Jennifer nodded. "So you fly in helicopters instead." James nodded in reply. His grin grew wider by the second.
"You think that's funny?"
"Amusing," Jennifer replied. "So, what else do you do that I don't know about?"
With a smirk, James ran a hand over his left brow. "There's quite a bit I do when I'm not working that you don't know about."
"So you have a life," Jennifer mused.
"I should hope you have one too," James nodded. His smile fell when he watched Jennifer's face darken. She broke their contact and looked down, to her nails. She didn't know why she kept looking at them. They still looked the same as they did earlier that day. Perhaps it was the glossy finish of the no-chip paint that kept teasing her eyes for another look. She ran a thumb over one of her fingernails. Slick and sleek, just as she imagined chrome would be.
"I used to race my car," Jennifer offered softly. James nodded.
"That I wouldn't have pegged you for."
"A racer?"
"Yeah," James looked over Jennifer casually. "You raced for money?"
"Do you race for anything else?"
"Always the smart ass," James grinned. "I own a vineyard in Virginia. I go there sometimes to help harvest." He laughed. "Well, I don't really harvest. I go there to drink the wine." He and Jennifer chortled together. Their eyes lingered on the other's. If there was one thing the both of them loved, it was drinking wine. They had done a lot of that over the past five years. In fact, it James's fault Jennifer came to crave the taste of finer wines, aged and blended to perfection. He didn't do cheap wines, so she learned to raise her standards-but like it was very hard.
"Looks like we're here," James breathed softly, looking past Jennifer's head through the window. She gripped her purse and looked outside.
"Wow."
"Wait until you see your room."
"I thought we were going to a lounge," Jennifer began.
"We are. Upstairs is located on the roof," James smirked as Jennifer's mouth fell open again.
Chapter Thirteen
All Is Fair in Love and … Lust
Yet James didn't want her to check out her room just yet. They entered the hotel and 15 minutes later, they were on an elevator to push their way to the upscale lounge resting 30 stories above Manhattan.
It had a dark, romantic décor to the atmosphere and screamed a place for lush and wealthy individuals to mix and bond over lowered inhibitions, soft music, and a breathtaking backdrop. Jennifer had lost the count, but her breath was gone, again, and she took in the incredible sight with an open mouth.
James gave her a moment, walking behind her leisurely as she toured the three different seating areas. They chose an outside lounge. In the distance, the Chrysler building towered, its incredible lights starting to glow confidently against the darkening skyline as the natural light slowly bled from the sky.
At a railing, Jennifer glanced over the side, and then around her at the looming skyscrapers. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in. If she didn't know any better, she might have believed she were back in Chicago at the Terrance, minus the smell of Asian cuisine sizzling in the background.
Attending the auction within the Yankee Stadium was something incredible. It had only been a fine taste of the luxuries James basked in, though. He had never shown her anything like this. She couldn't help but wonder why now? This couldn't all be about business and killing time.
Jennifer opened her eyes and turned around, expecting to see James watching her coyly. Instead, there was no one there, just other patrons enjoying the black leather armchairs. She cleared her throat and looked around again.
Inside the lounge, she saw James heading towards her with two drinks in his hand. He stepped outside to join her on the terrace and nodded towards her, raising a cup majestically in her honor.
As he neared, he extended the crystal glass to her. Jennifer took it in her hands carefully and turned it about. It was definitely a cocktail, but nothing like she had ever seen.
"Are you going to try it?" James asked. He sipped on his and savored the taste.
"You realize I've had more alcohol on this trip with you than," she paused, "Well, I've had a lot."
James grinned at her. "It's still not more than that night I had to come pick you up," he teased. Jennifer's face fell flat and she wrinkled her nose.
"I'm pretty sure we agreed not to talk about that night," she said softly with furrowed brows.
With a lighthearted shrug, James took a deep breath and stood tall. "It's been three years, good enough," he took another swig from his glass. "What happened then anyway?"
Jennifer rolled her eyes and looked away. "I'm pretty sure I'd just been dumped."
James scoffed. "What jerk would dump you?"
Turning, Jennifer looked over James and felt something prickle the surface of his skin along her neck. It traveled from the base of her spine and up towards her shoulders. Swallowing, she pressed her lips together and remained silent. James shrugged again and took another drink.
"I don't always drink like this, I promise. But this is a signature mix exclusive to this lounge," he gestured to her glass. "It's called The Chrysler," he grinned devilishly.
Jennifer lifted the glass to her lips and took a tiny sip. Her eyes budged with the flavor, a perfect blend of honey, lemon, and other citrus she couldn't place over the champagne bubbles. James smiled and nodded.
"This can be your last drink if you want," James offered.
Hesitantly, Jennifer went for another taste. It was longer and deeper. It didn't sting or burn, but slid, and it fell, molding against her insides and meshing into all the right parts. Her fingers felt loose and her body tingled with heat.
"Do you want to order something? I'm really hungry," James pointed to a set of chairs as he spoke. Jennifer didn't notice her own growling stomach, but she agreed they could have a snack.
"They only serve small dishes," James informed her as he took a seat and crossed a leg man-style. His ankle rested on his knee.
Jennifer tried to just glance at him, but as she shadows fell from the smoldering sky, they hit the features of his face in a splendid way. He was absolutely gorgeous. James finished his drink with another sip and turned to Jennifer, his expression changed as their eyes met.
"You're staring at me," he said softly.
Jennifer shook her head. "No, I'm not-I wasn't. No."
James chuckled. "Okay. Well, you were looking at me for a really long time."
Blinking, Jennifer nodded. "Maybe, a little bit," she sighed suddenly. "I feel like I don't even know you."
"What?" James laughed. "Of course you know me."
"No," Jennifer's headshake grew stronger. She gestured around them and then tried to form words, but couldn't.
"You mean all the things you didn't know about me?" James asked. Jennifer shrugged.
"Yeah. Maybe," she sat her drink down in front of her. "I mean, I've just worked for you and I feel like you've had this double life, sneaking off to Jersey to help youth with sports-"
"I haven't done that in years. I just set up the scholarship," James interjected. "Still," James swallowed, "there's quite a bit that I don't know about you," he countered. "I didn't know you raced. And where are you from? Have you always lived in the city?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm from Beloit, Wisconsin. It's on the border between Illinois. I moved like you. As soon as I was able."
James nodded, and then grew serious. "Why haven't you seen your friend in so long?"
The question startled Jennifer and she began to stutter. "Well, I. You know, she and I," Jennifer cleared her throat with a forced cough. She didn't readily try to spit out an answer afterwards, instead, she just considered the question silently. She could have blamed it on the money, but the truth is, she had the money. She had the time. She just didn't because she chose to work instead.
"Well, I guess out of the two of us, I was the one who should have traveled to see her," Jennifer said softly. James nodded.
"Why didn't you?"
Clearing her throat again, Jennifer took a moment to run her hand along her neck. She had just over half of her cocktail left. Condensation beaded on the crystal and slid down to the clear glass where it perched, a stout, long coffee table that connected the small groupings of outdoor seating.
The air had a nighttime chilling bite to it, but with the sudden rush of heat to her skin, she didn't feel cool enough. She needed to take off her jacket, but she didn't move. She just breathed.
"You don't have to answer," James countered.
Lowering her eyes, Jennifer reached for her cup and drank until it was empty. She avoided looking at James and sat the cup down, and then stood abruptly.