could do not to moan in response.
“I love it,” she said. “Give me the address and tell me what time you want to meet.”
The restaurant he had in mind was far closer to his Park Avenue penthouse than her apartment in Lower Manhattan, but he replied, “I thought I would pick you up.”
“Okay.” She waited a beat. “This is business, right? I mean, it’s not a date?”
“Of course it’s business,” he replied. “Why do you ask?”
He braced himself, fully expecting Ella to mention their kiss, but she said, “Shoe selection. I can be ready in an hour.”
“I’ll see you then.”
After disconnecting, Chase tapped the phone against his chin. Damned if he didn’t find himself wondering what kind of shoes she had in mind.
* * *
Red stilettos seemed a bit much for a business dinner, even if they were Ella’s favorite heels. She put them back in the cupboard and pulled out a pair of purple suede designer pumps. They were the real deal, a gift from her father back when he could still afford to give his daughter outrageously expensive shoes on a whim. Ella hadn’t worn them in nearly a year, but the bright plum was just the pop of color the outfit she had in mind needed.
When Chase knocked, she was dressed, shoes on, hair styled and eyes gone smoky thanks to some expertly applied shadow.
“The entrance is propped open again,” were the first words out of his mouth when she opened the door.
It wasn’t quite the greeting she’d hoped for, but she didn’t mind since his eyes then widened fractionally and half of his mouth tipped up.
“I’m ready,” she told him.
“So I see.”
His gaze still hadn’t made it back to her face. Even so, she had just enough vanity to go fishing for a compliment.
“What I’m wearing is suitable, right? You didn’t tell me where we were going, so I decided to play it safe and put on a dress.”
The other half of his mouth lifted. Ella still wouldn’t say he was smiling, but he was clearly pleased.
“You look...perfect.”
She’d been going for professional with a heaping side of pretty in the muted yellow print sheath that ended just above her knee, but it was difficult to be disappointed with being called perfect.
“Thanks. You look perfect, too.”
And mouthwatering despite being conservative. Did the man own clothing beyond suits? Technically, she supposed, Chase wasn’t wearing a suit. Rather, a navy sports jacket and a pair of stone-colored trousers. He wore both exceptionally well. She recognized a tailor’s hand when she saw one, but in this case more than gifted stitching was responsible for the fit. The man worked out.
At least he’d left the tie at home. The white button-down was open at the collar. Despite the day’s heat, she spied the neckline of a cotton undershirt. At the sight, Ella’s mind drifted. She found herself wondering if Chase wore boxers or briefs beneath his pants. Then she found herself wondering what he wore to bed. Most likely pajamas, the cotton plaid variety with a top that buttoned up the front and included a pocket. If she ever got the chance, she would take her time unbuttoning the shirt. Peel off the pants slowly. Boxers or briefs? She didn’t care which. When she got to them, she would peel off those slowly, too.
Forget drifting. Her mind had just wandered over a cliff. Sanity followed as she recalled their kiss. She had spent the week trying not to think about it. She hadn’t been very successful, even if she’d had bigger issues to concern herself with. Mainly, her lack of income, the mounting stack of bills and coming up with the few hundred bucks of Elliot’s deposit that she’d already spent.
“Is something wrong?” Chase’s voice sliced through her mind’s meanderings.
“Wrong? No.”
He nodded. Then, “I have a question for you. It’s a little bit personal.”
Thong, she nearly said, before pressing her lips together. “Hmm?”
“Why did you go with those shoes?”
Shoes. He would
“I love it,” she said. “Give me the address and tell me what time you want to meet.”
The restaurant he had in mind was far closer to his Park Avenue penthouse than her apartment in Lower Manhattan, but he replied, “I thought I would pick you up.”
“Okay.” She waited a beat. “This is business, right? I mean, it’s not a date?”
“Of course it’s business,” he replied. “Why do you ask?”
He braced himself, fully expecting Ella to mention their kiss, but she said, “Shoe selection. I can be ready in an hour.”
“I’ll see you then.”
After disconnecting, Chase tapped the phone against his chin. Damned if he didn’t find himself wondering what kind of shoes she had in mind.
* * *
Red stilettos seemed a bit much for a business dinner, even if they were Ella’s favorite heels. She put them back in the cupboard and pulled out a pair of purple suede designer pumps. They were the real deal, a gift from her father back when he could still afford to give his daughter outrageously expensive shoes on a whim. Ella hadn’t worn them in nearly a year, but the bright plum was just the pop of color the outfit she had in mind needed.
When Chase knocked, she was dressed, shoes on, hair styled and eyes gone smoky thanks to some expertly applied shadow.
“The entrance is propped open again,” were the first words out of his mouth when she opened the door.
It wasn’t quite the greeting she’d hoped for, but she didn’t mind since his eyes then widened fractionally and half of his mouth tipped up.
“I’m ready,” she told him.
“So I see.”
His gaze still hadn’t made it back to her face. Even so, she had just enough vanity to go fishing for a compliment.
“What I’m wearing is suitable, right? You didn’t tell me where we were going, so I decided to play it safe and put on a dress.”
The other half of his mouth lifted. Ella still wouldn’t say he was smiling, but he was clearly pleased.
“You look...perfect.”
She’d been going for professional with a heaping side of pretty in the muted yellow print sheath that ended just above her knee, but it was difficult to be disappointed with being called perfect.
“Thanks. You look perfect, too.”
And mouthwatering despite being conservative. Did the man own clothing beyond suits? Technically, she supposed, Chase wasn’t wearing a suit. Rather, a navy sports jacket and a pair of stone-colored trousers. He wore both exceptionally well. She recognized a tailor’s hand when she saw one, but in this case more than gifted stitching was responsible for the fit. The man worked out.
At least he’d left the tie at home. The white button-down was open at the collar. Despite the day’s heat, she spied the neckline of a cotton undershirt. At the sight, Ella’s mind drifted. She found herself wondering if Chase wore boxers or briefs beneath his pants. Then she found herself wondering what he wore to bed. Most likely pajamas, the cotton plaid variety with a top that buttoned up the front and included a pocket. If she ever got the chance, she would take her time unbuttoning the shirt. Peel off the pants slowly. Boxers or briefs? She didn’t care which. When she got to them, she would peel off those slowly, too.
Forget drifting. Her mind had just wandered over a cliff. Sanity followed as she recalled their kiss. She had spent the week trying not to think about it. She hadn’t been very successful, even if she’d had bigger issues to concern herself with. Mainly, her lack of income, the mounting stack of bills and coming up with the few hundred bucks of Elliot’s deposit that she’d already spent.
“Is something wrong?” Chase’s voice sliced through her mind’s meanderings.
“Wrong? No.”
He nodded. Then, “I have a question for you. It’s a little bit personal.”
Thong, she nearly said, before pressing her lips together. “Hmm?”
“Why did you go with those shoes?”
Shoes. He would
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