Page 38 of Love’s Strongest Soldier

I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing out the wrinkles in the black silk dress that hugged my small curves. The neckline dipped low enough to make a statement, and the slit running up my thigh was high enough to start a problem. Ghost’s mouth was sure to be watering.

If Ghost wanted me dressed up, I was going to give him something to look at. I slipped into my heels, grabbed my clutch, and made my way toward the living room.

He was standing near the front door with his phone in his hand when I entered. Dressed in black slacks and a fitted black button-down with the sleeves rolled to his forearms, he looked entirely too fucking good for a man who got on my nerves as much as he did.

His head lifted, then his eyes dropped. I stopped in front of him, placing a hand on my hip.

“You told me to get dressed,” I signed. “Why you staring at me like you’ve never seen a woman before?”

His gaze slowly traveled back to my face. “I’ve seen women.” He slipped his phone into his pocket. “Never seen them look like you though.”

Butterflies swarmed my stomach. Normally, I didn’t let men boost my head up, because they always did it because they wanted something in return. Not Ghost though.

“Where are we going?”

“Out,” was the only response he gave. I didn’t know why I thought he was just gon’ answer my question.

“Out where? I don’t even know if I’m dressed appropriately.”

“You’re fine.” My eyes narrowed. “C’mon, beautiful.”

I just loved hearing him call me stuff like that. His hand extended in my direction, and I stared at it for a moment before placing mine inside of it. Damn, I was out here leading with my heart and just knew I was going to end up in trouble.

The drive was an exercise of patience. I wanted to grill him so bad but knew he wouldn’t give in and tell me what I wanted to know.

Ghost seemed perfectly content behind the wheel, one hand resting on the steering wheel while the other occasionally found its way to my thigh. I watched the city pass through the tinted windows, trying to figure out what he had planned. We weren’t headed toward any of my usual restaurants, that was for sure.

We were no longer downtown. When he turned down a quiet road lined with towering trees, I sat up a little straighter.

“Are you taking me into the woods to kill me?”

He glanced over and laughed. “If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t have bought you dinner first.”

“You got me food?” I didn’t smell anything in the car with us.

“Maybe.” He grinned, and I immediately grew irritated.

“Ghost . . .”

“Luxe.”

I rolled my eyes and turned toward the window. A few minutes later, the SUV slowed in front of a tall wrought-iron gate. After the gate stood an enormous glass conservatory, illuminated from within by hundreds of warm golden lights.

Flowers spilled from stone planters along the entrance. Tiny lights wrapped around the trees, stretching toward the building like something out of a fairy tale. I leaned forward to get a better look. Ghost pressed a button, and the gates slowly opened.

I looked over at him. He kept his eyes on the driveway, but the corner of his mouth lifted. Oh, he knew exactly what he was doing.

By the time he parked, I was practically glued to the passenger window. The conservatory was even more beautiful up close. Its glass walls rose toward the night sky, revealing towering palms, flowering vines, and an intricate network of pathways glowing beneath strings of lights.

Ghost climbed out before I could reach for my door. Everything about me not opening my own door had gone out the window. A moment later, he appeared beside me and opened it.

I stepped out, taking his offered hand.

“What is this?” I questioned him.

“A garden.”

I frowned. “No shit.”