Chapter 31
“Look at this picturesque tourist town,” Dani says, staring out the window. “It reminds me of home. Have you ever been to the Geneva Lake area in Wisconsin?”
“In the summertime, there’s always a work event up there.” I rest my hand on her knee. Her body is a magnet for my hands. I have to be touching her. “I avoid golf trips. I hate golf.”
“I’ve never played.”
“You’re only missing out on men who shouldn’t have married their college crush and others too afraid of their children.”
She giggles. “I grew up in Williams Bay, a tiny town on the lake.”
“I think I’ve driven through it.” I trail my hand from her knee to her thigh and give it a quick squeeze. “It’s a very small town.”
“Sure is,” she retorts. “Very happy to have gotten the fuck out of there.”
“You came to Chicago for college?” I ask, taking in her captivating features.
“Yeah, I went to Loyola. You?”
“Booth.”
“Of course. Executive night MBA. I’m sure.”
“How do you know that?”
“Booth was in your bio … way to leave your undergrad out, by the way.” She giggles. “Plus, when else would you have been able to do it?”
She’s intuitive. I like that.
“I started undergrad at MIT for engineering?—”
“Seriously?” she interrupts.
“I dropped out and then transferred to University of Chicago and got a business degree.” A sassy look emerges on her face. “It’s not because I couldn't handle the curriculum.”
“Stereotypes, Gideon. It’s what they say about engineers that switch majors.”
“Engineering and MIT were my parents’ plans for me. Not my plan.”
“Is Real-ity your plan?”
“It is now. Real estate always interested me.”
“Where did you grow up once you came to America?”
“We moved around. My dad is an engineer, and the company he worked for brought us here when they expanded into the States.” I rarely talk about my parents and here I am talking about them with Dani again and again. “We started in San Francisco, then went to Boston and landed in Highland Park.”
“Shocking,” she jokes, and I’m well aware she’s pointing out that most affluent Jewish people in Chicago were either raised in or currently live in Highland Park.
Dani looks back out the window. A few moments later, she says, “This area is not all that dissimilar from my hometown. It wants you to believe it’s a Hallmark movie.”
“The trees, low-rise brick buildings, and quaint vibes. I see it.” I laugh. “You’re the city girl coming into town, so I’d have to be the shopkeeper or grumpy handyman in this scenario?”
Her eyes light up. “I can’t believe you’ve watched those movies.”
“I know how to make sacrifices in a relationship.” I wink.
She giggles, then asks, “We lost an hour, right?”
“Yeah, we’re on Eastern time now.”
“I was about to say it’s bright out for being nearly eight in the evening.”
When we finally arrive at the hotel, I check in and hand over a credit card for incidentals. Dani arches a brow. “Corporate card? Bold,” she whispers.
“We’re doing some ‘market research,’” I say, lowering my voice playfully. “Real-ity is in the early stages of developing apartment and condo buildings here.”
“So, this is a business trip?” She squints.
“It’s an impress Dani trip.” I snake my hand down her back and squeeze her ass.
She gives me a sassy smirk before we head up to the room.
In our suite, I set her bag on the bed. “Did you pack a dress?” I ask. “Dinner’s at a nice Italian spot.”
Our top-floor suite has plenty of space. Obviously, I plan to sleep next to her, but in the event that she doesn’t want that, at least I have a couch.
She pulls out a printed, sleeveless collared dress that will hit her right below the knee and asks, “Will this work?”
“Perfectly.” I lean against the wall, taking her in.
“I love this material because it doesn’t wrinkle,” she says, arranging a complete outfit with accessories on the bed.
I love the practicality.
“What are you wearing?” she asks.
I unzip my bag. “This sweater or a button-down with this jacket?”
She points at the mocha turtleneck, smirking. “Definitely the sweater.”
“Whenever you’re ready, we can go to dinner.”
“I’m going to change, refresh my mascara, and put on some ChapStick.” She smiles, taking her toiletry bag and the new outfit to the bathroom. “Then, I’m ready to go.”
“You don’t have to rush,” I say, hanging up all the clothes from my duffel bag in the closet.
“I can be low-key sometimes,” she flirts and closes the door.
I sit in the living room of our suite and scan my email to make sure nothing needs my attention.
Dani emerges a few minutes later with the dress on and also the blazer she wore the first time we met.
The combination of pattern and tweed is not something I would have ever thought to do, but it looks great.
“Hungry?” I ask.
“Starving.” She winks. I shake my head. I like that she’s teasing me.
Holding her hand in the elevator, I guide us out of the hotel and down the street to a small Italian restaurant with an extensive wine list. Kurt is friends with the owner and told me it was a must-visit while we were in the area.
“Stone, for two,” I say to the hostess.
“Oh!” she says, almost nervous. “I have a note here. Do you want to dine in the private tasting room or have a booth in the main dining area?”
“Dani?” I ask, glancing down at her. She’s so short. I love it.
“Private.” She smiles at the hostess, then whispers to me, “It’s the theme of the day.”
“Don’t get any ideas,” I whisper to her before we follow the girl to the back of the restaurant.