The water turns on. “She did. Then Katelyn said he was the best sex she’s ever had and has to agree with Catarina.”
“Wow. Just...wow.”
“Oh, and an animal in bed and...let me think a minute, this pregnancy has my brain cells dying...” She snaps her fingers. “Katelyn said he was a slow burn of adrenaline that has you buzzing until you literally think you can’t handle it anymore. And then it’s like he takes you to an entirely new level of heat you didn’t know existed.”
Holy crap.
Charlotte softly laughs. “Wow. Go, Steven! I always told Quinn I bet her brother was serious in public but an insane beast of a sex god in the bedroom.”
“Yeah, good for Steven that he’s such a killer under the sheets, but...”
Vivian’s voice is full of sympathy. “I know. He’s probably mortified.”
“No wonder why he’s not excited about his award.”
“Makes sense why he’s trending. He’s going to have every woman in Chicago after him.”
Ugh. I don’t stand a chance.
It’s Quinn’s brother. Stop fantasizing.
“Maybe he’ll loosen up and have some fun for once?” Charlotte asks.
“Doubt it. You know Steven. He’s got his laser-focused goals.”
“Hmm. I always thought it was kind of sad how much pressure he puts on himself to be perfect. He’s such a hottie and so sweet. He needs a good woman to reduce his stress and give him some wild love.”
“Well...” The main door opens and they leave.
I step out of the stall, wash my hands, and stare in the mirror.
Why did I have to overhear that?
The excruciating ache in my lower body only throbs harder.
Go back to the table, say goodnight to everyone, and hightail it back to Quinn and Jamison’s.
I step out of the bathroom and run right into Steven’s ripped pecs.
“I’m so sorry,” I mumble but don’t step back then take a few extra inhales of his sexy smell.
“My bad. I was just leaving.”
My heart sinks. I look up. “Oh. Is everything okay?”
His jaw clenches. “Just another awesome conversation between mother and son.”
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, my mom isn’t scoring any points tonight.”
“No?”
“Nope. Actually, not many people here are.”
He opens his mouth but shuts it.
“What were you about to say?”
“Do you want to get out of here?”
“Yes.”
He licks his lips. “Should I drop you off at Quinn’s, or do you want to experience Chicago?”
“Take me wherever you’re going.”
4
Steven
What am I doing?
“Great. Let’s go.” I put my hand on the small of Harper’s back and lead her into the elevator. I push the button but don’t move away, and she doesn’t, either.
She gazes up at me with her green eyes, and my blood pounds in my ears so hard, I get slightly dizzy. “I didn’t tell Quinn or Jamison I’m leaving. My phone is at their place.”
Without analyzing it, I take a finger, slide it along her forehead, and catch her hair, then tuck it behind her ear.
She holds her breath.
“I can text them.”
“Okay.”
I continue fixating on her, and a sexy blush creeps up her face, coloring her cheekbones I’m dying to stroke.
The elevator jolts to a stop and breaks my daze. I remove my phone from my pocket and keep my other hand on Harper’s back, leading her out of the building while texting Quinn we left, and I’ll drop her off later.
We get to the car. Ted opens the door, and after Harper slides in, I follow.
“Where are we going?” she asks.
“Do you want loud and crazy or quiet and cozy?”
She fidgets with her fingers and opens her mouth but shuts it.
She’s regretting coming with me already.
“Let’s do loud and crazy. It’s probably better.”
“Better?”
Her face reddens again. “Umm...don’t listen to me. I don’t make sense to myself half the time.”
She’s so gorgeous, I’m tempted to lean over and kiss her, but I don’t want to be disrespectful.
Jamison will kill you.
Quinn will hate you again.
I roll the divider window down a few inches. “Ted, can you take us to Club D, please?”
“Sure.” He puts on the blinker and turns.
I shut the window.
“Is it the same as the one in New York?” she asks.
“Similar. Sorry, do you want to go somewhere different?”
She shakes her head. “No. I love Club D.”
Silence.
She takes a deep breath and twists her fingers so hard, her knuckles turn white.
“So, you like photography?”
Her eyes light up. “It’s just a hobby. Hope seems to be my main object lately.”
“Can I see your photos sometime?”
“Sure. I have my camera at Jamison’s. I can show you this week.”
I tap my fingers on my thighs.
An entire week with her.
What are you doing? This is such a bad idea.
I’m taking care of my niece, that’s all.
Yeah, right.
“You’re a financial guy?” she asks.
“Yep. For an insurance company. It’s boring, I know.”
“You don’t like it?”
I think about her question. “I like it. But I’m sure the rest of the population would think it is boring.”
“You shouldn’t base your opinions on what other people see. If everyone loved the same things, life would be super dull.”
“I never thought about it like that, but you’re perceptive, aren’t you?”
She shrugs. “Maybe too much.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not helping me in the career department.”
“You’re in between jobs?”
An expression I can’t decipher crosses her face. “Guess you can say that.”
“What did you do before?”
“I ran a law firm.”
“Are you an attorney?”
“According to my degree.”
“Wow.”
“There wasn’t anything wow about it.”
“You didn’t like it?”
“Nope.”
“So, did you just up and quit one day?”
“I suppose that’s one way to put it,” she mutters and glances out the window.
“What kind of law did you practice?”
“Mergers and acquisitions. We did a lot with Noah’s firm.”
“Bet that was stressful.”
She scans my face and takes a deep breath.
“Do I make you nervous?” I blurt out then close my eyes, cringing. “Sorry, forget—”
“A little. No, a lot.”
My pulse beats in my neck. “Sorry. I always say the wrong things.”
“What have you said wrong?”
The car stops, and Ted quickly opens my door. I don’t answer her question and slide out then reach in to take her hand and help her out.