Avoiding Temptation (Avoiding #3)(141)

Chyna winked at her as Jack and Adam raised their glasses as well.

Just before they clinked their glasses together, Jack added, “To new beginnings.”

They finished off their wine, and a heavy buzz began setting in on the conversation. As her treat, Chyna insisted on paying the entire tab even though everyone tried to argue with her, but really, there wasn’t a way to argue with Chyna.

Lexi half-stumbled down the stairs and back out of the building. Jack had his arm around her waist and helped support her unsteady legs as they exited into the chilly evening.

“I think we’re going to head back,” Jack told Chyna with a smile.

“Now?” Lexi asked. “But the night has just started.”

“It’ll be worth it,” he whispered into her ear. “I’m still dying to get my hands on you again.”

Lexi giggled and nodded. “Yeah, okay. Let’s go.”

“Cool,” Chyna said, waving the comments away. “You should take the town car. We’ll take the next cab.”

Her eyes wide, Lexi stared at Chyna. Never once had Chyna ever offered up her town car when they were separating. Chyna would rather drive Lexi halfway around the city before getting back to her own place than give it up.

So, this could only mean that Chyna knew what Jack had up his sleeve.

Adam pulled open the door for Lexi and Jack to step into the car. Jack went in first, so Lexi wouldn’t have to scoot over in her dress.

Lexi grabbed Chyna’s hand. “What is going on?” she whispered, hoping Chyna would dish.

“You’ll thank me later, chica. Have a nice night,” she said, fluttering her fingers at Lexi.

Lexi leaned into Jack in the back of Chyna’s town car. She didn’t even bother asking where they were going because she knew that if Chyna hadn’t spilled the beans, then Jack certainly wasn’t. Lexi occupied herself on the drive with the weight of his hand against hers, the roughness of his palms against her smooth skin, and the way his seemed to dwarf her tiny hands. Yet, they still fit perfectly together. It made her smile.

They pulled up into a valet station, and Jack eased out of the car. He held his hand out for her, and she placed hers lightly in his. Her eyes drifted up to his eyes and then over his head to the sign hanging on the doorframe. Her eyebrows rose sharply.

“A hotel?” she asked with a quirky smile. “All of this for a hotel room? Couldn’t you have told me that you wanted me all alone?”

Her stomach fluttered anyway. Staying in Chyna’s penthouse was divine, and the location was unreal, but Lexi had missed being alone with Jack. She never would have suggested a hotel though. It didn’t make sense, considering Chyna lived here.

“I want you all alone, Lex,” he whispered, brushing his lips against her.

“Still lost in our park escapade?” At the mention of their early behavior, her mouth quirked up.

“Lost in you,” he answered simply.

Lexi took Jack’s hand and let him escort her through the fancy hotel lobby. It was tiled in a pristine waxed marble with antique-like furniture draped in gorgeous blood-red oriental rugs. An enormous crystal chandelier hung high above their heads on their way to the elevator.

Jack placed a plastic key card into a slot and clicked the button for the top floor.

“Penthouse?” Lexi asked, narrowing her eyes.

Jack had never been one for big displays of wealth. She knew he had money from his accounting job, and of course, he was getting the settlement money from Bekah. But since neither of them had really grown up with opulence, it wasn’t ever a high priority.

“Only the best for my girl.”

“You spoil me,” she said, wringing her hands. “You totally did not have to do this.”

“You don’t know what I’ve done yet,” he whispered.

“Oh God,” she groaned, “with that tone, I just know you’ve outdone yourself.”

Jack reached forward and pushed her hair behind her ear. “With that tone, I know you’re about two seconds away from losing your grip. Chill out. This is me treating you the way you deserve to be treated because you’re special, Lex.”

She closed her eyes and let him kiss her anticipation away until the elevator doors opened. He kissed her one more time before walking down the hall. They located their room, and Jack slid the key into the slot.

He opened the door and held his hand out wide. “After you.”

Lexi bit her lip and glanced up into his mischievous blue eyes before walking into the hotel room. Her eyes lit up as she took in the room before her. Candles lit a trail leading through the room, and she followed them like the bread crumbs that they were. They wrapped around the room and brought her into the master suite with an oversized king bed. Candles were lit on either bedside table and in front of the mirror reflecting back at her from the bathroom. On a side table, a bottle of champagne chilled in a bucket with a plate of regular and chocolate-dipped strawberries. It was really quite simple, and perhaps, that made it even more romantic.

Tears pricked her eyes if for no other reason than the fact that Jack had put so much thought into making her happy. Her heart squeezed painfully at the realization that Jack was giving her everything she had wanted and more.

His hands landing lightly on her shoulders, Jack spun her around. “Do you like it?”