Her lips purse. “That wasn’t your fault. You don’t have anything to make up for.”
“I do. My reaction was out of line. Besides, we were interrupted. I won’t let that happen today, love.”
We hop into my Aston Martin and drove down to the Jersey Shore. There’s an arcade that Paxton always talks about as though he’s a kid frequenting it, and I want to see how Raven acts when I present her with such a date.
In true Raven fashion, her eyes light up, and she squeals in happiness.
At that moment, it occurs to me that I’ve never met a woman like her. So spontaneous. Ready to take on anything with a smile.
If I had ever suggested such an outing to Tabitha or any of the women I’d bedded through the years, this never would’ve happened. They would’ve refused. Arcades and fun were beneath them.
Fancy dinners, galas, and anything that would raise their status were acceptable.
This?
Never.
Raven and I have been playing games for hours, and I’ve never had so much fun.
I’ve never been a fun person. Never.
Life is easy with Raven, and she makes me want to have fun.
She goes with the flow and makes any day better just by simply being there.
I’ve never felt this free, and it has everything to do with her.
“I cannot believe how exhausting it is to play games like that. I don’t remember being so tired when I was a kid.” I stretch my arms over my head, relishing the pull of my muscles.
“Yeah, but that’s because you moved your entire body while playing the games. You know you don’t actually need to swerve when you’re turning? You just have to press the controller. That’s all,” she says, smiling wide.
“Ah, you’re taking the piss now. But you’ll see... there’s a method to my madness. At least, I’d like to think there is.”
She stares at me for several long seconds, and I wonder what’s going through her mind.
“You’re cute,” she says, reaching over to push a strand of hair that has fallen over my eyes.
“Why do you say that?”
“You just are.”
“You didn’t think I would be the type of guy who would sit for hours playing games with you?”
She shakes her head. “Truthfully? No, I didn’t.”
“And? Are you glad that I am that man?”
She beams. “So very glad. You’re sort of the whole package, you know.”
“Only sort of?” I tease. “You wound me, love.”
She chuckles. “For now. I mean, I’m only getting to know you. But so far, you’re in the clear running to be the whole package.”
I smile. “I’d like to get to know you even better, and I have an idea.”
It’s percolating as I stand here, and I’m trying to work out all the details in my head. She looks at me with an expression that says,get on with it.
“The presentation will be done by Thursday. There’s nothing more we can do. It’ll be in the hands of your assistants to line up everything. You can approve their work from anywhere.”