Free Her Heart's Desire by Lisa Watson Page A

head. “Will you open your gift?”
    In the small bag, she maneuvered around loads of tissue paper to pull out a pink T-shirt. It had Girl Power written in bold letters across the front.
    “I thought it would be great to wear for our next class.”
    “Our next class?”
    “You didn’t think I could do without you as an assistant, did you?” he said seriously. “You’re a natural.”
    She laughed. “It’s awesome, I love it.”
    Tiffany leaned over and kissed him. The light peck went from friendly to something deeper in seconds.
    Ivan stood up and pulled her with him. Tiffany wrapped her arms around his neck. His automatically went to her waist to bring her closer.
    “Okay, we need to get going,” he said when they came up for air.
    “Why?”
    “We have reservations, and I don’t want to be known as the man who tried to ravage you on the first date. Though I really do feel the need to do just that,” he replied wickedly before kissing her a final time.
    Now that they’d cleared the air about Debra, Ivan had officially asked her out on a date and they had shared a few heated kisses, Tiffany was overwhelmed with want. It felt like a floodgate had opened, and there was no chance in the world of closing it. She wanted Ivan before, and knowing that he felt the same was intoxicating.
    She ran her thumb over his lips to remove her lipstick. He caught her wrist in a firm embrace and pulled her flush against him.
    “That’s dangerous,” he warned.
    “I know, but I’ve wanted to touch you for so long, I couldn’t help myself.”
    His eyes darkened. “Really?” A feral smile came across his face. “For how long?”
    She didn’t hesitate. “Since you walked through my door wearing that tight Under Armour shirt.”
    “I’ve wanted you ever since our meeting at the café. You straddling me on the floor at the community center was the icing on the cake.”
    “I didn’t straddle you,” she protested.
    “Oh, yes, you did,” he teased. “Not that I minded in the least.”
    She punched his arm, but a smile crossed her face.
    After taking her gift into the bedroom and returning with her purse and a wrap, Tiffany said she was ready.
    Ivan sauntered over to her, placed his hand at the small of her back and escorted her out.
    “Did I mention that you look beautiful tonight?”
    She couldn’t contain her smile at remembering how he had told her. “Yes, I’d say you did.”
    Ivan was wearing all black. He looked gorgeous.
    “You look great yourself.”
    He leaned in close. His breath tickled her ear. “You told me.”
    * * *
    Ivan took Tiffany to Spiaggia on Michigan Avenue. She had heard about the acclaimed restaurant, but had never been. While they were shown to their table, Tiffany gazed around. The space was ultraluxurious and beautifully decorated. Ivan held out her chair. Their table was right next to a massive floor-to-ceiling window, which afforded a spectacular view of Oak Street Beach.
    “This place is phenomenal,” she said excitedly. “If I’d known we were coming here, I would’ve dressed up more.”
    “You look beautiful.”
    She beamed at the compliment and tried her best to focus on the menu, and not the man sitting across from her. It was so hard when he gazed at her like that.
    Ivan had spared no expense for their first date, and she allowed herself to enjoy every decadent moment of it.
    Later, while they were eating, Ivan said, “So I know you’re from Baltimore, an only child and that you moved here to a few years ago for a job, but what made you move to Chicago in the first place?”
    “I needed a change. There was no room for growth at the marketing firm I worked at. I looked around for another position, but nothing seemed to excite me. I was also having difficulties with my boyfriend. I wasn’t as sure of myself—or my abilities.”
    “I have a hard time believing that.”
    “It’s true. I worked hard to overcome it. The decision to move here was one of the hardest I’ve