Virtuous(85)

Flynn releases a deep breath. “And you expect me to be able to function tonight after you’ve told me that?” He puts his arms around me and brings me in close to him, so close I can feel how aroused he is.

“I don’t know if I can.”

“Sweetheart.” He drops his head to my shoulder. “Please don’t do this because you feel you have to. You don’t. I meant it when I said I’m in no rush. In fact, I think we should wait. More than anything, I want you to be sure.”

“I am sure.”

“Can I call in sick to my own dinner party?”

“Absolutely not. Let’s go.”





Chapter 18





I take him by the hand and pull him behind me as I leave the bedroom.

Outside, I discover tonight’s vehicle is a silver Mercedes sedan.

“Is there a car for every occasion?” I ask after we’re on our way.

“Just about.”

“Where do they come from?”

“I have a garage nearby and another in town. Plus the cars in New York.”

I run my hand over the black leather on the passenger door. “I like this one.”

“Consider it yours whenever you’re in LA.”

“I don’t have a driver’s license.”

“What?” He nearly drives off the road.

“Flynn! Watch where you’re going!”

“You really don’t know how to drive?”

“I’m sure I could if I had to, but I don’t have a license. I never have.” I don’t tell him that I left home before I got a license, that I was too busy trying to feed myself and get through school to be bothered with something like driving.

“Do you want a license?”

“I suppose I’ll get around to it at some point, but right now I don’t need it. I can walk everywhere or take the subway.”

“I’m going to need to teach you to drive. You know that, don’t you?”

“You need to, huh?”

“I do.”

“I might let you, but only if I can drive the Bugatti.”

“Oh, um, well…”

I bust up laughing at his stammering reply. “Relax. I’m just kidding. I’d probably wet my pants from fear of wrecking that gorgeous car.”

“Oh thank God. I was trying to figure out how to tell you no freaking way.”

“Anything you want, Natalie,” I say in a mocking tone. “Anything except my precious Bugatti.”

“You’re a brat,” he says on a rumble of laughter.

“At least you’re not thinking about what I said earlier.”

He blows out a deep breath. “How did I end up so outmatched by you, Natalie Bryant?”

Pleased to have gained the upper hand, for a minute or two anyway, I try to prepare myself to meet his family.

Tuned in to me as always, he reaches for my hand. “Don’t be nervous. They’re going to love you.”

I’m not sure what I was expecting when Flynn asked Addie to set up a dinner for his family, but it definitely wasn’t Frankie’s Steakhouse.

“Welcome back, Mr. Godfrey,” the valet says. “Nice to see you again.”

Flynn shakes his hand. “You, too, Anton.” I watch him slip the young man a bill. “Take good care of my baby.”

“Always do. How’s the Bugatti?”

“It’s loving life in New York.”

“Aww, man. That’s too far away. Have a nice dinner.”

“Thanks again.” Flynn rests a hand on my lower back and ushers me into the restaurant.

There’s nothing particularly posh about it, but the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. An older man with wispy white hair and a cane hobbles over to greet us. “Flynn, so nice to see you, son.”

Flynn hugs him. “You, too, Frankie. Thanks for putting this together for us tonight.”

“Always our pleasure to have the family here.”

“This is my friend, Natalie. Nat, this is Frankie, a Hollywood legend.”

He bows gallantly over my hand. “I don’t know about the legend part, but I do cook a mean steak.”

“That you do,” Flynn says. “Is everyone else here?”

“They’re all in the back room waiting for you.”