Chapter 29
Dani exits her building with a huge weekend bag, wearing elevated athleisure, looking like she was made for this jet-set lifestyle.
“Damn, babe,” I flirt from my perch against the Uber black car, and she hands me her leather duffel bag. I hook her lower back, pulling her in close. “I’m excited to spend the weekend with you,” I tell her before giving her a deep kiss.
We slide into the back seat of the car and begin our thirty-minute drive to Midway airport.
“We’re seriously flying private?” she asks, her tone challenging yet intrigued.
“It’s not my plane. We have a corporate account. It’s like a time-share. We use it when we need to get to properties fast.”
I interlace my fingers with hers. This weekend is going to be special.
Part of me is solely focused on railing the shit out of her.
The other part is nervous. I might return with a girlfriend.
I don’t think either of us thought our connection would be this easy and hot. It just feels right with her.
“So, this is a business trip?” she teases.
“I’m abusing corporate resources to impress you,” I whisper into her ear before softly kissing her neck. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“By anyone …” She trails off. “Trust me, you don’t have to worry.”
“Right. Adam,” I say through gritted teeth. I don’t want to even think about him this weekend and about them together, but I need to know more about that ring I’ve seen on her finger. I have to confirm they are really over.
“About that ring I saw you wear the first two times. You said to take a girl to dinner, and I’ve also made the girl dinner.” I squeeze her hand. “What’s the deal with it?”
She flashes me an awkward smile. “It’s a saga.”
I raise my brows, and she exhales before stating, “Adam proposed to me in his own way.”
Proposed! Fuck. How long were they dating? “In his own way?”
“It wasn’t on his knee. It was … complicated. We started dating last summer, and it was immediately serious and intense. We were both rebuilding.”
“He got divorced, and you?” I ask.
“Lost my job and was living at home with my parents,” she says, then quickly adds, “He wants to start a family, like right now, and I wasn’t ready for that. I’m still not ready for that.”
“Kids,” I say tightly. This is a topic that I’ve had plenty of discussion over. One of the many reasons my ex and I didn’t work out. “How important is having kids to you?” I ask, adjusting myself in the back seat to face her fully.
“I don’t know yet,” she says. “I feel like there is so much I want to do in the next couple of years before I really think about it.”
“I always want to be real and honest with you. Okay?”
She squints her eyes and then nods.
“Kids are not going to happen for me.”
“That’s easy for a guy to say.” She laughs. “You can change your mind in ten years and still get a girl pregnant.”
“I’m never having kids … Already had a vasectomy.”
“Look at you. We haven’t even slept together, and we’re talking about kids.”
“It’s a deal-breaker for a lot of women. I’m very serious about not having kids.”
“Clearly, Vasectomy.” She giggles.