Griffin stood staring down at Felicia with his heart in his stomach and his manhood trying to get his attention. His eyes swept her body from head to toe. Her subtle makeup only enhanced her natural beauty. The dress she wore showed off her perfectly fit body and the color brought out the green in her hazel eyes. Her long, curly hair hung down her back perfectly. Felicia’s bright smile, with a hint of amusement, finally registered.
“I’m sorry, did you say something?” Griffin asked, placing his hands in the pockets of his black Armani suit. He didn’t trust himself not to act on his desire to kiss her in that moment.
Felicia laughed, and the sound had Griffin’s body humming. “Yes, I said good evening.”
“Good evening to you, too. You look breathtakingly beautiful.”
Felicia’s smile widened. “Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself.”
“This old thing,” he offered in jest. “Is Alyia asleep yet?”
“Ms. Ellen’s putting her down now. Would you like to see her?”
“Yes, but when we return.” Griffin offered Felicia his arm. “Shall we?”
The short limo ride to one of Atlanta’s most popular steakhouses was a true test of endurance for Griffin. From the moment they sat down mere inches from each other, he had to remind himself that Felicia was not his. That he had no right to pull her onto his lap. To kiss her at the base of her neck and shoulders before finding her lips. To suck and tease her mouth before kissing her until they were both out of breath. He certainly didn’t have any right to order his driver to raise the partition and drive around downtown Atlanta for at least an hour so he could explore the delicacies Felicia had always hidden under unflattering scrubs. No, Griffin knew those weren’t his rights, so he sat still and choked out small talk until they reached their destination.
Griffin held his right hand at the small of Felicia’s back as they entered the restaurant that sat on top of one of Atlanta’s tallest downtown buildings. He only hoped that the arrangements he’d made wouldn’t make Felicia uncomfortable, but he knew their discussion required privacy. Griffin also knew being alone with Felicia at his place was a level of intimacy both weren’t quite ready for yet.
The empty rooftop restaurant, its floor-to-ceiling windows offering three-hundred-sixty-degree views of downtown, was spectacular. The single wood table with its large, leather-backed chairs was surrounded by expensive works of art.
“Are you sure they’re open?” Felicia asked, her eyes scanning the room.
“Positive.”
A long-legged brunette, wearing a tight black minidress and a big smile on her face, approached them. “Good evening, Dr. Kaile. Nice to see you again.” She leaned in, kissing him on the cheek.
“Good evening, Kathy. I didn’t realize you were working tonight.”
“Yeah, well, as soon as I realized it was you that bought out the place for the night, including buying dinner at our sister restaurant for those people that might have been inconvenienced...well, I just had to see the reason why,” she informed, her eyes giving Felicia a slow once-over before returning to Griffin. “I just knew you were finally proposing to what’s-her-name. I guess by the looks of things you’ve moved on...yet again.”
“Good evening. I’m Felicia Blake.”
Griffin smiled at Felicia. Always the peacemaker. “Forgive my manners. Dr. Felicia Blake...Kathy Manor. Kathy and I are old friends,” he explained.
“Yes, very old friends,” Kathy offered, the bitterness in her voice dropping the temperature in the room several degrees. “Everything is as you requested. Shall I show you to your table?”
Both Felicia and Griffin’s eyes traveled to the single-table setup. “That won’t be necessary,” Griffin answered. “I think we can find our way.”
“Fine, Morris will be out shortly,” she replied before making her exit, allowing the warmth back into the room.
“Wow, that was...awkward.”
Griffin sighed. “Kathy and I went out on a few dates,” he said, taking her hand as he led her to their table.
“You don’t say. I assume things didn’t end well.”
“It was a long time ago.” Griffin lifted a bottle of Chardonnay from the bed of ice in which it had been resting. “Care for a glass?”
“Yes, please.”
Griffin used the corkscrew that had been left for his use and then poured an equal amount into two wineglasses. He handed one to Felicia and raised his. “To our future.”
“Whatever that might be,” Felicia added before taking a sip.
A slow smile spread across Griffin’s face. He knew exactly what their future held. Now Griffin only had to convince Felicia to go along with his plans.
* * *
As Felicia stood looking out over the city, she was suddenly very grateful to Farrah for insisting on taking her shopping. She would’ve hated meeting Kathy, one of what had to be many of Griffin’s ex-lovers, in one of her own unflattering outfits.
Griffin came and stood next to Felicia. “Your wine okay? I know how much you enjoyed some Chardonnay every now and then.”
“It’s delightful, thank you.” Felicia looked down into her glass.
“You sure? Because you’ve hardly touched it.”
“Well, I’ve never been much of a drinker,” she said.
“I know.” Griffin offered a small smile. “We’ll have a few courses, but I hope you don’t mind that for our main meal I’ve asked the chef to prepare this steak and pasta dish that he’s famous for. It’s quite delicious.”
“I’m a vegetarian now,” she said, her face expressionless.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m sure—”
Felicia started laughing.
“What?”
“Griffin, I’m teasing you. Sorry, bad joke, I guess. I’m just a little nervous. That actually sounds great.”
Griffin smiled. “No problem. I’m a little nervous, too. It’s not every day you sit down to discuss custody arrangements with the mother of your child. A child neither of you ever knew existed.”
“I guess not,” Felicia turned away from the window and walked around the room, examining the expensive works of art on display. She wasn’t sure how she felt about Griffin closing the restaurant just so they could talk. “It really wasn’t necessary to buy out the restaurant tonight. I’m sure we would have had enough privacy.”
“Not really. I’m pretty popular these days, especially after the announcement was made regarding my new job. It seems everywhere I go now people either want to congratulate me or schedule an appointment. Tonight I don’t want any interruptions.”
Felicia nodded. “I understand. Shall we sit...talk?”
“Of course,” Griffin said, pulling out Felicia’s chair for her.
“Such a gentleman,” she said, taking her seat.
Griffin leaned forward, his lips grazing Felicia’s ear as he said, “I do try.” The warmth of Griffin’s breath had Felicia gripping the stem of her wineglass a little tighter, and she had the sudden desire to cross her legs.
Griffin moved around the table and took a seat. “More wine?”
“No, I’m fine.” No, you are not. Get it together, girl. “So what do you have in mind?”
A slow, sexy smile eased across his face. “About what exactly?” he asked, leaning in closer as though they were actually in a crowded restaurant and Felicia couldn’t hear him.
Griffin’s scent assaulted Felicia’s senses, forcing her to give in to her desire to slowly cross her legs; she needed the small relief that move offered. Felicia might not have had sex before, but she knew what it was to desire a man, this man in particular, and her body certainly knew what it needed.
Felicia cleared her throat and said, “Alyia’s custody.”