Free Promises After Dark (After Dark #3) by Kahlen Aymes Page B

did. He wanted to meet her father, too, but wasn’t sure how to finagle that without sounding pushy or giving her clues about his intended proposal. He knew he wanted to do it right, though, and that meant meeting her father and getting his permission before he asked her to marry him.
    “Wow. That sounds kind of official.”
    “It kind of is.”
    His finger traced the line of her face, both of them staring at each other. Angel’s sweet mouth split into a bright smile, and he was pleased the prospect made her happy and not reticent. “I can do official. Before the show, then?”
    Alex grinned, happiness exploding inside his heart. “Right.”
    “Okay.”
    “Zander!” Jillian’s blonde head appeared at table level. “Come pway!”
    “Okay!” Alex was sorry the moment with Angel was interrupted, but he adored Jillian. “I’m all yours.”
    “Yay!” Jillian clapped as Alex stood.
    He was about to let go of Angel’s hand and go off with Jillian but he stopped. “Why don’t you come play, too, Anga.” He smirked at her. “You’re so good at playing ,” he insinuated with a wink. Angel laughed lightly, and blushed despite herself. Alex was always surprised at how often she left him stunned. She was so beautiful, and he loved her more than anything.
    “Yeah, Anga! You come!” Jillian insisted.
    Becca slid back into the booth, laughing. “Go practice, you two.”
    Angel shot her a warning look.
    “Yes, let’s practice,” Alex agreed, bending to lift Jillian with one arm while still holding Angel’s hand. “What should we play?” he asked the little girl.

4
Under Wraps
    Alex was anxious about the coming evening. He’d spoken to his father about Angel more than his mother, but that was to be expected. He spent more time alone with his father over business lunches and at the office, and since his mom was constantly nagging him to settle down, he’d always done his best to avoid the subject with her. Alex had no doubt his father would be taken with Angel, as she was accomplished and beautiful, even though Charles would be decidedly pickier about his son’s choice than his mother would. And he might be shocked that Alex had gotten so serious so fast, given his past aversion to commitment. His mother, Cora, had never worked outside the home, but she was heavily into the charity scene, which would give her and Angel quite a lot to talk about. This was going to be good. Finally, his mother would get what she’d been after since he’d graduated college.
    His father made reservations for 7 PM at Chicago Cut, which was an elegant steak house complete with white linen, candlelight, and crystal. It was one of Charles’ favorite places to take Cora; the food was delicious and consisted mostly of succulent steak and fresh seafood. There were private dining rooms, and Alex had no doubt one of those had been reserved. This was an important evening, and noise and distractions of others dining nearby would not be allowed to intrude.
    He was anxious, but Alex sensed Angel was nervous. She’d taken the afternoon off to shop and had Cole deliver her to his apartment without protest, allowing the couple to get ready together. Alex could see her distorted image through the steamy glass on the shower door in his large bathroom, water rushing over him as he rinsed his hair. She was still wrapped in a towel, her hair in some obnoxiously large rollers the size of beer cans, and rubbing lotion scented like her perfume all over her legs. He loved that scent, mixed in with the smell of her body, which was already ingrained in his subconscious. He loved how, when she was excited and the pulse at the base of her throat throbbed, the heat released it all around him when he made love to her. His cock twitched at the direction of his thoughts, and he chuckled.
    “What’s so funny?”
    “Nothing. I just like having you here. I never thought I’d want to share a bathroom with all this girly shit, but it’s nice.” He smiled