“And if I refuse?”
“If you were going to refuse you would have done it already. You’re curious, and you’re going to get into the car.”
As much as I wanted to prove him wrong, he was completely right. I was every one of those things, but I was starting to realize I wasn’t the only one. Without a word, I got into the car and slid all the way over.
He followed me in, shutting the door. We were incased in darkness.
I didn’t ask where we were going. Neither of us spoke, but as the city lights flowed across his face, I couldn’t help but notice how nice he looked in his dark suit and tie. His hand rested on the door and my eyes went straight to his slender fingers. He really was magnificent.
“Like what you see?” he asked in a hushed whispered.
A heated blush rushed up my neck. I hadn’t realized he was watching me, too. My God. He was so cocky, and while it should have been a turn off, it was the total opposite.
“Actually, I do. I’ve always thought New York was beautiful at night.” I turned my head to look out my window and enjoyed his smirk.
“Don’t let the pretty lights fool you. The most dangerous things in the world are beautiful.”
When I looked back at him, he was staring out the window and looking completely lost in his own little world. I wanted to reach out to him, but he didn’t seem like the type who’d want to be comforted.
The car slowed as we reached our destination and I was anxiously looking through the dark windows in anticipation. Seconds later, the door opened and Sebastian was getting out. He held his hand out for me and I took it upon my exit.
“Get ready,” he said, before two older men opened the doors for us to the restaurant.
“Ready for what?”
He didn’t answer as he ushered me through the set of double doors, keeping one hand on the small of my back.
“Right this way, Mr. Black,” the host said. He grabbed two menus and started toward the back of the room.
I’d never been inside such a place. Crystal chandeliers hung above my head and mirrors were strategically placed around the room to reflect the candlelight, making the room look even larger than it already was.
Sebastian walked smoothly through the dining room, captivating his audience and demanding their attention. I watched in bewilderment as everyone stopped to gawk at him. He pulled my arm through his and that’s when I realized they were also watching me, the girl on his arm.
“I hope you’re hungry.” He pulled me closer. “Because I’m starving.”
His words brushed across the side of my neck and sent a wave of chills down my arms.
Everyone was staring at me. I self-consciously looked down at my outfit and knew right away I hadn’t dressed nice enough. I looked like an uptight school teacher going on a field trip, while ladies around me were dressed in satin, lace, and diamonds.
My hand on his arm began to sweat and I closed my eyes and tried to breathe.
“Don’t be nervous. You’re the most beautiful woman in the room.”
“Everyone’s looking at me,” I whispered.
“No. Everyone’s looking at me. I always come here alone. These people have never seen me with a woman before.”
“Then why did you bring me?” I asked as he helped me into my chair.
Leaning over me he whispered. “Because deal or no deal, you’re my Jessica.”
I had no idea what his obsession with calling me Jessica was, and again, I began to think that maybe Sebastian Black was certifiable.
When he sat down across from me, I worked up the nerve to finally ask something that had been bugging me since the first time we’d talked.
“Why do you refuse to know my name and why do you call me Jessica? Is that what you call all your girls?”
I tried not to fidget, or make uncomfortable eye contact, as I waited for him to answer my question.
When he finally did, I was thankful for the break of silence. “I most definitely do not call anyone else Jessica. Only you, and for a very special reason.”
He didn’t elaborate and I was left to question what exactly that meant.
“Would you care to explain why that is?”
“Actually, I don’t. Not right now anyway.”
He definitely made it clear I wasn’t going to get anything else out of him. I guess I should’ve known. For the short time I knew him, it was obvious Sebastian Black could be very stubborn and determined.
Once the waiter came and filled our glasses with wine, we were left alone. He sipped his wine and stared at me, making me even more nervous than before.
“So you come here a lot?” I asked, trying to break the ice.
“Yes,” he said simply. He wasn’t going to make this dinner easy at all.