Everything But Love

The Velvet Room was busier than usual for a Tuesday night. Some corporate event had let out early, sending a flood of expense-account drinkers into the bar. Elena's feet ached, her face hurt from smiling, and she'd deflected three marriage proposals and one genuinely creative pickup line involving olives.

But she kept glancing at the clock, counting down to closing time, when Alex had promised to pick her up.

"You're distracted tonight," Ruby said, appearing at her elbow with a tray of empties. "And you keep checking your phone. Please tell me it's because Monday went well."

"It went well."

"How well? First kiss well? Second date well? Considering his net worth well?"

"Ruby-"

"Oh my God, you're blushing. You never blush." Ruby's squeal was loud enough to make several customers turn. "He kissed you! Tell me everything immediately."

"I'm working."

"So am I, but clearly that's not stopping either of us from having this conversation." Ruby set down her tray and crossed her arms. "Spill."

Elena glanced around to make sure no one needed immediate attention, then said quietly, "It was perfect. The dinner, the conversation, everything. And yes, he kissed me. And yes, I'm seeing him again."

"When?"

"Tomorrow. And he's picking me up tonight."

"Tonight? Like, tonight tonight? In-" Ruby checked her watch, "-forty-five minutes?"

"Yes."

"And you look like that?" Ruby gestured to Elena's work uniform and pulled-back hair. "Oh no. No, no, no. We're fixing this."

"There's nothing to fix. I'm just seeing him for a minute."

"A minute that could lead to more. Come on." Ruby grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the staff bathroom. "We have time to make you presentable."

"I'm perfectly presentable!"

But Ruby was already pulling pins from Elena's hair, letting the dark waves tumble down. "Better. Now let's do something about your makeup."

"I'm wearing makeup."

"Work makeup. Practical makeup. You need date makeup."

"It's not a date. He's just picking me up."

Ruby fixed her with a look that could melt steel. "Honey, when a billionaire offers to drive across town just to see you for five minutes, it's a date. Now hold still."

Elena submitted to Ruby's ministrations, let her friend apply fresh lipstick and touch up her eyes. It was silly, primping like a teenager, but it also felt nice. Like she was allowed to care about how she looked, allowed to want to be pretty for someone.

When was the last time she'd felt that?

"There," Ruby said, stepping back to admire her work. "Gorgeous. Now go knock him dead."

Elena's last forty minutes of work crawled by. She served drinks on autopilot, her mind drifting to storm-gray eyes and the memory of soft lips on hers.

At midnight, the bar finally closed. Ruby handled the last customers while Elena cashed out, counting tips that were decent but never quite decent enough. She was putting on her jacket when Ruby called from the front.

"Ellie? Your ride's here."

Elena's heart jumped. She smoothed her hair, checked her reflection in the mirror behind the bar, then made her way to the entrance.

Alex stood just inside the door, looking ridiculously out of place in his expensive suit among the bar's worn elegance. Several female patrons were openly staring at him.

But he only had eyes for her.

"Hi," she said, suddenly shy.

"Hi." His smile was warm, genuine. "You look beautiful."

"I look like I've been working for eight hours."

"That too." He reached for her hand. "Ready?"

She glanced back at Ruby, who was making enthusiastic shooing motions. "Yeah. I'm ready."

The night air was cool after the warmth of the bar. Alex's car waited at the curb, driver at attention. But before they reached it, Alex stopped, turned her to face him.

"I know this is crazy," he said. "Driving across town just to see you for a few minutes. But I couldn't wait until tomorrow."

"It is crazy."

"Does that bother you?"

She thought about it, about the sensible answer versus the honest one. "No. It makes me feel like I matter."

"You do matter." He cupped her face with one hand, thumb brushing across her cheekbone. "You matter more than you should after one date."

"That's terrifying."

"Yeah." He leaned in slowly. "It really is."

This kiss was different from the one last night. Less tentative, more certain. His lips moved against hers with confidence, his free hand sliding to her waist and pulling her closer. She went willingly, her hands finding his chest, feeling his heart beating as fast as hers.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Alex rested his forehead against hers.

"Come home with me," he said quietly.

Elena's breath caught. "Alex-"

"Not for that. Well, not just for that." He pulled back enough to meet her eyes. "I want more time with you. More conversation. More of this. I'm not ready for tonight to end."

Every sensible bone in her body screamed that this was too fast, too much, too dangerous. But she was so tired of being sensible.

"Okay," she whispered.

His smile was brilliant, transforming his entire face. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. But just for a little while. I have to check on Ollie."

"We can stop by your place first. I'd like to meet him."

"You want to meet my teenage brother?"

"I want to meet the person who matters most to you."

How was she supposed to resist that?