Experienced (A Real Man, 4) Read Free

I’ll be stuck at the office all night if I don’t leave now,” my father said and looked down at his watch. “You know how that is, Hugo.”
    Hugo nodded. “Of course. We’ll have dinner tonight in the city, my treat.”
    “I should be going, too,” my mother said.
    Before I knew what was going on, my mom and dad were gone, and it was just Hugo and me. The nerves I’d tried to hold back—miserably, I might add—rose up violently.
    “You rested enough?” he asked, his accent still doing something intense to me. My skin prickled, my heart thundered, and my palms became clammy.
    “I did.” I smoothed my hands over my legs again. “I haven’t slept in like this in a long time.”
    “You must have needed it.” He reached out and grabbed his coffee cup. While taking a sip, he watched me.
    “We don’t have to go into the city—”
    “Do you not want to?”
    Of course I did. Having alone time with Hugo sounded incredible. But it also scared me a little.
    “I do. But if you’d rather relax after your trip—”
    “I rested plenty, Sabine. I’d like to spend time with you. I came out for a visit because of you.” He smiled, and every part of me tightened. He looked good sitting across from me. In his fifties, he wore his age so damn well. And his eyes, dark, brooding, attractive, always seemed to regard me like he could read me perfectly.
    “I have something for you.”
    I sat up straighter. “You do?”
    “A graduation gift.” He stood and reached into his pocket.
    “You didn’t have to get me anything. Flying out here was a gift enough…”
    “Come here, Sabine.”
    I found myself standing and moving toward him. The deep command of his voice was almost my undoing.
    He opened the box, and the bracelet inside took my breath away. It was a diamond tennis bracelet— and not a cheap one either … that much was clear.
    “You spent too much, Hugo,” I found myself saying before I could warn myself to keep my mouth shut. I looked up and him and saw him watching me. “Thank you, I meant to say. It’s gorgeous.”
    He took the bracelet out, and the sunlight caught the diamonds, making them sparkle like electricity traveled through them. He reached out and took hold of my wrist, and in a matter of seconds, he had the bracelet clasped. I stared down at it, the diamonds positively glowing.
    “You like it?” he asked, although I had no doubts he could see on my face I loved it.
    “I do,” I said, smiling, and I looked up at him. “Thank you so much.”
    He smiled and nodded, clearly pleased with my response. He lowered his gaze to my neck, and I placed my hand on the feather necklace.
    “You still wear it, even after all these years.”
    “I never take it off.” It was true, but I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
    “That pleases me to hear, Sabine.”
    The silence stretched between us, and although it wasn’t awkward, it was … strange. I felt like Hugo watched me with interest, something that had nothing to do with being innocent.
    I certainly wasn’t thinking of him as a family friend.
    Could he be thinking of me as something more?
    Was I losing my mind even contemplating he might be looking at me with interest?
    “How about I get ready and we can leave?” I finally said, clearing my throat and rubbing my hands on my legs for the hundredth time.
    “I’ll have my driver here in twenty.”
    I wanted to tell him I could drive us, but the thought of Hugo taking control, even in this small way, sent this thrill through me.
    I didn’t know how I was going to act like Hugo didn’t affect every singe part of my body, when just standing in the same room with him had me so aroused I couldn’t think straight.

4
    Sabine
    H ugo’s driver was waiting at the curb exactly twenty minutes later. I wasn’t surprised though. Hugo had power, connections, and this dominating air about him that had all other people taking notice.
    We were in the back of a Mercedes and heading into the city. It was an