“Set the scene for tonight. Tell me how you see it playing out.”
He blushed. Omigod he was so freakin’ cute when he blushed. “I pick you up, we’d have dinner at the Korean-French restaurant on Marquette. Then, if we’re feeling energetic, we hit the club, we dance, we have a drink or two, we stay there for a while after we find the only quiet corner where we can talk, but don’t close the place down. Then I take you home, you invite me in, we tear each other’s clothes off and go at it right there on the staircase.”
I swiveled around to gape at him.
Brady laughed. “Just seeing if you were paying attention.”
“I am. But my mind got stuck on fusion food.”
“Not your favorite?”
“I don’t like my food mixed up.”
“Guess I won’t be making my famous tater tot casserole for you.”
I laughed.
“Christ, you have a sexy laugh,” Brady said. “That’s how I first noticed you.”
“What do you mean? Last week was the first time you’ve ever spoken to me.”
He shot me a quick grin. “Exactly. But it wasn’t the first time I noticed you. That was months ago. I wasn’t sure which department you worked in when I saw you down the hallway from the break room. But you were with that redhead from your office and you were laughing. There was just something about your laugh . . .”
Brady seemed embarrassed again and I don’t know why I rushed to reassure him. “I’m happy to hear you liked my laugh rather than you telling me I sounded like a snorting donkey or something and that’s why you noticed me.”
“Never.” He pulled up in front of my house and put the car in park. “What time should I pick you up?”
I faced him and discovered he’d moved closer. So that gorgeous face with the vibrant blue eyes and full lips was right there. If I leaned back, he’d take it the wrong way. Heck, I’d take it the wrong way. More than anything, I wanted to angle forward and have a taste of him.
Fortunately, my head controlled the situation, not my mouth. “I have a list of things to do today that I’ve been putting off.” Not a total lie. “And if you’re serious about trying to get into that club, I’d rather not go dancing after eating a heavy meal.”
“Good point. We’ll break this up into two dates. Clubbing tonight, dinner another night. And never fear, dancing queen, I’ll get us into the club.”
No doubt a few phone calls from him and we’d be in. It’d be best to remember that the Lund family name wielded results. “Fine. Pick me up at nine?”
“Perfect.” He smiled and his gaze dropped to my mouth. “Feel free to wear the lip ring,” he murmured. “It might actually be sexier than your laugh.”
Holy crap. When he turned on his sexual charisma, he cranked it to high.
Just to be ornery, I moved in and angled my head so I could rub that gold hoop across his bottom lip.
Brady inhaled sharply but he didn’t move.
I said, “See you at nine,” and got out of his car.
Chapter Ten
Brady
‡
I had to work after I dropped Lennox off. I knew if I went home I’d obsess for hours about our upcoming date. Focusing on numbers would keep my mind off her.
Off that sexy fucking lip ring.
Off that sexy fucking laugh.
Off that sexy fucking tattoo.
Off that sexy fucking way she walked.
Everything about that woman hit the right notes for me, which made zero sense analytically since I’d never been attracted to a woman like her before.
I’d dated women at various points in my life—none I’d ever call girlfriends. The closest I’d come to a steady relationship was in college. I had a fling with the college adviser for my master’s, who taught me so much more than economics. The rest of my encounters were one-night stands. Although I rarely took advantage of it, I knew if I went to a bar looking to get laid, I wouldn’t go home alone.
But all that changed two years ago when I reached the rung on the ladder I’d spent my entire life climbing toward. And I’d been holding on so tightly, with both hands, because I feared it would all slip away.
I backed up all my data and shut down my computer. After I locked my office, I called Nolan.
He answered, “I know, I know, I’m so damn much fun that you’re calling to ask if I want to hang out with you tonight too.”
I punched the down button on the elevator. “I had enough of you last night.”
“Dammit, Brady, I recognize that elevator ding. Are you at the office? Are you working? You’re supposed to be—”
“I needed something that I’d left here,” I interrupted with a lie instead of snapping at him and asking who the hell he was to tell me when I could and couldn’t work. “And for future reference? I don’t see the allure of strip clubs, so we can skip that next time.”