Luxe
I had been lying around the house all day. No work for me, just peace, relaxation and sleep. These were the days that I valued the most. No one was looking for anything from me. I didn’t have to spend hours searching for different shit.
My phone vibrated, and I looked down to see that it was a text from Ghost. He had left the house earlier. Ghost was getting used to leaving me behind with others watching me. When he first started working for me, I never thought that he’d leave me without his protection.
Ghost: I got something for you. Be ready by seven.
My heart skipped beats in my chest. I didn’t know what he was up to, but I was kind of excited to see what he had planned.
Checking the time, it was one o’clock, so I had plenty of time to get ready.
My hair wasn’t done, but all I had to do was wash it and put some product in it, and I’d be good to go.
The outfit was really the problem. I didn’t know what I wanted to put on or if I even had anything here for me to wear.
Ghost damn sure wasn’t gon’ allow me to take my ass back to my house to grab anything, so I’d have to make a trip to the store somewhere.
We didn’t have many stores to choose from, but there were some good boutiques around here. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to stay in the house today while Ghost was gone, but it wouldn’t hurt to make one little quick trip to a boutique. Whoever was watching me had to do what I said, right?
Getting up from bed, I tossed on a pair of denims and a plain pink T-shirt, grabbed my purse, and left out of the room. Soon as I opened the door, I was greeted by two men standing there.
“Is something wrong?” the first one asked.
“I need you to run me to the store,” I boldly stated.
“Ghost didn’t say anything about taking you anywhere.”
“Did I ask you anything? I recall telling you what I wanted. Now, shut up and let’s go.”
I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing out the wrinkles in the black silk dress that hugged my small curves. The neckline dipped low enough to make a statement, and the slit running up my thigh was high enough to start a problem. Ghost’s mouth was sure to be watering.
If Ghost wanted me dressed up, I was going to give him something to look at. I slipped into my heels, grabbed my clutch, and made my way toward the living room.
He was standing near the front door with his phone in his hand when I entered. Dressed in black slacks and a fitted black button-down with the sleeves rolled to his forearms, he looked entirely too fucking good for a man who got on my nerves as much as he did.
His head lifted, then his eyes dropped. I stopped in front of him, placing a hand on my hip.
“You told me to get dressed,” I signed. “Why you staring at me like you’ve never seen a woman before?”
His gaze slowly traveled back to my face. “I’ve seen women.” He slipped his phone into his pocket. “Never seen them look like you though.”
Butterflies swarmed my stomach. Normally, I didn’t let men boost my head up, because they always did it because they wanted something in return. Not Ghost though.
“Where are we going?”
“Out,” was the only response he gave. I didn’t know why I thought he was just gon’ answer my question.
“Out where? I don’t even know if I’m dressed appropriately.”
“You’re fine.” My eyes narrowed. “C’mon, beautiful.”
I just loved hearing him call me stuff like that. His hand extended in my direction, and I stared at it for a moment before placing mine inside of it. Damn, I was out here leading with my heart and just knew I was going to end up in trouble.
The drive was an exercise of patience. I wanted to grill him so bad but knew he wouldn’t give in and tell me what I wanted to know.
Ghost seemed perfectly content behind the wheel, one hand resting on the steering wheel while the other occasionally found its way to my thigh.
I watched the city pass through the tinted windows, trying to figure out what he had planned.
We weren’t headed toward any of my usual restaurants, that was for sure.
We were no longer downtown. When he turned down a quiet road lined with towering trees, I sat up a little straighter.
“Are you taking me into the woods to kill me?”
He glanced over and laughed. “If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t have bought you dinner first.”
“You got me food?” I didn’t smell anything in the car with us.
“Maybe.” He grinned, and I immediately grew irritated.
“Ghost . . .”
“Luxe.”
I rolled my eyes and turned toward the window. A few minutes later, the SUV slowed in front of a tall wrought-iron gate. After the gate stood an enormous glass conservatory, illuminated from within by hundreds of warm golden lights.
Flowers spilled from stone planters along the entrance. Tiny lights wrapped around the trees, stretching toward the building like something out of a fairy tale. I leaned forward to get a better look. Ghost pressed a button, and the gates slowly opened.
I looked over at him. He kept his eyes on the driveway, but the corner of his mouth lifted. Oh, he knew exactly what he was doing.
By the time he parked, I was practically glued to the passenger window. The conservatory was even more beautiful up close. Its glass walls rose toward the night sky, revealing towering palms, flowering vines, and an intricate network of pathways glowing beneath strings of lights.
Ghost climbed out before I could reach for my door. Everything about me not opening my own door had gone out the window. A moment later, he appeared beside me and opened it.
I stepped out, taking his offered hand.
“What is this?” I questioned him.
“A garden.”
I frowned. “No shit.”
He laughed, then reached behind me to close the door. “How ’bout you just come see.”
His hand settled against the small of my back as he guided me toward the entrance. I noticed the security cameras first. Old habits die hard. Then the discreet guard station near the gate.
Ghost caught the direction of my gaze. “Already checked everything. Perimeter’s secure. Nobody gets in without me knowing,” he assured me.
I studied his face.
“You arranged security?”
“Yeah.”
“For a date?”
He stopped walking. For a second, he just looked at me. Then he said, “Especially for a date. I wanted all my attention to be on you.”
My heart gave a strange little squeeze. He was making me feel things I wasn’t prepared to feel, so I changed the subject.
“If there’s a snake in here, I’m leaving you.” I was lying. Snakes were the least of my worries.
Ghost threw his head back in laughter.
The moment we stepped inside, I forgot every smart-ass remark I’d been preparing.
Jesus Christ. Flowers were everywhere. White orchids cascaded from hanging arrangements.
Roses climbed decorative arches. Tall palms stretched toward the glass ceiling, their leaves illuminated by delicate strings of lights.
A narrow stone pathway wound through the greenery, leading toward a secluded clearing in the center of the conservatory.
Beneath a canopy of flowers sat a table for two.
It was covered in ivory linen with gold flatware and crystal glasses.
Candles flickered inside tall glass cylinders.
A single arrangement of white orchids and deep burgundy roses occupied the center.
I stopped walking. This man knew the way to my heart.
Ghost stopped alongside me. For a long moment, I simply stared.
I’d been to some of the most expensive restaurants in the world.
I’d eaten meals prepared by chefs whose names people paid thousands of dollars just to say they’d experienced.
I’d been given jewelry, designer bags, and enough extravagant gifts to fill an entire fucking room.
This . . . this was different because someone took the time to think about me. Not my last name or money . . . me. It was the consideration for me.
I turned toward Ghost. “You did this?” He nodded. “All of this?”
“I had a lil help.”
Instantly, when he said that, I knew exactly who he was talking about. Solei.
“You like it?”
I took in my surroundings again. The lights reflected against the glass overhead, making the entire conservatory look as though someone trapped a thousand stars inside it.
“It’s beautiful, Ghost.”
His eyes never left my face. “It is.”
The way he was staring at me, I just knew damn well he wasn’t talking about the garden. I hated the way my cheeks warmed for him.
We sat down at the table, and the food was brought out to us. It was insane but in the best way possible. A private chef had prepared a four-course Italian meal, starting with burrata and heirloom tomatoes, followed by handmade pasta with a creamy truffle sauce.
There were fresh focaccia, roasted vegetables, and a bottle of champagne chilling beside the table. I looked at the bottle and then at Ghost. He lifted his brow.
“What?”
“You really outdid yourself, huh? You plan on getting me drunk and then taking advantage of me?”
He leaned forward. “I don’t need liquor for that.”
I nearly choked on my water. This man here.
He sat back, looking entirely too pleased with himself. I pointed my fork at him. “You’re a menace.”
“And yet here you are,” he shot back.
“Against my better judgment.”
“Your judgment seems good to me.”
Shaking my head, I returned to my pasta. It was delicious. After a few bites, I glanced up and found him watching me. It was like he couldn’t keep his eyes off me.
“What?” I questioned him.
“Nothing.”
“You’re staring.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
He set his fork down. “I like looking at you. Is that a problem?”
“Nope.”
By the time the dessert arrived, I was beginning to understand why he’d chosen this place.
There were no flashing cameras. No business associates stopping by our table to discuss acquisitions.
No family members calling to ask me to do something.
No one needed anything from me right now, and it was a breath of fresh air.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I was simply sitting across from a man who wanted to spend time with me. Ghost noticed when I grew quiet. He waited until I looked at him before asking, “You okay?”
I nodded.
“You sure?”
“I’m fine.”
He studied me to see if I was lying, then he reached across the table and offered his hand, palm up. I stared at it. Something about that simple gesture made my throat tighten. I placed my hand in his. His fingers closed around mine.
“Talk to me,” he spoke.
I looked down at our joined hands before lifting my gaze. “Why did you do all this?”
He slightly frowned. “What do you mean?”
“This.” I gestured toward the flowers, the candles, the entire greenhouse. “All of it.”
He looked around, then back at me. “I wanted to take you on a date. I knew you liked flowers from all the time you spend out there in your garden and thought that you would love it.”
When I didn’t respond, he shifted in his chair, turning his body fully toward me.
“You spend every day taking care of everybody else. Your family. Your business. Everybody who needs something from you.” I swallowed because he wasn’t wrong.
I’d been taking care of people ever since I was young.
That was the price of being the oldest child.
“And since I’ve known you, somebody’s been trying to take your life.” My fingers tightened around his. His expression softened. “I wanted you to have one night where you didn’t have to worry about any of that.”
I stared at him. “One night where you could just be Luxe.” He briefly paused. “Not the Saint-Mercier everybody needs. Not the woman that everyone’s scared of.” His thumb brushed against my knuckles. “Just my girl.”
My breath caught. He’d never called me that before. After two little fucking words, I suddenly didn’t know how to function. I blinked rapidly, refusing to let the tears fall that gathered in my eyes. I wasn’t about to cry in front of this man over some flowers.
Ghost leaned forward and said, “Hey.” I forced myself to look at him. “You don’t always have to be strong when I’m around.”
My little plan flew right out the window when he said that. A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. I quickly wiped it away.
“I hate you.”
His smile grew gentle. “No, you don’t.”
“I do.”
“Okay.”
“You’re irritating. Got me out here crying and shit.”
“I know.”
“And arrogant as fuck.”
“Been told.”
“And you think you’re so fucking charming.”
I playfully rolled my eyes, and he lifted one shoulder.
“Seems to be working to me.”
I laughed through the tears and then stood.
Ghost’s expression changed as he watched me walk around the table.
He pushed his chair back, but before he could get up completely, I stepped between his knees and wrapped my arms around his neck.
His hands settled at my waist. I pressed my face into the side of his neck.
For a moment, neither of us moved. I just held him, and he let me.
When I finally pulled back, his hands remained at my waist. I touched his cheek.
“Thank you.”
He leaned into my palm. “You’re welcome, beautiful.” Then I intertwined our lips.