“It’s the same with my job.” She gave him a sad smile. “Most days, I can set my own hours. But there are times when a company with my program hits a glitch and needs me to run an emergency system check. Sometimes it happens during normal business hours. Others in the middle of the night. Not the same thing as your situation, but I get it.”
And she did. Having to leave a date or time with friends or family because of work sucked. But it also came with the territory. Something she’d known when she decided to go freelance two years ago.
Sliding her phone back into her purse, she switched topics back to their evening plans. “What time should I be ready for dinner?”
Glancing at his expensive and complicated watch, Garrett moved his gaze back to hers. “Seven-thirty too late?”
“That’s perfect.”
It would give her enough time to shower and take a quick nap to recharge. This was the first date she’d had in months, and she wanted to be at the top of her game…just in case.
Whether this thing between them went anywhere after they got back to Charlotte was anybody’s guess, and something Avery had no control over.
What she could control…what she found herself wanting more thananything…was to simply enjoy the here and now.
Starting with dinner.
Chapter 7
Garrett opened the door to find his real-life dream staring back at him.
Lord have mercy.
Dressed in black, Avery was an absolute vision. Her long hair had been clipped up into a loose mound of curls on the crown of her head. A few delicate strands fell softly around her gorgeous face.
She’d done something different with her makeup. An added layer on her eyes, cheeks, and lips.
Moving lower, Garrett couldn’t help but notice the way the garment’s lace-covered halter pulled her breasts together. The low neckline created a deep crevice that made his fingers itch to rip the damn thing off, just so he could catch a glimpse of what was underneath.
A wide satin banner showcased Avery’s tapered waist, and the knee-length skirt flared slightly at her hips, stopping mid-thigh in the front and just above her knees in the back. Peeking out from beneath the skirt was a single layer of blood red satin that reminded him of sin.
And then there were her shoes.
Black, strappy numbers with thin leather that hugged her dainty ankles and heels that went on for days.
Garrett’s mouth went dry, his heart pounding the hell out of his chest when the image of her in nothingbutthose shoes seared his mind’s eye.
Everything about this woman—from the sleeveless black dress to the fuck me heels—looked exactly like the image his subconscious mind had conjured up the night before. Only better.
“Wow.”
As far as compliments went, it was lame as shit. Avery must have liked it though, because her cheeks turned rosy and her ruby lips curved.
“I was about to say the same thing about you.”
He would’ve argued that fact had her chocolate eyes not melted as they ran the length of his body.
It was a damn good thing he’d already put on his suit jacket. Otherwise, she would’ve gotten more of an eyeful than she’d bargained for.
Down, boy. It’s just dinner, remember?
Yeah, it was just dinner. But fuck if he didn’t wish it was more.
“Are you ready?” he rasped.
“Yes.”
Avery’s whispered answer was innocent enough, but her molten stare and rising chest held a deeper, more intimate meaning. Or maybe it was simply wishful thinking on his part.