Chapter 20

It was getting close to the time to leave when I found myself standing in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie for the umpteenth time. It was black silk, perfectly accenting the tailored midnight blue suit I had chosen for the night. The party was to be a big one, full of potential donors with deep pockets and the power to keep the library afloat.

If the night went well, the library would be on the road to victory.

I felt a tinge of nervousness that I couldn't remember feeling before. It was strange and foreign, like an interloper in my usual calm demeanor. But as soon as I thought of her, the reason behind this inexplicable nervousness became clear. There was something about her, about the way she moved and the way she spoke. It was different from the other women I had met before. She wasn't trying to impress or lure anyone.

I hoped my family didn't embarrass me tonight. I hadn't been planning on going to the party because I was pretty sure they only invited me as a formality. They were almost certainly counting on me not showing up. I hoped they could set aside their judgment for one night. I didn't want my past to darken the evening.

I headed downstairs and spotted Cole lounging lazily in a chair by the window. He let out a whistle. "Shit, don't you clean up really nice."

"Thanks."

"I would have never guessed you were swanky and preppy," he joked.

"I'm full of surprises."

"So, what do rich people do at parties?" he asked. "Drink champagne with your pinkie finger out? Talk about the stock market?"

I laughed. "Pretty much. I'll take you to the next one."

We both laughed. "I don't think that's my scene. I would be bored out of my mind."

"I will also be bored out of my mind," I said. "I'm only doing this because I know it will be good for Mary Ellen's cause. My family is not going to be thrilled to have their ex-con son hanging out with their wealthy friends."

"Have you told your sweet little librarian about what happened? Does she know how we know each other?"

I shook my head. "Not yet. It hasn't really come up."

Cole clicked his tongue in disapproval. "You should've told her already, man," he chided. "That's not something you want a girl to find out on her own."

I knew he was right. Keeping such a significant part of my past hidden from Mary Ellen felt dishonest, but I couldn't bear the thought of scaring her away before she had a chance to truly know me.

"I know, I know." I grabbed my phone and texted Mary Ellen, letting her know I would be there to pick her up in thirty minutes.

Her response—a picture of her leg peeking out of the slit in her dress—sent a jolt of desire coursing through me. I replied with a fire emoji and slid my phone into my pocket.

I couldn't shake the memory of our time together by the pool last night—the feel of her body pressed against mine, the warmth of her lips, and the undeniable chemistry that crackled between us. The desire to be with her was ridiculously strong. I didn't think I had ever wanted a woman as badly as I wanted her. Maybe it was the forbidden fruit. Usually, when it came to women, I didn't have to try all that hard. But Mary Ellen was different. She was a fucking virgin. I was pretty sure those were as rare as unicorns.

I left Cole home alone, hoping he didn't do anything stupid, like invite other felons over for a drink. He probably wouldn't, but my anxiety about the party was making me paranoid about everything.

I used the drive to Mary Ellen's house to center myself and prepare for the evening ahead. Fake smiles and mindless chitchat weren't my favorite, but a certain level of politeness would be expected. It was going to be a night of firsts—the first time my family would meet her, the first time she would be introduced to my world, and potentially, the first success we had together.

My mind raced with thoughts of how to broach the subject of my criminal record. Honesty was the only option, but fear of rejection gnawed at me. I really liked her. I wanted her to know who I was before she learned who I had been before and the mistakes I made.

I wasn't a bad guy and Mary Ellen was a kind person. I was pretty sure she would understand the situation once I explained it, but that required the right moment. I hadn't found that moment yet. I would. I had to. And soon.

The longer it took me to tell her, the more it would look like I had been hiding it from her.

I pulled my car to a stop outside her house and walked up to the door. I took a second to adjust my tie before ringing the bell.

"Hi," Mary Ellen greeted me as the door swung open. She wore a black dress that hugged her curves. Her hair was pinned up, revealing more of her slender neck, and her glasses were perched on the end of her nose. She looked like a vision.

"Wow," I managed to stutter out as my gaze roamed over her.

She chuckled and ran her hands over her hips. "I hope that's a good wow."

"The best kind of wow," I assured her.

The sight of her took my breath away, and for a moment, I forgot about everything else.

"I'll get my purse," she said.

"I'll get my jaw off the floor," I said and I heard her laugh.

We walked to my car. I quickly opened the door for her. "You look amazing," I said again, my voice slightly hoarse with admiration.

"Thank you," she replied. "You look very handsome."

"I clean up real nice, right?" I joked.

She laughed. "Something like that, but if I'm being honest, I really like the jeans and tee look."

"Me too," I said with a wink.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from her as she settled into the passenger seat of my car, her dress hugging her curves in all the right places. She had hit the perfect balance between sexy and classy. I knew she would be the star of the evening.

"I'm nervous," she said as I drove through the city to my family's estate.

"I understand," I replied, giving her hand a slight squeeze. "Please don't be. I'll be with you all night. Hell, I might need you to run interference for me."

I knew that entering my world would be a shock to her. After all, hers was a world of simplicity and modesty, whereas mine was one of extravagant opulence and high expectations. I was born into the family, and even I didn't belong.

"I'm not very good at social situations," she said. "I tend to be awkward. And nerdy."

"You're not nerdy," I said.

"This is definitely going to be your domain," she said. "I don't want to ramble on about the library. I hope you'll be there to rein me in. I'm going to need you to cut me off."

I laughed again. "Don't worry," I reassured her. "Be yourself, and trust me, they'll love you for it. When you talk about your library, you talk about it with passion. That works in our favor. They are going to love you. When they hear you talk about it, they are going to open their checkbooks."

She started to fidget with the hem of her dress. It was a typical nervous gesture I had noticed about her in the time we'd been together, and it made me smile at how adorably real she was.

"You have so much confidence in me," she said. "You make me feel confident. Like I'm stepping out of the little cocoon I've been living in all my life."

Suddenly, her hand found its way to my thigh, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I shot her a surprised glance, my heart racing at her boldness. She slid her hand up higher, getting dangerously close to areas best left untouched while I was driving.

"Whoa there," I managed to say, my voice wavering slightly as her fingers continued their exploratory journey. "I'm pretty sure I'm going to need another pair of pants if you keep going."

She laughed, a deep, throaty giggle that goes straight to my gut. "I'll behave. For now."

"Behave?" I said in a hoarse voice. "You're in a teasing mood."

She slid her hand down, rubbing the inside of my thigh. The side of her finger brushed over my dick, causing me to jerk.

"Are you trying to make me crash?" I groaned.

"No," she said, leaning over the center console, her lips hovering dangerously close to my ear. "I just want you to feel what I'm feeling."

"And what's that?" I asked, struggling to keep my eyes on the road.

She pulled back, settling back into her seat, a wicked grin plastered on her face. "Excitement," she said, before turning to look out the window.

I had to look at her again to make sure I picked up the right woman. My shy little librarian was letting her wild side out.

"Mary Ellen?" I questioned.

"Yes?"

"Are you feeling okay?" I asked with concern.

"Actually, I'm feeling better than I have in a long time. Maybe it's the dress. Maybe it's you. I just feel, I don't know, daring."

I glanced over once again. She gave me a seductive smile, her eyes dark with longing. Maybe she had been thinking about last night as much as I had.

Her hand brushed over my erection that was threatening to split seams. I was only a man. I didn't think she truly understood the fire she was messing with.

"Mary Ellen," I grunted.

"Go somewhere," she whispered. "Hurry."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I knew exactly what she was asking for. "I feel like I should talk you out of this," I said.

"Don't. I don't want to be talked out of it. I want you to take me somewhere."

I licked my lips and tried to think of somewhere. I looked ahead and saw a cheap motel flashing the word vacancy. I jerked my car into the lot and practically hopped out before it came to a full stop. I ran in, paid for a room, and then rushed back to the car.

I grabbed her hand and led her to the door. I barely got the key in the lock before she was pushing me inside. Without hesitation, she grabbed my tie and pulled me toward her, our lips meeting in a fervent kiss that left me breathless.

Lost in the heat of the moment, I ran my hand along the small of her back, pulling her closer. She tasted like mint. Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of my shirt, revealing my bare skin to the cool touch of her hands.

"Are you sure?" I asked between kisses. She nodded, her eyes dark with desire. There was a wildness in her gaze that I had never seen before.

"I want you," she whispered.

"Mary Ellen, I don't want you to think I need this from you. I can wait as long as you need me to."

"No." She shook her head. "I want it to be you. I trust you."

The words were powerful, sending my heart racing. "I promise you, I will make this good. If you want me to stop, just tell me."

"Don't stop," she said, looking me straight in the eyes.