“No. I mean I’m sorry I pushed it. It’s not important. I let my father buy this place. He was trying to bribe me into giving up art. I knew I’d never do that, so I kind of took this place under false pretenses. That made me feel a little better about it.”

Such an interesting person.

I’d uncovered a lot about him in the short time we’d been acquainted.

But there was so much more there. So much more I wanted to know.

Would he let me in?

10

Roy

“I want you in my bed,” I said.

She smiled. “I know. You’ve told me. But—”

I quieted her with a gesture. “Not tonight. I know you have to be in early tomorrow, and it’s already nearly one a.m. Tomorrow. Come here for dinner. I’ll have a surprise for you.”

“Roy…”

“You don’t have to sleep with me,” I said. “That’s not what this is about.”

“But you just said—”

“I know what I said. It’s the damned truth. I want you in my bed more than I’ve ever wanted another woman. It’s crazy, but it’s true. But I want something else too.”

Something I’d never be able to make happen. I wanted to share my whole self with her, but that would never happen. Even if it could, it was still too soon. I didn’t know her well enough to trust her.

Yet.

I wanted to trust this woman. I wanted to trust her with everything.

Maybe someday…

But probably not. Still, I could come close. Closer than I had with anyone else.

I could give her something, as well. Something she wanted, something she needed, something she coveted and didn’t even realize it.

“Tomorrow,” I said.

“But what about…tonight? I mean, it’s late, and—”

“I’ll take you home, silver. I’d never let you leave here alone this late. It’s a good neighborhood, but this is still New York.”

“I can call a cab.”

“Nope. I’ll take you. Plus, I have an ulterior motive.”

“What’s that?”

“This way I can find out where you live.”

“Ha! You can find out anyway the same way I did. Check the employee files.”

I smiled. “You forget. I don’t work there. This way is much easier.”

“So you’re giving me the boot?”

“Only for now.”

“What about—”

“I want to wait. Until tomorrow. You’ll see why when you come back.”

“Uh…okay. I guess I’ll get my clothes back on, then. Though I hate to give up this glorious robe.”

“Keep it,” I said. “I have more.”

She smiled, rubbing the plush collar against her cheek. “No, I’ll leave it here. I kind of like having something here.”

I kind of liked it too.

“Your call,” was all I said.

She walked toward the bedroom.