He was surprised. Vertigris was as globally famous as Cristal or Dom Perignon. “Ridenbaugh Watches? Helios Diamonds? Cialov Handbags?”
Looking bemused, Daisy shook her head.
And all of Leonidas’s plans to go into the office flew out the window. He set his jaw. “Okay. I’m taking you out.”
“Out?”
“We’ll collect your clothes from Bain’s apartment, as I promised. Then I’m taking you to a few shops.” When she frowned, still looking bewildered, he added, “We can buy a few things.”
“What kind of things?”
“For your pregnancy. For the baby.”
“You don’t need to buy me stuff.”
“Think of it as you helping me,” he said lightly. “Market research. You’re a totally virgin consumer. I’d like your take on my brands.”
Her cheeks colored at the word virgin. “I don’t see how my opinion would be useful to you.”
“It would be. But more than that, I’d really like you to understand what I do.” He gave her a brief smile. “Isn’t that what you were asking me? To understand my world?”
“That was before...”
“There was so much I never was able to show you before. We spent our whole time together in Brooklyn.” He paused. “Let me show you Manhattan.”
Her light green gaze looked troubled, then she bit her lip. “I’m not sure I can leave Sunny alone here...”
“Mrs. Berry can watch her. She’s good with dogs.” At least, she’d seemed good with Sunny just now. He’d never really thought about it. He’d certainly never lived with a dog before. His parents had despised the idea of pets. “She’s very trustworthy.” That at least was true.
He could see Daisy weighing that, and wondered if she was setting such a high bar for who was allowed to watch her dog, would any potential babysitter for their daughter need two PhDs and a letter of reference from the Dalai Lama?
“I suppose,” she said finally. “As long as we’re not gone for too long.”
Reaching out, he took her left hand in his own, running his thumb over her bare ring finger. “We could go to Helios,” he said casually. “Look at engagement rings.”
He felt her shiver and saw the flash of vulnerability in her eyes. Then she pulled her hand away.
“No,” she said firmly. “No rings.”
Couldn’t blame a man for trying. “There must be something you need, you or the baby.”
She tilted her head, then sighed, resting her hand on her swelling belly peeking out from the open black puffy coat. “I suppose it would be nice to get a new coat,” she admitted. “This morning, I suddenly couldn’t zip it up anymore.”
As she rubbed her belly, he saw a flash of cleavage at the neckline of her white button-down shirt, and he wondered what touching those breasts would feel like. A very dangerous thing to wonder. He couldn’t think about seducing her. Because he was the kind of man that if he let himself think about something, he would soon take action to achieve it.
“But you don’t need to pay for it,” she said quickly. Inwardly, he sighed. He’d never had so much trouble convincing a woman to let him buy her things. “While we’re at Franck’s,” she continued, “I need to pick up my waitress uniform. I have a shift tomorrow.”
Leonidas frowned. “You’re not thinking of going back to work at the diner?”
“Of course.” Daisy frowned. “Do you really think I’d just quit my job? And leave my boss in the lurch?”
“Why would you—” Gritting his teeth, he said, “You don’t have to be a waitress anymore. Ever. I will take care of you!”
She put her hand on her hip. “Are you telling me not to work?”
Raising his eyebrow, he countered, “Are you telling me it’s comfortable to stand on your feet all day, when you’re this pregnant?”
Daisy’s expression became uncertain, and her hand fell to her side. “I’ll think about it,” she said finally. “On the drive to Brooklyn.” She paused. “Actually, could we...um...take the subway or something?”