The Suite Life Read Free Page B

eleven.”
    He’s either crazy or brutally honest. “That’s fine,” I said. “Just tell me where to meet you.”
    â€œNot a chance,” Alec said. “Give me your address and I’ll pick you up.”
    â€œWell, actually, I live in Brooklyn,” I confessed, sure that he’d change his mind.
    â€œNo problem,” he replied without hesitation. “It’s not every day a guy meets a girl worth driving to.” He took down my address and added, “See you Sunday, Samantha Bonti.”
    â€œI’m looking forward to it, Alec,” I said, which was the understatement of the century.

    My apartment buzzer rang promptly at eleven on Sunday.
    No way he’s seeing this place right now. “I’ll be right down, Alec!” I called out of my second-floor window, then checked myself in the mirror. The simple vintage white cotton sundress I’d chosen (not like there was a lot to choose from) was cool, crisp, and, I knew, flattered my figure. I grabbed a small teal leather purse off the counter and dashed out the door in the heels I’d dyed to match.
    â€œUnbelievable,” Alec said, and smiled as he placed his hands on my shoulders and stepped back to get a better look, which also allowed me to get a good look at him. His blazer was no off-the-rack purchase. Looked to me like expensive Italian threads, and his tie had those tiny horses on it that I knew from the ads in fancy magazines meant it was Hermès. I vowed not to let his beautiful white teeth and wavy dark hair distract me too much. “You look great, Samantha.”
    â€œThanks, Alec. It’s just a sundress.”
    â€œThat’s exactly what it is about you. Anyone else would have got themselves all dressed up to impress me.” I blushed. “You’re nothing like any other woman I’ve known. I saw that from a block away.”
    â€œA girl could get hooked on that kind of flattery,” I said as he led me to a black Range Rover parked at the curb.
    â€œFull disclosure, Samantha: I plan to hook you, period,” he said, smiling as he handed me into the passenger seat. That’squite a statement considering we have barely begun our first date, I thought. The butternut-leather bucket seat swallowed me up, but Alec’s bucket seat contained him perfectly. He was massive but perfectly proportioned, and he exuded a sense of power and confidence that made me feel secure in his presence—the first time I’d ever felt that way with a man. Tony’s power had always felt menacing rather than comforting, and I was beginning to understand the difference.
    â€œNice ride,” I said with a dollop of syrup in my voice.
    â€œJust one of my toys,” Alec said as he pulled away. “Mostly for when I go fishing and for Sunday visits with the family at our beach house.”
    Please don’t tell me you’re springing your family on me today!
    â€œI blew them off this morning,” Alec continued as we headed for the Brooklyn Bridge. “Just like I would have blown off my fishing trip with the guys yesterday if that were the only day this weekend I could see you.”
    So that was the “date” he’d mentioned  . . . “You go fishing often?” I asked, certain that this conversation would eventually get around to his real dates.
    â€œWhenever I get the chance. Work is keeping me pretty busy right now.”
    â€œIs that a good thing?”
    Alec flashed a jumbo grin. “You bet it is.”
    â€œIt’s nice to see someone who enjoys what he does.”
    â€œI freakin’ love my work, Samantha, but it doesn’t mean anything unless you have someone to share the ride,” he said as we rolled onto the bridge.
    Alec didn’t find it necessary to keep talking, and I appreciated the few quiet moments as my mind raced with thoughts about what it would mean to share his ride. I’d vowed to myself