SAPPHIRE
I run down my stairs, the multiple fine gold necklaces I wear jingling as I go, pushing the strap of my dress up over my shoulder when someone knocks again. “Just a second,” I call out, before pulling open the door in a rush to find… Eli’s driver instead of Eli, as I had hoped.
Bummer.
“Good evening, Ms. Feelgood.”
“Hey, it’s good to see you again, Clark.” His brows lift; he’s impressed that I remembered his name.
I’ve never been chauffeur-driven anywhere until this weekend. Twice in the span of a few days is more than enough to make a girl expect this kind of luxury treatment every day.
“Mr. Hart is preparing dinner for you this evening,” Clark informs me, formally.
“Okay.” That’s thrown me off. Eli cooking for me tonight is hot. I love a man who can cook; if he can bake, even better.
“He wanted me to let you know that, or he would have picked you up himself.”
“Right.” That’s sweet.
“And he also wanted me to ask if you would like to bring Ghost with you if you have a cat carrier.”
“Really?” I exclaim.
“Yes, Ms. Feelgood. Mr. Hart thought that since you were away all yesterday, last night, and most of this morning, you might want to bring him along in case you’ve missed him. Mr. Hart also thought Ghost might not want to be alone for the evening either.”
I’m too stunned to reply. This is so unexpected. And kind.
Elijah Hart is not who I thought he was at first. Beneath his hard exterior is a man with a heart, a big one.
“He also mentioned that you might want to consider packing an overnight bag.”
Oh. Oh my.
His spontaneous decision has my brain working overtime.
“Right, well, yes, I… I can do that, I guess,” I stutter, getting tongue-tied, slightly embarrassed because he’ll know what that implies. Sex. Lots of it, I hope.
I’m glad I put on some sexy panties. I thought I was being presumptuous before, but now I know we’re on the same wavelength, it’s game on, I’m ready. However, that makes my heart race much faster than it was before.
The tension’s been building for weeks, months even, and when Cole and Eli dropped me off earlier, the small kiss goodbye Eli gave me left me wanting more. All of him. Now it looks like I’m getting what I wished for.
“Give me five minutes, Clark.” This is so exciting.
“Take your time. I’ll be here waiting for you whenever you’re ready to leave,” he says, pulling the hem of his jacket down to straighten it out—though there’s no need as his suit is flawlessly wrinkle-free.
I give him a polite wave. “Thank you,” I call to him as Clark returns to the car.
Closing the door with a whoosh, I then announce to Ghost excitedly as I run up the stairs, “Find your favorite toy, we’re going for a sleepover.” This is crazy. I’ve never taken my cat on a date or a sleepover before.
I dash around my bedroom quickly gathering my belongings. A change of clothes, pajamas, hoping I don’t need them, skincare, hairdryer, and other random bits I might need. Then I place Ghost into his carrier, and within minutes, I find myself in the back of Eli’s car with my small overnight bag that I packed in a hurry with my sleepover basics and my cat.
After a long time sitting in silence, I run my hands over the soft cream leather seats and ask Clark, “Does it cost a lot to rent a limousine?” I didn’t know Rolls-Royce made an electric limousine. I might hire one for the next business awards ceremony I attend.
“I wouldn’t know, Ms. Feelgood, Mr. Hart owns this one.”
Confusion makes me pull my brows together. “So he didn’t rent it for the weekend?”
“No, Miss.” Clark pauses to pay attention to the busy traffic that looks like mayhem ahead. Once he’s through the worst of the congestion, he continues. “Mr. Hart knows a lot of people. One of them is a good friend who works for Rolls-Royce. It usually takes several months for delivery, but this one was delivered last week, Ms. Feelgood.”