The Intern (The Dalton Family #4)(73)

There was something so incredibly sexy at the thought of Declan surprising me, about giving me such little information that my imagination wandered. That he actually put something together he thought I would like.

Once I woke up Saturday morning, every time my brain fast-forwarded to seven o’clock, I would get anxious. Excited. I could barely sit all day. And when the time finally came, I hurried downstairs to the lobby of my building and found him double-parked along the curb.

Since he wasn’t able to park, he reached across the front seat and opened my door as I arrived.

I barely needed to pull the handle before I climbed in. “Hi.”

His eyes dipped down my dress before they came back up to settle on my face. “Gorgeous.” He watched me position the seat belt across my chest and click it into the holder. “Really fucking gorgeous.”

A heat moved across my cheeks, and I brushed the hair out of my eyes to keep my hands busy. “Thank you.”

He didn’t move. Neither did the car. He stayed facing me, taking me in, his gaze now warming every part of my body.

“Hannah … I need your lips.”

A demand that I’d never get tired of hearing.

I leaned across the center armrest and placed my mouth on his. He didn’t care that mine was covered in gloss, that I would probably get it all over him. That our lips were slippery because of it.

When I pulled away, our eyes slowly opened, and his mouth had the glow that I had been afraid of.

I wiped off as much as I could and said, “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

He pulled into traffic, weaving in and out of cars.

One thing I’d learned in the two weeks since we’d been back from Jackson Hole was that Declan liked to drive fast. Regardless of which car we were in—and he had several—he ignored speed limits and traffic signals.

The man wanted to be fully in control, no matter what he was doing.

As he slowed for a light with several cars in front of him, giving him no choice, he looked at me. “A place where we’re not going to run into any other Daltons.”

Something we’d been very careful about since we’d gotten back.

Declan wanted to tell them on his terms, when he was ready, and I didn’t blame him.

What he didn’t know and what he’d never asked was if I’d mentioned anything to them myself.

Aside from Oaklyn, Ford was the only person I’d told, and he pretty much knew everything—at least the important parts. But if and when Declan brought it up to him, Ford had assured me that he wouldn’t out me.

“That doesn’t narrow down the options,” I told him, paying attention to the turns he was taking, trying to figure out what was in the area based on the direction we were going.

“No ideas?”

I shook my head. “I mean, I assume we’re starting with food or at least a drink. It’s dinnertime, and you’re always hungry.”

He laughed. “Always?”

“For me, yes.” I winked as he looked at me. “And for food, also yes.”

His hand landed on my thigh. “I’m not going to deny either claim.” He turned again. “Tell me about your day.”

“I took Everly hiking this morning. I wasn’t babysitting; I just like to take her, and I knew Ford and Sydney could use the alone time since they rarely get any.”

I had been the one to orchestrate Sydney becoming Ford’s nanny. Now that the two of them were dating, I couldn’t be happier.

“And then Oaklyn and I went for pedicures and manicures. We stopped by my parents’ house on the way home to help them with graduation planning.” He looked at me as I added, “A joint party—that’s what happens when you’re a twin and you’re both graduating law school a week apart. Once I got back to the apartment, I bar prepped. Now, I’m here.” I smiled before he glanced away. “This is my favorite part of today.”

He squeezed my leg. “Are your parents having a big party?”

This was the first time I’d mentioned the party even though it had been in the works for months. I didn’t want to put any pressure on him to attend, considering we weren’t openly dating and everyone at the office assumed he couldn’t stand me. But I’d mailed his invite this morning. If he came or didn’t, I would understand either way.

“Less than a wedding, but more than your average graduation party.” I shrugged. “We’re Daltons. We don’t know how to do anything small.”

He chuckled as he turned into a parking lot. Once I saw the sign, I immediately knew where we were. Although I’d never eaten here, the restaurant was LA famous. My father had even taken my mother here for their anniversary.

“The food here is supposed to be the best,” I said as he parked.

“I happen to be friends with the owner.”

He got out of the car, and as I was about to follow, he came to my side and opened my door, holding out his hand. “Miss Dalton …”

I grabbed his fingers, smiling as he pulled me to my feet. He continued to hold my hand as he led me past the front entrance, around the side, and to the back, where he knocked on an unmarked door.

I didn’t ask.

Of course, I wanted to know.

But something about the way this was all unfolding was so interesting to me.