The Friendship List(76)
She sounded so earnest, he thought, being sucked in by the second. And vulnerable.
“I’m having dinner with friends,” he said. “You’ll come with me.”
“Are they expecting you to bring a date?”
“They’re not expecting me at all, but I’ll call them. I think something low-key will be good for both of us.” He wanted Freddy and Lela to meet Unity. Partly because he liked her but mostly to get their opinion.
The smile returned. “That sounds nice. What time would you like to meet?”
“So you can what? Drive around the city until it’s time to go?”
“I thought I’d find somewhere to stay.”
He was being tested—he got that now. And he knew in his gut that somehow his mother was involved. This was payback for all the trouble he’d gotten into as a kid.
“I have a guest room,” he told her. “The bedroom door has a lock, so you’ll be safe there.”
She moved toward him, stopping when she was inches away. “I don’t have to lock the door, Thaddeus. You’d never do anything to make me feel uncomfortable.”
He was sure she meant the words as a compliment but as she spoke he felt like she’d just cut off his balls.
He was about to suggest they should get her settled when she raised herself on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his. Her lips were soft and warm, with a slight hint of determination.
He stayed perfectly still, not wanting to assume anything. She rested one hand on his shoulder and pulled a bit, as if urging him to bend. He leaned toward her and put his hands on her waist. She tilted her head and moved her mouth against his, parting slightly in an age-old invitation.
Desire slammed into him, making him want to haul her against him and do a whole lot more than kiss. Instead he straightened and eased back enough to break contact. He braced himself for her to cry or bolt, but she only smiled.
“I believe you promised me a validation,” she said, pulling her parking ticket out of her bag. “I like that in a man.”
As easy as that? “You’re okay?”
“Yes.” She sighed. “I’m sorry I’ve made it so hard for you to trust me. I’m okay.”
He either believed her or they were done. He wanted to tell himself he needed a minute, only he knew he didn’t. For whatever reason, she got to him and he couldn’t resist her. Until that changed, he was going to have to see how it all played out.
nineteen
Unity felt good. Not just because she’d forced herself to do something unexpected, but because she’d been brave enough to come over and see Thaddeus. After telling him they couldn’t go out, she’d been unable to stop thinking about him. That had to mean something.
Later, there might be guilt and recriminations, but today she was going to enjoy every moment and see where it all took her.
After he called his friends to say he was bringing a plus-one to dinner, they went down to her car, which took only three tries to find, then he drove it out of the parking garage and over to the valet parking in front of the Westin hotel.
“Why here?” she asked. “It’s expensive.”
He handed the keys to the valet and gave her the parking receipt. “It will be easier for you. Just give the guy a tip when you leave. The parking will be added to my account.”
They collected the small overnight bag she’d brought with her and went into the hotel. “But you shouldn’t pay for my parking.”
“It’s fine, Unity. I promise.”
Once in the lobby, they went to a bank of elevators that required a special fob to activate.
“I’ll get you a spare key and fob when we’re upstairs,” he told her. “You can take a skybridge over to the mall.”
“You live in a hotel?”
“Above it. From the twenty-fourth floor to the top are condos.”
They exited on the forty-fifth floor and walked to a double door. Thaddeus let them inside. Unity stepped into an elegant marble foyer and saw a dining room in front of her, along with floor-to-ceilings windows with a perfect view of Lake Washington and downtown Seattle.
“The kitchen is in here,” he said, leading the way.
She trailed after him, spotting a half bath before finding herself in a huge gourmet kitchen. The cabinets were gleaming cherry, the miles of countertop were covered in the most beautiful patterned granite. The upscale appliances were brands she’d only ever read about in magazines.
“Butler’s pantry,” he said, pointing around the side of the kitchen. “Wine cellar. There’s food in the refrigerator. The cleaning service keeps it stocked, so help yourself.”
He showed her the living room, with windows on two sides, the media room and a laundry room that was bigger than the master bedroom at her house.
They went down a different hall and he pushed open a door. “The guest room.”
She went inside. The space was large, with a king-size bed, two nightstands and a TV mounted on the wall. In the corner was a chaise covered in a faux leopard print. She saw a closet with built-in drawers, enough hanging space for a boutique and a full-length mirror, before heading for the luxurious en suite bathroom with double sinks, a spa tub and a walk-in shower.
She felt like a country mouse seeing the big city for the first time. Knowing that Thaddeus was successful and seeing the proof of his wealth were two different things. Part of her felt unsettled and part of her wanted to bounce around on the bed. She went with a quiet, “Wow. Impressive.”