply.
I agreed with his sentiment about Will, but this was madness.
“Why did you ask me about those stupid reports then?”
“Because I wanted to hear from you. I gave you an opening to talk to me and tell me something was wrong. Instead, you pushed me away.”
He was insane if this was how he went about an emotional conversation.
Before I could address that, I looked at the direction we were going in and realized we were heading down to Tribeca.
“Where are we going?” I asked, feeling nervous.
“One of my usual spots—The Hilford.”
I gulped.
I didn’t recognize the name, but if this was anything like Sean’s other haunts, I was definitely out of my element here, dressed in a skirt and a blouse.
I didn’t want Sean to see me like that, even if we could never be anything to each other.
Even though tonight couldn’t mean anything.
“Maybe we could do a burger place? Like McDonald’s?”
Sean scoffed.
“The Hilford makes good burgers, Chloe. You need to trust me more.”
It was my turn to snort.
“Says the man who camped outside my house to spy on my date.”
This time, Sean permitted himself a smile, and I looked away.
My body still tingled from his touch like it never wanted to forget that memory.
That wasn’t a good sign for a man I only wanted a fling with.
The car glided through the city streets, some of them familiar because we were headed in the same direction as the Tassater offices.
I couldn’t help but marvel at the stark contrast between my usual commute to work by train, and this upscale transportation.
Sean turned to me, his thumb pressing possessively on my chin as he tilted my face up to him.
“Can you tell me why Will changed his mind on your doorstep?” he asked, his voice angry as he rubbed my chin.
“You got dressed for him, did your makeup for that jerk. You look more beautiful than ever. Why did Will turn around and walk away?”
I bet Sean couldn’t have seen anything of Henry from where he had been watching.
I closed my eyes, and a shiver ran through me.
How long could I hide the truth?
I opened my mouth to make an excuse for Will, but bit my tongue.
Why would I defend the guy who had shamed me?
Shamed Henry?
I breathed out as he let go of my chin.
My hands were in my lap, and he took them in his, sending heat rushing through me.
“I told you I have a brother, Henry. What I didn’t tell you is that he’s got some health issues,” I said, gingerly toeing the truth of Henry’s mobility problems. “For some reason, it put Will off.”
Sean’s eyes widened, and he cursed under his breath.
“He called off the date for that? The arrogant bastard.”
“I felt terrible,” I said in a hurry, hoping I wouldn’t have to go into more details.
“Also because Henry is going to ask me how my date went and I don’t know how to answer that question.”
“Well,” he said, his thumb was running in circles on my palm, making my stomach feel floppy, “you don’t have to tell Henry that your date bailed on you. You can tell him that you went to a nice place and had a wonderful meal before you politely declined a second date with Will.”
He held my gaze for one intense moment, and I flushed at the idea of this being a date.
He must have noticed my blush because his face lost its grim look.
He reached for my cheek, cupping it with the palm of his hand, with hazy eyes and a delicious smile.
My world seemed to stop spinning when he looked at me like that.
Sean and I could never be a couple.
So, why was I imagining this to be more than just a dinner?
Why did his desire for me feel a little too real?
I expected him to say something, but the car came to a sudden stop.
“We’re here,” was all he said before pulling his hand away.
My hand went to my cheek, feeling the warmth that he had left before I realized he was still watching me.
I blushed even more and pulled my hand away.
“Thank goodness,” I muttered.
Sitting next to Sean in the dark interior of his car had felt too intimate.
I wanted the safety of sitting across from him at the table, where I could be assured there would be no lingering touches.
I shouldn’t have let Sean touch me.
And I would not be swayed by his interest in my life either.
I knew the man was selfish, and it was just his competitive spirit that had made him follow me and bring me here tonight.
Sean got out and held the door open for me.
I got out into the cool night breeze and looked at the building.
It was nestled between sleek high-rises, its black exterior giving off a sophisticated vibe.
The restaurant must be on one of the upper floors because the first floor housed an upscale furniture store.
It had floor-to-ceiling windows, framed in dark, rich wood, and a sleek, charcoal-colored awning extended gracefully over the entrance.
If the furniture store was this pretty, what was the restaurant like?
Dad used to work as a HVAC technician, and whenever we had money left after payday, we used to head over to McDonald’s for a treat.
We had lived a quiet, respectable life, sometimes even heading out to Olive Garden on birthdays.
Places like The Hilford had never been in the cards for us.
We got onto the pavement, and Sean noticed my hesitation.
“Don’t worry. This isn’t a real date. I’m just making up for the jerk who stood you up.”
His fingers settled on the small of my back as he gently pushed me forward.
The touch was warm, sending a spark running through my torso.
I hadn’t been touched in ages.
I wanted to lean into it more.
To feel the soft caress of his fingers on my skin and his soothing arms pulling me close.
This isn’t a real date.
I cleared my throat and focused on the building in front of me and not the gnawing deep hole of loneliness in me.
A doorman in a crisp uniform opened the door for us, and we stepped into an expansive lobby.
Sean led me to the elevator, and when we were in, he pressed the button for the fifteenth floor.
He was dressed in a suit that cost more than my month’s rent.
Nothing about this night seemed real.
When we met each other’s gaze, I could see the memory of our kiss from the elevator burning in his stormy brown eyes.
When the doors closed, he banded one arm around my back and pulled me to him, his breath hot and heavy on my eyelids.
His knee pushed between my legs to grind against my sex, lifting my butt higher in the process.
I arched my back with a whimper while he cupped the curve of my ass.
His fingers trailed down the side of my neck.
“Just so you know, tonight I’ll feed you first, and then…” I felt my breath freeze in my throat as his fingers snaked down to my cleavage.
“I’m going to see what lingerie you chose while thinking of me.”
I definitely wanted to see the rest of Sean—including what he was packing under his briefs.
But before I could say anything, the doors opened.
Sean let go of my waist, and I took a breath and stepped back.
Elevators were never much luck.
Sean took my hand, and giving me a heated look that said we weren’t done yet, he led me out.
We stepped into a world of dimly lit chandeliers, soft jazz music, and the clinking of fine china.
The ma?tre d’, a young woman in a black dress, welcomed Sean by name and led us to a private table at the back.
Oversize lanterns hung from the roof, casting a warm glow, and wrought iron accents framed the windows, adding a touch of old-world charm.
“Well, isn’t this something?” I said.
Through the window, we had a breathtaking view of the city skyline, including the Hudson River glimmering in the distance.
I took my seat across from Sean and looked out at the twinkling lights of the city on my left.
“This is not what I expected, Sean.”
“Well,” he said, sounding cynical, as usual, “I was certainly not the one you expected to be sitting across from.”
I glanced down at my outfit and then at the other patrons in this restaurant.
“I meant, this is way fancier than I expected.” I hesitated.
“After our night at the gala, I didn’t think I’d ever get a chance to experience anything as fine as that again. And you’ve proven me wrong, like always.
“I mean, I know this isn’t a date,” I added hastily.
“But it’s nice, being here with you.”
Our eyes met over the table, and for a while, it seemed like I couldn’t draw myself to look away from his dark brown eyes.
He leaned forward, placing his hands on the table.
“Chloe, if this was really a date, I’d have picked you up at your doorstep; I’d have met and spoken to your brother, Henry; and you would definitely not have started the evening off with tears in your eyes.”
I inhaled sharply as I considered a real date with Sean.
It was shocking—that a man like him could see me as someone sexually attractive.
Me—a woman whose schedule had more appointments for her brother than herself.
I shook my head, forcing my daydream out of my mind.
This evening was a surprise, but I knew better than to expect good things in my future when my landlord called me names for asking for “a perfectly good door” to be replaced.
The waitress, whose name tag read Traci , arrived.
She handed us menus.
She also offered us an aged red wine from Bordeaux, France, that she said she knew Sean liked.
I watched her leave, wondering how it was that the staff at a restaurant knew Sean and his tastes better than anyone at his company, before I took a sip.
It was heavenly; rich, velvety notes hit me, giving me flavors with hints of berries and oak.
My eyes widened, and a subtle smile played on Sean’s lips as he asked, “Is it good?”
I nodded.
“It’s unbelievably sophisticated,” I said.
So, this was Sean’s taste in things—and perhaps in women too.
Sean handed me the menu, and I ran my eyes over names of dishes I had only heard of in passing.
Truffle lobster risotto, sushi with foie gras, a black truffle and gold-leaf pizza …
the list was endless.
But it still wasn’t enough to distract me from the tall, dark man across my table.
Sean looked at me over his menu, his eyes filled with humor.
“Do you still want the burger?”
“I want you. But we have to get through this facade of a dinner before I can have that.”
His throat worked, and his tongue whipped out to lick his lower lip.
When Traci came over, Sean rattled off our order, choosing what I should have.
I barely cared about eating anymore while Sean’s foot teased mine under the table.
“Come over here,” Sean said when Traci left, reaching out to pull my chair closer to him.
I shook my head. I’d seen the gleam in his eyes.
Sean placed his hand on the back of my chair and pulled me to him in one swift move so I was next to him instead of across.
“It wasn’t a request,” he breathed into my ear after my chair came to a standstill.
We were so close; my knee touched his.
His eyes followed my gaze to where our legs met.
Under the white linen tablecloth, he languidly lifted a finger to graze my knee, starting at the edge of my skirt.
He carefully coasted one finger up my inner thigh, reaching my wet underwear unnervingly slowly.
I sucked in a breath as I fought every instinct to spread my thighs wide.
My body was hot and needy, and I couldn’t focus on anything except his touch, inching closer and closer to my pussy.
“Sean,” I gasped, and the look on his face was one of utter admiration.
My hand ran up his arm, feeling the bumps and valleys of his muscles, but I didn’t stop him.
Finally, his fingers reached the wet garment under my skirt, and a moan fell from my lips.
“Shh,” Sean said soothingly.
I looked up, my heart hammering.
We were in a secluded corner at the back, but still in a public place.
I had my back to the window, and the table would shield me from any passing server, but I didn’t trust myself to stay quiet.
“Do you want me to touch you?” Sean asked, his fingers pushing my panties aside until he found my wet folds.
My skirt was bunched up at my hips, and I nodded, biting down on my lip.
I was so desperate for him; it was crazy.
I leaned back against the chair, spreading my legs on either side of the seat.
“I want you to take me,” I said.
“To possess me.”
His mouth was tight as he slipped one finger in and then the next deep into me, holding my gaze in his.
My mouth fell open, and I spread even wider.
“Good girl,” he said, his voice rough as he slowly penetrated me with his fingers.
I almost threw my head back as my back arched, wishing I could have him touch me in more places.
His fingers felt so good that I slowly ground in place while his fingers fucked me.
In the distance, I heard a spoon clatter to the floor and the gentle hum of other patrons’ conversations while Sean worked my pussy.
The heels of my shoes pressed against the floor as I angled myself so that his fingers touched me just there .
My head was spinning with desire, and I wished I could have his cock in me instead of his fingers as he pushed me closer and closer to climax.
“You’re beautiful,” Sean said, his jaw tight as he pressed the heel of his hand on my clit.
The pressure nearly undid me.
And when he circled the heel on my clit, I came undone.
My climax hit me like a truck, a small cry wrenching from my lips before I clamped my hand over my mouth.
Wave after wave of pleasure rolled off me.
I slumped back in my chair, feeling delirious and happy.
To my utter surprise, when Sean pulled his fingers out, he licked them, keeping his eyes on me.
I felt a thrill at knowing he knew what I tasted like.
But more than anything else, Sean’s gaze shocked me.
He looked wild. He looked like once he’d gotten a taste of me, he was never letting go.
A cough interrupted us, and I turned to see the server who had walked up to our table with a large tray of food.
He was looking at us with a bemused expression, as though he’d tried getting our attention before and failed miserably.
“May I place your food on the table?” he asked.
I nodded, removing my hands from the table while Sean looked away.
It was one of my clues that he was taken aback with his emotions, like I was.
Had the server seen anything?
My face burned while I considered it, but it was impossible.
Sean seemed to guess what I was thinking because he shook his head, as though answering my unasked question.
When the server left, I pulled my skirt back down from where it was bunched up around my hips.
“That was close,” I said, but Sean shook his head.
“No one will see you in a compromising situation unless I permit it,” he said, cockiness dripping from him like an arrogant devil.
“And I will never allow it.”
“You are crazy,” I repeated, reaching for my salad.
But he was right. Things had a way of cropping up around Sean only if he wanted them to.
Troubles disappeared when he decided he was done with them.
“You make me crazy,” he corrected, his voice dropping low, and my pulse quickened.
I exhaled. I wasn’t used to trusting the men around me to take control, but I was starting to realize that I could trust Sean.
“Do you come here often, Sean?”
Sean took a sip of his wine before he placed the glass down.
“I end up having a lot of business dinners here, but not dates,” he said with a smile.
“This is a first.”
My cheeks flamed at his allusion to this being a date, but I knew better than to fall for that.
This night was a one-off thing.
We could never be a couple.
“Is it the first time you’ve taken another man’s date, too, or are you a serial date snatcher?”
He grinned, eyes lifting a little.
“If you go out with Will again, I might end up being a serial date snatcher.”
I affected a groan as I reached for my napkin, spreading it over my legs.
“I’m curious to know who you think would pass the worthy-of-me date test then?”
His eyes glinted, as though he was amused by the question too.
“I’ve yet to find that man, Chloe. And I’m not sure what I’ll do if I find him.”
Our gazes held each other’s over the table, a sudden heat in his eyes.
He was all kinds of bad for me.
There was emotion in his eyes, and if he was thinking what I thought he was, then we were in trouble.
“Now, Chloe, eat,” he ordered.
The food had come out with surprising speed, considering how recently we’d placed the order.
I had to keep my jaw from falling when I realized that there were multiple courses.
The peach and burrata salad almost looked too pretty to eat.
It was followed by a lobster bisque, which had a welcome dash of brandy.
Sean and I chewed slowly, and with each bite, I tasted a world of flavors I had never imagined.
Every time I took a bite, I caught Sean looking at me and my expressions.
“Stop it,” I said, nudging his leg playfully with mine.
He nudged my leg right back.
“I can’t wait to see what you’ll do when they bring your burger out.”
I couldn’t believe him.
He’d given me the most amazing orgasm in a restaurant, and here he was, joking with me after.
As though things like this happened every day.
I’d never had such playfulness in a date before.
When my burger finally arrived, it looked like it belonged in a fancy food magazine.
The bun was shiny and perfectly toasted with these tiny sesame seeds on top that looked like they had been placed with tweezers.
The lettuce and tomato were fresh and crisp, not wilted, like I usually got with my regular meals.
When I took a bite, it was like a flavor explosion.
I didn’t even care that Sean had stopped eating his sushi to view my reaction.
The bun was soft and freshly baked, and the burger was juicy in a way that forced me to close my eyes to savor it.
There was a different sauce on it, too, not the usual ketchup and mustard I was used to, but something special—a secret blend of flavors that made the whole thing dance in my mouth.
I hadn’t had lunch, and this meal was worth the wait, a million times over.
After I had a few bites, I turned my attention to Sean and saw that he was watching me with a look on his face that I couldn’t comprehend.
His brows drew together as he spoke.
“Did you have your lunch today, Chloe?” he asked shrewdly.
“Yes,” I said, taking a sip of my wine and feeling embarrassed at his observation.
If you counted a packet of honey roasted peanuts as lunch.
“Liar,” he said immediately, and I felt my face go red.
“How did you know? You didn’t see me all day today.”
“Were you keeping track of my movements today, Chloe?”
Maybe I was.
“Well,” I said, “I didn’t want to run into you and have you talk me out of seeing Will.”
I’d have been better off if I’d listened to Sean in the first place.
He grunted in response.
“The next time you skip a meal, I’m having food delivered to your desk.”
Well, if it was from places like this, I wouldn’t complain.
“I guess it’s pretty obvious that I don’t eat at such restaurants,” I said, looking around.
“I didn’t know food could taste this rich and tender. Did you grow up eating like this, or did you, too, have your first oh my gosh, this food is exquisite moment years before?”
“Years before?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
“When you were normal.”
“You mean, not wealthy?” he asked, cocking one beautiful eyebrow up.
“That’s the same thing,” I corrected.
He grinned. “My dad owned an employee staffing company, and they were famous for treating their employees to luxurious parties.”
“That’s why you’re so comfortable in such a setting,” I said, fixing the position of the spoon on my table before uncrossing my legs to look at him.
“I don’t think I could ever stop looking awed by a place like this.”
He inclined his head.
“Though your appreciation for this kind of restaurant reminds me that I take this for granted.”
I took a bite of my burger and chewed, wondering.
“Are you close to your parents?”
Sean twirled his glass of wine with his fingers.
“I wasn’t. My dad worked a lot, and my mom wasn’t around, so as a consequence, I never spent much time with them. And they aren’t around to fix things now.”
My lips parted.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, feeling a swell of regret for bringing it up.
I usually hated discussing my dad, too, and avoided those conversations at all costs, and here I was, doing the same thing to others.
“Don’t be,” he said with a curt nod.
“But if you’re looking for an answer for why it’s been so hard for me to bond with my son, it’s there.”
“I’m not analyzing you,” I corrected.
“I was just curious—that’s all.”
We took a few bites before he spoke.
“I’ve often wondered about this and never had the right moment to ask you. How have you been after the fallout with your ex?” he asked gruffly.
I groaned. “Are we really discussing him? Today, of all days?”
He didn’t budge.
“Well, I can’t escape the fact that I was reminded of that day today. When I wanted to tell off another man for the way he was treating you.”
“You were certainly gallant that day.”
“Only that day?” Sean cocked an eyebrow.
I laughed. “I’ve stopped keeping count. How about that for an answer?”
He grinned.
“Good save.”
“You were very supportive the night of the gala too. I haven’t forgotten that.”
“You mean, when we almost lost Lucas?”
My mouth went dry as I thought about it.
I nodded.
He took a contemplative sip of his drink before he spoke, his voice brusque.
“The last time I asked, your answer was very vague, so I’ll ask again. Can you tell me why losing Lucas was so scary for you?”
“Wouldn’t it be for any caregiver or adult in charge of a kid?” I asked.
“Chloe, you were trembling in my arms within minutes of thinking he was lost.”
I thought back to that night.
Had I been trembling?
The only time I did remember trembling was the night of Henry’s accident, and I never revisited those memories.
I didn’t want to recount those early days in the hospital with Henry and my increasingly distant dad.
“If I had been trembling, it’s because my brother is the only person I’ve got as family. Losing people is one of my many illogical fears.” I tried to keep my voice light.
Sean reached out and put his hand on mine on the table.
The touch was gentle and supportive, and when I looked at him, his eyes were steady as they looked back at me.
“Chloe, it’s my turn to ask about your parents now. And it’s time you answer me honestly.”
I nodded.
He’d seen me vulnerable enough times already.
What was one more time?
“My mom died when I was eight,” I said, wishing I could get through this part quickly.
“And my dad left us some years later.”
Sean cursed under his breath.
“Really?”
I nodded.
“It’s just been Henry and me since I was eighteen and he was thirteen. Losing Henry, especially after I lost contact with my dad, is my single greatest fear. And Lucas, even though he isn’t Henry, reminds me of Henry, with all his simplicity and innocence.”
Sean drew his hand away, and I could feel him glowering.
“If anyone deserves to have a personal life now, it’s you,” he muttered.
“How is Henry now?”
I cheered up.
“He’s doing much better. Thank you for asking. He’s attending a community college nearby, and he’s made a new friend recently. There’s a lot we are thankful for nowadays, including me having a stable job.”
And right there was a reason why I should not harbor hopes of meeting Sean alone again like this.
We needed Lucas around to stabilize us.
He nodded. “Well, the next time something goes wrong when you’re around Lucas, remember, I’m right there with you. You won’t have to deal with your fears alone.”
I gazed at him in wonder, surprised at his words, when my phone beeped.