I considered teasing him, but the fact he picked me up at all had the little girl in me swooning. He set me down, and I grabbed my bag, putting my phone inside, then he was picking me up once more. This time, I was thrown over his shoulder with my ass in the air.

“Hey!”

He laughed. “You didn’t tell me how to carry you, and I like this way the best. Makes it easier to manage your buck fifty.” He smacked my ass.

“Hey!”

My bag was falling. “My stuff is falling—” No. I grabbed it, looping it up with my fingers.

He paused. “Is everything okay? I don’t want to turn around and give you whiplash.”

I laughed, but ooh, my ribs were even hurting. “I’m good. I got my stuff.”

“Good. Where’s your car?”

“It’s on the ramp.”

“Will it be safe for the night?”

I frowned. Was he serious about the hotel? “Yeah. It should be. We’ve had cars stay there overnight before.”

“Good.”

He carried me downstairs, out the front door, and right to his SUV.

“Nate. I was joking.”

“Hush. I’m wooing you.”

I laughed, but he opened his door and placed me on the seat. The gentleness of it took my breath away. A tingle went through my body as he straightened back up, looking right at me. He was so close. I could feel his breath, and his eyes fell to my lips.

Then a wide and full smile lit up his face. “You gotta wait for that.”

He was gone, the door shutting behind him in the next instant.

I wanted to laugh. I wanted to shake off the very real emotions I was just feeling, but he held my gaze as he walked around the vehicle. Getting in on his side, he reached over and took my hand.

Butterflies were flying all over inside me, but I squeezed his hand tighter.

When I saw the hotel, “Nate.” I was awed, my voice a whisper.

“Hold that thought a second. I need to do this properly.”

A valet came to the door, and Nate handed over his keys. “Bring her bag to the room, please. 2810.” The valet nodded, and then Nate was rounding to my side. He nudged another hotel staff member out of the way who’d been about to open my door. Then he was there, and he grinned, ducking down once more.

“Nate!”

He picked me up out of the car, backed up, and then straightened. I was over his shoulder once more.

“Oh my God! Put me down.”

I knew my face was red, but these people were seeing me in my tights and the baggy sweatshirt I liked to wear when I was rehearsing. No one needed to see that. Ever. I had cold sweat plastered all over me.

Nate strode past everyone as if he owned the hotel.

Hell, for all I know, he did.

But I wasn’t looking. I didn’t need to add to my mortification.

“I thought you were joking about the hotel.”

“Nope.” He stopped in front of the elevator.

I started to lift up, assuming he’d put me down.

His arms tightened around my legs. “Hold tight, Quince.”

Quince.

That was one of two nicknames I was called, but damn. I loved hearing it come from Nate.

The elevator arrived, and he stepped in, turning around. Four or five people were waiting behind us.

I almost screamed and looked away. That was so embarrassing.

Nate drawled, “Excuse us, folks. She’s injured. We need the extra space.” The doors slid closed as he said, “Appreciate it.”

I jostled against his shoulders. “They saw my ass.”

“It’s a good ass.”

“In my dirty leotard.”

“No one cared about your leotard.”

I groaned. “You’re not making it better.”

“Not trying.”

I had to laugh. “When you commit, huh?”

He laughed again. “When I commit, I commit.”

Nate took us to a corner suite on the second floor. He carried me over the threshold. I took in everything he’d done to prepare for tonight. Or I thought I was going to. He bypassed a table set for dinner. I was staring longingly at the bread, and he went into the bathroom.

I was set down, but only on the bathroom counter as he went and started the tub. It was a very large tub, big enough for five people. When the water was running, there was a knock on the door, and he told me, “Stay.”

He went to the door.

He came back with two glasses of wine in hand, and he handed me one. “I thought you would’ve snuck off.”

“No. I mean, when you commit.” I grinned at the water. “I’m expecting you to undress me and put me in the water.”

“Like you think I won’t?” A spark lit up in his eyes, and the wine was taken.

He moved between my legs.

I expected a fast undressing.

I would’ve been disappointed, but no. I was so very not disappointed.

He smoothed his hands up my legs, his finger sweeping inside my leotard.

I gasped, but he moved farther between my legs, his finger dipping and sliding inside me.