“Nonno doesn’t want me dating you, does he?”
“He didn’t say that.” I shook my head and clasped my hands. “Though I’m sure if he knew what happened last night and the night before, he wouldn’t want me dating you.”
“What happened last night?” he asked with a small smile.
“I’m not going to bring up the contract or anything like that. Tonight is meant to be a causal date.”
“And that it will be.” TJ grinned as he pulled up to his high-rise apartment complex and into the parking lot. “We’re here.”
“Yes, we are.” I got out of the car and all of my nerves suddenly hit me again. I couldn’t believe I was going to dinner at TJ’s place and it was just going to be me. No Cody, no Sally, no parents, no nothing. Just the two of us.
“Let’s go.” TJ took my hand and led me to the building. “Are you nervous, Mila?”
“Of course not. Why would I be nervous?” I said and I ignored the feeling of his fingers squeezing mine as he escorted me to the elevator. We walked into the elevator and I tried to ignore the look he was giving me. Was he deliberately trying to look sexy as hell?
“This is my floor,” TJ said as we got off on the twenty-first floor and walked towards his sumptuous loft apartment.
“What’s for dinner?” I asked him, grinning as he opened his door.
“Me,” he said with a raised eyebrow as he ushered me in.
“Very funny,” I said as my stomach flipped over. I walked into his apartment and looked around in awe. TJ had redecorated since I’d last been there. His walls were all a light sand color and he had a huge dark-brown sectional in his living room, opposite a grand fireplace. “You have a fire burning?”
“I wanted to set the mood,” he said softly as he stood next to me. “You approve?”
“It’s gorgeous in here.” I nodded, admiring his taste as I walked farther into his apartment. I noticed the bottle of champagne on his coffee table, sitting in a silver bucket of ice, and two flutes next to the bucket. “Champagne?”
“And strawberries.” He grinned. “And chocolate.”
“Are you trying to spoil me?” I laughed.
“Something like that.” He nodded and he reached over and ran his fingers across my lips. “But before I spoil you, you must eat.”
“What are you cooking?”
“I have steaks.” He looked down into my eyes. “With a red wine cream sauce and mashed potatoes.”
“Sounds yummy.” I licked my lips.
“Good.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Have a seat on the couch and I’ll start cooking.”
“Are you sure you don’t want any help?” I asked him as he walked to the kitchen. “I can make a mean salad.”
“No, that’s okay. Put on some music. My stereo is next to the TV.”
“What shall I put on?”
“You choose.” He grinned and looked back at me from the kitchen. “Just no One Direction or 'N Sync or whoever the cool boy band is today.”
“I don’t listen to boy bands,” I lied. Of course I still listened to boy bands. They were awesome. I walked over to his stereo and my jaw dropped as I gazed at his flat-screen TV. It was huge, at least 65 inches. I’d never seen a TV so big before. I turned to his speakers and saw an iPod sitting on a Bose dock. I nodded, impressed. I picked up the iPod and searched through his music to see who he listened to. I was surprised at the range of musicians that he had on the player and quickly pressed play on a Beatles song I’d loved as a child, “Hey Jude.”
“That’s not baby-making music,” TJ called out from the kitchen, and I laughed and walked back towards him to see how he was doing.
“How goes the cooking?” I asked as I walked into the kitchen and burst out laughing at the huge mess. There were plates and pieces of food all over the countertops. “Or shouldn’t I ask.”
“It’s going fine.” He laughed. “It looks worse than it is.”
“Uh huh.” I shook my head at him. “What can I do to help? Peel the potatoes?” I looked down at the half cut potatoes that still had most of the skin on them.
“You don’t have to do that!” He shook his head and dropped the butter knife that was in his hand. “I want you to relax.”
“So what should I relax and do?” I asked him softly as he walked up to me, his green eyes gleaming.
“Come with me.” He grabbed my hand and led me out of the kitchen and down a hallway.
“Where are we going?” I asked him suspiciously.
“I want you to relax in a bath while I cook.”
“Relax in a bath?”
“I have a spa tub.” He grinned. “I’ll put in some relaxing salts and oils and then I’ll come and get you right before dinner’s ready so you can put some clothes back on.”
“Are you sure?” I asked him as he opened the door to his bathroom and I stared at his huge tub.
“I’m positive.” He nodded and walked over to the bathtub and started running it. “I’ll let you decide on the temperature,” he said as he walked to a cupboard and pulled out a box and bottle of something. I watched as he poured them both into the tub and then put them on his marble countertop. He then opened another drawer, pulled out two candles and lit them and turned the lights out.
“TJ,” I said, looking at him in surprise. “This is really thoughtful of you, but I would feel really bad to take a bath while you’re cooking.”
“Don’t.” He grinned. “I want to spoil you and show you what could be yours if you lived here too.”
“TJ,” I admonished, and he just chuckled.
“Relax, Mila. Have a bath and I’ll be back.” He gave me another quick kiss on the nose and then walked out of the bathroom. I stared at the door for a few seconds and then started to take my clothes off. Who was I to say no to a luxurious bath in TJ’s house? He had insisted, after all. I placed my big toe into the water to check the temperature and almost melted when I felt how warm the water was. I climbed into the bath eagerly and lay back, loving the feel of the hot water and soft bubbles covering my skin. I closed my eyes and let the water seep into my bones. I reached to the side and pressed in a button and the water started whirling in the tub. I could feel it shooting from the side of the tub all over my body. I sighed in happiness as I lay there and smiled to myself.
Knock knock.
“Hello?” I called out, feeling sorry for myself.
“Can I come in?” TJ asked softly as he opened the door and walked in.
“You didn’t wait for my answer.” I pouted at him from under the bubbles.
“Enjoying the bath?” He smiled down at me and it was then I noticed the glass of wine in his hands. “Here you go,” he said and handed it to me, crouching next to the tub.
“How long have I been in here?” I asked as I took a sip of red wine. It slid down my throat eagerly and I felt a warm feeling inside my belly.
“Thirty minutes.” He grinned as he watched me sipping the wine, his eyes intense on my face.
“Wow, that felt like ten minutes.” I sighed. “Is dinner ready?”
“Nearly. Are you hungry?”
“Not really.” I shook my head. “I’m just enjoying being in here and relaxing. This tub is amazing. It almost feels like I’m being massaged at the same time.”
“I can make that happen,” he said and he stood up and went behind the tub. “Lean forward,” he said and I felt his strong hands on my shoulders, squeezing and massaging the tension in my bones.
“Oh, TJ.” I sighed as I placed the glass of wine down.
“Do you want me to stop? Am I hurting you?” he asked, his hands resting on my shoulders.
“No, it feels amazing,” I said honestly.
“Stand up,” TJ said and I watched as he grabbed a big, white, fluffy towel.
“What?” I frowned up at him.
“I’m going to dry you off and then take you to my bedroom to give you a proper massage.”
“TJ.” I looked at him with wide eyes. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“No.” He grinned and he flicked the towel. “But I’m going to do it anyway. Now stand up and let me dry you off.”
I stood up then and let the water fall from my skin back to the tub. TJ’s eyes narrowed as he took in my soap-covered breasts and I stepped out of the bath and directly into the towel. He patted me down carefully and slowly, ensuring that my entire body was dry. I was surprised and disappointed that he didn’t try and touch me intimately, but I supposed that he was on his best behavior.
“What are you doing?” I said as he picked me up and held me in his arms.
“Carrying you to the bedroom for your massage,” he whispered as he walked out of the bathroom and down the corridor and into his bedroom. I noticed immediately that the lights were off and that there were at least ten candles burning in his bedroom. I gasped as I stared at his king-sized bed, for it was covered in red rose petals.
“TJ?” I said, looking up into his face as he placed me down on the bed. “What’s going on?”