“Nothing.”
“Chase.”
He cups the side of my face. “Come with me.”
“That’s not the smartest idea you’ve ever had.”
“Probably not,” he agrees. “But I’m still asking.”
“The press will be there. Brett will be there. You uncle, your business partners…” I shake my head. “It’s a bad idea.”
“Maybe.” He kisses me, soft and sweet. “But you’re the only person I want to spend tonight with — even if it’s at a stuffy business dinner.”
My heart flips as I stare back at him, totally indecisive. I know in my gut it’s a bad idea, but when he’s looking at me like that, asking me to be there for him… it’s not so easy to hold to my convictions.
“Do I have to wear a dress?”
He grins, sensing victory. “Yeah.”
“I’ll have to borrow something from Shelby.”
His eyebrows lift. “Does that mean you’ll come?”
I nod hesitantly.
“Sunshine,” he whispers, his eyes getting ultra-warm and melty.
“You owe me.”
His grin widens. “What do you want?”
“Oh. Um.” I tilt my head, trying to think of something. “Uh…”
He stares at me, waiting, and my cheeks start to redden.
“Well, I don’t have anything prepared right this second! But I’ll think of something. Eventually.”
“Sunshine.” He starts to laugh, his whole frame shaking with mirth. “We really need to work on your negotiation skills.”
“It’s not my fault! I can’t concentrate with you looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“All gorgeous and chiseled and dreamy.”
“Dreamy?”
“Yes!” I glare at him. “It makes my head foggy and then I get tongue tied and my cheeks get red and…and…”
The words dry up on my tongue as my eyes move over his handsome features.
“You forgot what you were gonna say again, didn’t you?” He grins, cocky at his effect on me.
I smack him on the arm. “I don’t like you.”
“I beg to differ.” He leans in, burying his head in the crook of my neck. “In fact, in the last hour, you told me several different times just how much you liked me.Veryloudly, I might add.”
My blush intensifies. “Oh, go to your stupid gala alone, you big brute.”