Gotta go. It’s after three AM,
and I’m not as young as I used to be.
I smile.
Love ya.
I type, Love you, and hit send.
The time passes by quickly after my talk with Bennie, mostly me working on my own, since Robbie hasn’t given me any tasks since the morning. I stop by his office to see if there’s anything, but he waves me off, telling me I can leave whenever I want.
At about ten till four, I go to the restroom to freshen up my makeup. I’m glad Lucas got me this gorgeous dress…but at the same time, I wonder if Elliot will see it as a sign that I’m only interested in Lucas’s money.
I inhale deeply. It’s just dinner. I shouldn’t hold any preconceived ideas about him. I don’t want Lucas to give up his family to be with me. That would be completely unfair.
At precisely four, Lucas arrives in front of the medical center in a shiny black Bentley SUV. A uniformed driver gets out and holds the rear door open for me. I climb inside, absorbing the luxuriously smooth leather and expensive-looking wood trim. Before the chauffeur shuts the door, Lucas pulls me toward him and gives me a thorough kiss. I melt into it, loving the way his mouth devours mine. The air in my lungs thickens, and my breathing grows shallow. His big hands cradle my face, while my fingers dig into his warm, silky hair. Moments like this, I feel like there’s no barrier between us. Surely we deserve this happiness after the hell we’ve been through.
Lucas pulls back. His pupils are dark and dilated as he gazes at me. “Hi.”
I grin like an idiot. “Hi.” I tilt my head, parting my lips in invitation.
His forehead touches mine. “As much as I’d love to, we’re only two blocks away from the place.”
“Already?” We haven’t been kissing that long, have we? I squirm, my panties damp.
“Yeah. I wanted someplace nice and not too far from your work.”
“What about you?”
“Doesn’t matter. I can work from home.”
Our car stops. The chauffeur opens the door. As Lucas and I emerge from the car, a sharply dressed brunette comes forward. Her carmine skirt suit is expensive and carefully fitted to show off a gym-toned body. Swinging her big leather bag out of the way, she extends a hand. “I’m so glad you were able to make the appointment,” she says as she pumps hands with Lucas and then me.
I look at her and Lucas questioningly. He shrugs. “I said we might not be able to make it if you had to work late.”
“I’m Jennifer Brown,” the realtor says, handing each of us a business card. “It’s only four ten, and you’re my last appointment. So we can spend plenty of time looking around and discuss any concerns or questions you might have.”
I let my gaze climb along the tall, gleaming building. It looks ridiculously pricey. Jennifer leads us inside the lobby, which is all marble and glass, something I might see on a TV show about how rich people live. We take a large elevator to the top floor.
“There’s only one unit on this level,” Jennifer explains. “So it’s completely private. Every unit in this building is soundproofed, and perfect for a busy and discerning couple looking for peace and quiet in the middle of Los Angeles.”
She punches a six-digit code into a security pad, and the door unlocks. As we walk inside, I can’t help but gasp. The penthouse makes the lobby look like a homeless shelter. The ceiling absolutely soars, multiple fancy chandeliers and fans hanging from it. The hardwood floor sparkles, and the place smells like fresh wax. The view of L.A. is breathtaking. I feel like the whole city is at my feet.
Jennifer gestures around, pointing out the features and highlights, and I start to wonder if she has the entire sales brochure memorized. “The floors are all hardwood—refinished oak—except for the bathrooms, which have heated tiles. All the windows are floor to ceiling, but you don’t have to worry about privacy. With the centralized control, you can shade the panes, and nobody can see inside. You can also make the glass totally opaque if you want to sleep in, and it’s treated to block out all the harmful UV rays, so you can enjoy as much natural light as you want during the day without worrying about sun damage.” She leads us to the kitchen. “Every appliance is stainless steel and less than a year old.”
I tap my fingertips against the stainless steel countertop. It’s solid and totally smooth. The realtor smiles. “Do you like baking?”
“A little. I don’t bake all that much.”
“Perhaps with this kitchen you will.” She runs her hand along the smooth metal like she’s displaying a game show prize. “This countertop was designed for a baker. But you also see that the breakfast bar counter and the island have marble tops, giving you that elegant feel you’re looking for when you dine at home or entertain.”
I just nod. She continues to point out features as she takes us to the huge master bedroom suite, three other bedrooms and four bathrooms. Except for the powder room, all the rooms are bigger than my apartment. Seriously, do we really need this much space?
“Do you mind giving us some privacy?” Lucas asks Jennifer.
She smiles. “Of course. Take your time.” She walks away, leaving us in the master bathroom. It has a tub big enough to host a party, and I perch my butt on the edge.
“You don’t like it,” Lucas states.