Bachelor Unleashed - Brenda Jackson [58]
Snapping her overnight bag shut, she moved from her bedroom toward the living room, intent on making sure she was ready when he returned. Tremors of anticipation were racing through her at the thought that he would be taking her back to the place where they had met. A place where a number of his friends, as well as hers, hung out.
She nearly jumped when the doorbell sounded, and moved toward the door. She looked through the peep hole, and sensations flooded her insides. It was Xavier, and as she had done, he had taken time to change clothes. Opening the door, she saw he was no longer wearing a suit but had changed into a pair of jeans and a shirt. And this was the first time he had appeared on her doorstep without his signature bottle of wine.
She felt his gaze roam over her, and when he smiled, she couldn’t help but smile, too. “Ready?” he asked, taking her overnight bag from her hand.
“Yes.”
He stepped back, and after she locked the door behind her, he took her hand and escorted her to his two-seater sports car.
“Did you enjoy your meal?” Xavier asked Farrah a short while later at the Racetrack Café.
The popular bar and grill in town was jointly owned by several drivers on the NASCAR circuit. Over the years it had become one of his favorite places to eat and to hang out, especially on the weekends.
Tonight the place was crowded, understandably so since there was a live band every Friday night. Couples were on the dance floor, and he couldn’t wait to get out there himself. The need to hold Farrah in his arms was hitting him hard.
“Yes, everything was wonderful.”
“Do you remember that we met here?” He wondered if she remembered that night like he did.
She smiled. “Yes, I know. It was girls night out for me and Natalie. She had her eyes on Donovan and my eyes were on you. I thought you were hot.”
Xavier chuckled. One of the things he liked about Farrah was her honesty. She was up front with her responses. “You thought so?”
“Yes, I still do,” she said softly at the same time one of her bare feet intentionally rubbed against his pants leg.
He held her gaze, fully aware of what she was trying to do. It wouldn’t take much to push him over the edge. She was ready for them to leave and go to his place to be alone.
“Hey, you two, when did you get back?”
He glanced up to find Donovan Steele and his wife, Natalie, standing at their table. Immediately Farrah was out of her seat to give her best friend a hug, while likewise, he stood to shake Donovan’s hand and invite him and Natalie to join them.
“We decided to head back before the snowstorm hit,” he said, smiling over at Donovan. “Cameron made that possible since he was anxious to return to Charlotte anyway. We caught a ride back on his private plane.”
Donovan chuckled. “I can just imagine Cam wanting to get back. Now that Vanessa is pregnant, he doesn’t like being away from her for too long.”
“So you didn’t get any shopping in?” Natalie asked Farrah, grinning.
“Are you kidding?” Farrah laughed. “You know I don’t do cold weather well. I was ready to come home the minute the temperatures dropped below twenty.”
Xavier leaned back in his chair and noticed Farrah seemed comfortable with them being seen together as a couple tonight. During the course of their meal, several people they knew had stopped by their table to say hello.
“Since the two of you have finished eating, will you be leaving here soon?” Donovan asked.
Xavier glanced over at Farrah and saw the hopeful look in her eyes but chose to ignore it. “Not until we get a few dances in, starting now, so please excuse us,” he said, standing up and extending his hand out to Farrah when he heard the band play a slow number. She took it and stood.
He was grateful she wasn’t upset that he was stalling about leaving. But he wanted her to enjoy doing things with him other than making love. He pulled her into his arms the moment their feet touched the dance floor. Wrapping his arms around her