ONE WEEK LATER
The dusty rose pencil pants, cream colored sleeveless blouse, and the dusty rose blazer were form-fitting and showed off her sleek, natural curves.
Camilla wore her hair up in a bun with tendrils hanging down on either side of her face in curls.
She was gorgeous this evening, and I couldn’t wait to spend time in her presence.
I held the car door open for her to get in.
“I’m surprised,” she declared, once I settled in the Range Rover beside her.
“About?”
“I didn’t expect you to exit your car to ring my doorbell. I thought you would send your driver.”
“I can be a gentleman, Camilla,” I explained, handing her the bouquet of colorful tulips I had picked up on my way to her.
She inhaled them and smiled at me. “Thank you, Jabari. You really didn’t have to do this.”
“Let me be clear. I don’t want you looking at me as a landlord or a potential feature for your magazine,” I explained as I poured her a glass of champagne.
“Is that what you think I’m looking at you as?”
“I don’t know. I just want to make sure that we’re on the same page. I have only one intention for you.”
“Which is?”
“To have you on your knees saying, ‘Yes, Mr. Blackwood.’”
“Yes, to what?
“Whatever I ask of you.”
Her gaze widened and then narrowed. A tiny smile lightened her features as she held up one finger. “One date only.”
“You didn’t’ say that. You said that the condition was that I had to prove that I’m not the arrogant asshole I came off as. That’s what tonight is about. Once I prove that, there should be no reason for you to turn down further dates. Or will you have me jumping over other barriers?”
“I’m not a woman who plays games, Mr. Blackwood.”
“Jabari.”
“Okay, I don’t play games, Jabari. I’m a woman of my word. If you can prove that you’re not what I perceive you to be, I’ll date you.”
I loved the way that she spoke my name, Jabari. I preferred that she call me by my first name so that it didn’t seem professional; I wanted us to be more personal. I wanted her to call me Mr. Blackwood, but under different circumstances.
Although her background check had come back clean, I still kept David on her. I wanted to know if anything changed at all, or if there was anything that I should become aware of as my pursuit of her progressed.
We made small talk as we rode from her house to another one of my buildings that had a helipad.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked as we exited the car to head inside of the building.
“I’m creating an experience. Can you promise me that you’ll relax and enjoy the evening?” I asked.
“Yes, I can.” She wore a sensual look in her eyes as I held the door open for her. We held each other’s stare for several seconds before she passed through the door.
“Good evening, Mr. Blackwood,” the security team at the front desk of my building greeted me.
“Good evening.” I nodded and headed for the private elevator that would take us up to the rooftop.
I linked my hand in Camilla’s, and she smiled at me shyly.
I knew that I was taking a risk becoming involved with this woman when I knew she had an investigative background.
Her magazine focused on local businesses and industries, and I knew that I could be a major feather in her cap.
I didn’t want to be that. I sincerely hoped her interest in me was pure and genuine.
“A helicopter?” she shouted over the loud noise as we exited the stairwell onto the rooftop.
“The experience.” I didn’t want to say anything more to ruin the mood. I wanted her to anticipate what we were doing without her mind going into overdrive.
After I introduced her to Chauncy Gaines, my pilot, he instructed us on what we could expect, and then he gave us headphones. Once we had placed our noise-canceling headphones on, we climbed onto the helicopter and took the seats we were advised to take.
Camilla turned my way and smiled and mouthed the words “thank you.”
The helicopter flew us over downtown Atlanta, and the skyline sparkled with the building lights as the day waned into evening.
“This is so beautiful,” she stated in a breathless tone as we passed over the State Farm Arena. There was an event happening at the arena, and traffic was packed bumper to bumper down below. The red headlights and all the traffic lights only added to the beautiful evening scenery.
“Oooh look!” she exclaimed as she bounced in her seat.
We had just flown over Centennial Olympic Park with its interlocking Olympic ring splash pad fountain, and she had pulled her phone out.
I chuckled lightly as she held it up to take pictures of the gorgeous twenty-story Ferris wheel that was brilliantly lit and spinning.
“Have you ridden on there before?” I asked.
“Yes. I loved it. What about you?”
“I don’t have time for those kinds of things.”
She jerked her head sharply in my direction. “But you have time to fly me over it to see it.”
“That’s different. We’re going somewhere.”
“Maybe we’ll have to take a ride together one day—if you prove yourself worthy,” she teased, laughing.
Our flight path took us over the King and Queen Towers. Camilla snapped pictures of those as well as the curved facade of the Sovereign building and the Paramount tower before we flew over the governor’s mansion.
Camilla tried to remain cool, but I could tell the way that she kept peering out of the windows, biting her lip, and taking pictures that she was impressed with the tour. In time, she stopped pretending that she wasn’t impressed and got deeply into the tour.
She peppered Chauncy with dozens of questions, and he answered every one of them with patience.
“Those pictures would look amazing in your magazine,” I pointed out.
“Maybe, but I think I’d like for my professional photographer to go up with Chauncy and take pictures for the magazine.”
“I can arrange that.”
“Seriously, Jabari?”
“If that’s what you want, then that’s what I’ll do.”
We landed in the small town of Maple Grove, Georgia, forty-five minutes later.
“Is that a vineyard, Jabari?” she asked as we prepared to land.
There were rows and rows of vines and colorful leaves, stunning mountain views, impressive maple trees, and the large mansion that Dominic Charles called home. The property was beautiful, and I couldn’t wait for her to get a tour.
“It is. It’s called Chateau Acero.”
“Don’t tell me that you own this too.”
“No, I don’t. It’s owned by someone else. You’ll meet him soon,” I announced.
She continued snapping photos until it was time for us to exit the helicopter. When we climbed out of the helicopter, Camilla inhaled deeply. I stood back and admired the look of appreciation on her face. I took her hand and led her to where Dominic was waiting.
“Welcome back to Chateau Acero. I’m so glad you could make it, Mr. Blackwood.” Dominic greeted me with a handshake and a pat on the back.
“Thank you. I’m glad you could make time for us in your schedule. Camilla, this is Dominic Charles, the owner of this beautiful property. He’ll be giving us a tour of the grounds today and providing the meal and the wine that we’ll enjoy. Dominic, this is Camilla Valentine, a friend of mine.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Dominic stated as he took Camilla’s hand and kissed the back of it.
She smiled at him and looked at me. It was difficult for me not to hold the growl back deep in my throat. It was challenging for me not to snatch her hand free from his grasp. I would bide my time, and in time, she would know that she shouldn’t provide that opportunity for another man again.