Rich and Bossy (Rich Boys)

21. Paxton

CHAPTER 21

Paxton

The only thing I told her about tonight was to dress nice.

She tried to back out, once it went to a text format, but I told her I’d show up at her door. She folded quickly.

Like I knew she would.

Man, she makes me nervous, but I don’t know if I’ve ever been this nervous in my life, as I pull up in front of Hazel’s house. I’m Paxton fucking Briggs, CEO of Rapid Industries, and I’m nervous about taking a woman to dinner? How does that happen?

It doesn’t.

I know it’s insane. She knows it’s insane.

There’s just something intangible, some force at play. It’s beyond hormones and human wants and needs. It’s almost spiritual, in a way, and I’ve never believed in that type of shit. Data and evidence, living in reality. That’s always been my lane and it has paid off.

I slowly make my way up the sidewalk to her front door, past the same lawn I ambushed her on one night ago. It had to be done.

I don’t know if my heart has ever thumped so hard as when I ring the doorbell, and it was thumping nice and proper last night. Now, it’s not even a comparison.

When she opens the door and smiles, it’s still more overwhelming than what I prepared for. I’ve only ever seen her in her work clothes and naked.

I saw her in street clothes once at the copy place too, but it wasn’t her dressed up. She never wears makeup. She doesn’t fucking need to, but holy shit.

“W-wow.” It’s all I can manage to get out when I see her.

You sound like a fucking idiot.

She bites her lip and grins. “This okay? Mr. Cryptic?”

I can’t see much of the dress under her coat—it’s fucking freezing out here, it might start snowing at any moment, which ruled out any outside possibilities for this, but she still looks absolutely amazing. “You look incredible. You should wear your hair like that more often.” It’s pulled up, showing off her swanlike neck, but the top of her hair is curled.

She looks like a damn queen, and I want to treat her like one. I want to give her anything she wants, and never see her frown again.

Her cheeks grow a little pink. “Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself, but you always look nice.”

“Suit and a shave. No big deal. It’s kind of what I have to do every day.” I hold out my hand, letting her know this is her choice. Even if I was kind of forceful demanding this date. I would still leave if she told me to go. In the end, I want it to be her decision.

The fact that she places her hand in mine—that might be the best thing that’s ever happened. Words can’t describe the way my heart comes alive when she does it, and then when I feel her small fingers wrapped in mine.

“So? Where we going?” She smiles up at me knowing damn well what she’s doing. “I know. I know, but seriously, where we going?”

“Hah!” I laugh, like she’s ridiculous, before opening the passenger door.

She doesn’t even notice, because she’s set her eyes on something else. “Oh hello, old friend.” Her eyes scan the length of the Charger.

“Is that the only reason you came? I mean, I’ll take it, but still.”

She glances up at me. “It helped, but I don’t know if it’s the only reason.”

I shrug. “A better response than I hoped for.” I close the door behind her as she climbs into the car.

I realize I’m smiling more than I think I ever have as I walk around the back. As far as I’m concerned, we could sit here all night and I’d be perfectly happy. Being with her is indescribable.

I know this is reckless and insane, but I can’t seem to stop. We are on a collision course and it doesn’t matter. All that matters in my mind, is keeping this going, minute by minute. Every extra second with her is a success.

The whole ride, it’s almost impossible to keep my hands off her. I want her out of that coat. I want her in my bed, but I want time with her more than anything.

We drive through town and pull up in front of the valet stand at a romantic little hole-in-the-wall bistro.

“We brought our parents here for their anniversary last year. It’s kind of a family favorite. Never had a date here though.”

“Aww.” She glances around, looking nervous. Looking unsure of anything she might say or do. She’s still apprehensive.

I get the feeling. I want it to disappear though.

When we step inside, and Hazel scans the room with its flickering candles and dim lighting, she sighs softly. “This place is beautiful.”

Now I know it was the right decision, bringing her here. I knew she’d appreciate it. I want to take her to the most expensive place in town, shower her with shopping sprees, give her anything she wants, but I know that wouldn’t impress her. She doesn’t care about any of those things. This is what she wants. Personal connections. She values family, experiences, more than money and gifts.

When a host leads us to a table, I pull out a chair, and this is the moment I’ve been waiting for.

When she takes off her coat and I get to see her in the dress. I swear to God, not exaggerating, I almost pass out. My palms get sweaty, my face has to be pale as a ghost. Striking. That’s what her beauty is. It slams into your chest.

It’s a modest dress, cut wise. It’s black with mid-length sleeves, but clings to her curves just right. It has a high neckline, but holy hell, it shows off her breasts, full and round. Not like the work shirts that hide everything.

Then, down to her soft hips and thighs, cutting off just above her knees. She has on black shoes that are flats, but still leather and have the appearance of heels. Practical but dressy. I wouldn’t expect anything less from her.

“That dress is…” I can’t even find words.

“The nicest thing I own.”

“It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful.” I stare her down as she sits, and I walk around the table to my seat.

I don’t want her sitting. I want her to stand so I can see all of her, all night long, but I know I can’t.

I take a seat across from her and soak in every last bit of this, of us being just two regular people, happy, like there’s a chance we could actually be together. I admire the way she glows in the candlelight, the way her eyes sparkle when they meet mine. I’ve never known this feeling, to want to know everything about another human being, everything that makes them tick.

She seems just as curious as I am. “How long have your parents been married?”

A waiter comes over and I order wine, then turn back to her. It’s a normal question, seeing the information I gave her about the restaurant. “Thirty-six years. We came here for their thirty-fifth.”

“Thirty-six.” She blows out a low whistle. “That’s an achievement.”

“Funny. They don’t see it that way.”

She tips her head to the side, her crimson lips pursed as she considers my statement. “Why?”

I have to pry my gaze away from her mouth if I have any hope of stringing a sentence together. “Well, I guess there was never an alternative for them. Not that they were forced into marriage or forced to stay together. They just...” I shrug. “I don’t think they know any other way but to be together.”

“That’s really beautiful, as corny as it sounds.”

“I don’t think it sounds corny. I agree, it is beautiful. When you meet them, you’ll understand.”

“Meet them, huh?” She turns away, grinning. “A very pointed way to say that.”

“Well, I’m a pointed person.”

“I agree with that.” She laughs. “Surprised you find it beautiful.”

“Now why would that surprise you?” I love pushing her buttons. It’s fantastic.

She shakes her head, wearing an exasperated expression. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just saying, you don’t seem the romantic type.”

I make a big show of looking around this intimate, romantic little restaurant. “Really?”

She nudges me under the table with her foot. “You know what I mean.”

I absolutely do, and I can’t blame her. I don’t exactly give off the image of someone with a big, soft heart. “Let’s put it this way. My parents set a great example for me. I don’t waste my time on pointless dating. I don’t date just to date, expecting failure, just to be with someone because I’m lonely. When I meet the right person, I’ll know, and they’ll receive my attention with the same intensity I approach my business.”

“Just haven’t found the right person yet?”

I love how she laid that trap perfectly for me. The wine couldn’t come along at a better time.

“Perhaps, perhaps not.” I smile right at her when I say it.

She laughs, but I can tell she’s nervous as all hell. Good. That’s how I want her, on her toes, nervous. It’s when she’s at her best.

She quickly changes the subject, before the pasta arrives. Once we’re eating, she starts to open up, telling me more about her family. I’m paying attention like a hawk. This is valuable intelligence and I plan to log every single detail.

She sighs. “Being an only child—especially one who came along after years of trying—it’s sort of a high-pressure situation. I feel like I need to make them proud. I’m the only person alive who’s carrying along their DNA, carrying on parts of them.”

“I’m sure you make them proud.”

“It’s insane. They love me no matter what. All the pressure comes from me. Never from them. They’ll be happy no matter what I do.” She lets out a disbelieving little laugh. “I don’t know why.”

“You need to take it easy on yourself.”

“You think?” She laughs again, but I see through it. She’s wondering what her parents think about her being on a date with me.

I saw the way she tried to get me out of her yard as quickly as possible last night, how she shut the door as fast as possible when I was there tonight, and how nobody else was around when I picked her up.

My hand finds hers before I can think to stop myself. “I’m making your life complicated. You can say it.”

“You deduced that all on your own, huh?” Sarcasm oozes from her words, but her fingers close around mine, gripping tight. “I’m still here. I’m wearing the nicest dress I own. It’s not all on you.”

“It was worth the effort, the way you look.” Though she’s gorgeous in anything. Radiant even. Even in her work clothes.

I want to get everything out of this experience. I’m well aware it might be my last, and even still, I want more than sex with her—which is saying something, since it’s impossible to get our one time together out of my mind. I want to be with her. I want to hear her voice, her laugh. I want her hand in mine, just like this. I don’t ever want to let go of it.

“I would suggest we go ice skating, but…” I look her up and down before doing the same to myself after we’ve finished dessert. “We aren’t dressed for it and the bum knee doesn’t help. But if you wouldn’t mind a nightcap, there’s a rooftop bar not far from here with a great view of the city. They have those propane heaters out there so it’s not too bad, if you’re up for it?”

“Sure. That sounds nice.” Her eyes sparkle, a smile playing over her lips.

I stand up and go pull her chair out for her, then I help her into her coat.

“Not trying to get me tipsy so you can take advantage of me, are you?”

I lean down, my mouth in her ear. “I don’t need to get you drunk to do that, Hazel. I think we both know that.”

I deliver the line with perfect timing, just to watch her breathing become a little more intense. I get to watch her chest expand and contract, straining her tits against that black fabric. I know spending this time with her is awesome, but holy hell I want to peel this thing off her and put them both in my mouth.

My dick starts to harden at the thought.

The way this is going, it’s going to become a reality, but I have more important things to do first. More important things to learn about her.

“So full of yourself.” She laughs nervously as she says it.

“I call it how I see it.”

There aren’t many people at the bar on a Sunday night, especially one with such an icy nip in the air. The heaters warm things up nicely, as I was hoping they would. It’s pleasant enough that my breath doesn’t fog up when we take our drinks out to the edge of the roof to admire the sparkling view.

“It’s beautiful.” Hazel whispers, smiling in what looks like amazement at the lit buildings spread out in front of us. “I love this place, despite the cold. It really is gorgeous.”

“I know.”

She glances my way. “You aren’t even looking at the buildings.”

“I know.” I reach out to tuck a strand of soft, brown hair behind her ear after the breeze teased it free of its pins. “It’s a nice backdrop though, the city.”

“You’re being too kind.” She turns to me, her eyes luminous, her face shining. “Where was this guy in the elevator?”

“He was there.” I take a sip of my scotch. “Just difficult for him to come out when he’s being accosted.”

She laughs. “Accosted?”

I nod, smiling. “Yeah. Accosted.” I turn out toward the view of the building. “Not that I minded at all.”

“You seemed to mind. At least a little.”

I hold my index finger a little close to my thumb. “Maybe a little.”

She laughs.

Part of me wants to remain guarded. Not show her this part of myself. I’ve always thought of that part of me as weak and had to hide it during business dealings. If I was a nice man, my business would’ve failed a long time ago.

I cup her cheek with my hand, stroking it with my thumb. “Maybe you bring that guy out of me.”

She leans into me a little. “I’m afraid of this.”

I stare her right in the eyes when she finally opens them. “I know.”

Her gaze hits my lips before returning to my eyes. I know she’s full of doubts. I know she’s scared out of her mind. I am too. But I know we both feel this, and I know I want that apprehension out of her immediately.

I lean down and press my lips to hers. When she doesn’t pull away, I know exactly how I want the rest of this night to go.

I plan to make that happen.

Not that there was ever any doubt in the first place. The second she agreed to this date, I knew I had her.

I’m never letting go either.