“Half-naked?” she teased, her eyes challenging him. “Yeah, I know.”
Alex smiled and offered his arm. She took it and soon the two of them were in the elevator. “What do you think you’re doing to me? I promised to be good, but you make it impossible.” He leaned down closer to her ear. Her perfume was intoxicating, and he longed to press his lips to the soft throb of her pulse in her neck. “What do you have on under that dress?” he asked softly, his warm breath dancing on the top of her shoulder.
A slow smile spread out on her face as heat spread out in the pit of her stomach. This wasn’t going to be easy. “That’s for me to know,” Angel stated simply.
“Mmm, and for me to find out.” His voice felt like a warm caress on her skin. “I love a challenge.”
Angel laughed nervously, the electricity of his gaze and the implication of his words skittering across her skin. It could be that she wouldn’t be able to resist the undeniable sex appeal of this man. Fuck, the pull was strong.
“You can dream.” She bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud.
“A fact which has been proven in the past few months,” Alex admitted, both of them clearly enjoying themselves. A shiver ran down her spine at his words, skittering outward over the surface of her skin. The fact that he hadn’t forgotten their first almost-meeting was not lost on her.
Martin was waiting with the car door open, and Alex’s hand fell to the back of Angel’s bare waist as he helped her inside. This was the first time their skin touched and it rocked them both.
Alex’s eyes connected with Angel’s when he slid in beside her. She held his gaze. “What?” she asked.
He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. “Nothing. I’m glad you agreed to join me this evening. You look absolutely stunning.” His eyes roamed the bare skin of her shoulders, over her face, and down her cleavage to her crossed legs. “Thank you, for that.”
Unexpected pleasure surged through her. Surely such words meant more from this man than from any other. She expected to feel mad attraction and for Alex to launch a full frontal assault, prepared to resist at all costs, but instead, he was seducing her with nothing more than words and an innocent touch. She was in big trouble and she knew it, yet he excited her more than she’d ever been. Either Alex was a much-practiced predator or the mutual attraction was dangerous and tangible… with a life of its own.
Alex told himself that he’d be content to just look at her all evening, talk with her, and learn about her past through conversation and questions. He loved how her eyes lit up with amusement when he teased her and how much it thrilled him when she teased him in return. And, of course, his body was on fire.
“Is Becca your bodyguard tonight, Angel? Is that why she was at your apartment?”
“Will my body need guarding?” she quipped with a smirk. She looked at her lap, playing with the clasp on her purse.
“My intentions were the best of the best, but that dress… damned if I know now.”
The sexual tension vibrated in the air between them, and they were both bristling in the plush leather seats of the limousine. It was all Alex could do not to reach out and run his hand down the smooth skin of her arm. Angel felt his glances like a physical caress.
When Martin pulled up in front of the restaurant and walked around to open the door, it was Alex that offered his hand to Angel as she exited the car. She trembled slightly when his warm fingers closed around hers, and as she stepped from the car, he tucked it into the crook of his arm again.
Angel smiled coyly. The perfect gentleman. No one would know that he was an emotionless cad, she scoffed mentally. She knew of this restaurant but had never been. It was extremely upper class, and it was almost impossible to get a reservation. Kenneth tried several times but had never gotten the job done.
“I hope you like French cuisine, Angeline. If not, we can go somewhere else of your choosing,” Alex murmured softly as they walked through the large mahogany doors, manned on both sides by attendants.
“This is wonderful. Thank you, Alex.”
The black-haired hostess lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw Alex; her eyes scanned the woman beside him, darting over Angel from head to toe—the once-over not escaping Angel’s educated gaze. She smiled sweetly at the other woman, something like pride surging through her because she was the one on Alex’s arm. Angel shook herself mentally. Snap out of it, Hemming.
“Mr. Avery! When I saw your name on the reservations list, I made sure to reserve a table by the window. It’s such a clear night and the view is fabulous!” the hostess gushed.
“Thank you, Karen. May I introduce, Dr. Angeline Hemming.”
“So nice to meet you,” Angel said with a polite smile.
“Good Evening, Dr. Hemming. Right this way, please,” she said pleasantly.
She led them to a small table at the west edge of the dining room. The sunset through the windows was breathtaking, and Angel took it in along with the simple, open floor plan: white linen, crystal, flickering candles, mahogany floors, and a huge mixed floral arrangement on a table in the center. There were camellias floating in crystal bowls on each of the tables, surrounded by six votives. The whole effect was quite exquisite.
“This is a beautiful restaurant,” Angel said as Alex pulled out her chair, the scent of his cologne was a heady mix of musk and freshness. She couldn’t help but inhale deeply and was intoxicated. Angel shuddered slightly, hoping Alex would miss it.
“Angeline, are you cold?” His voice was concerned. “Would you like my jacket?”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
“I suppose it’s the whole half-naked thing you’ve got going on, hmm?” His face split into a crooked grin, and Angel’s heart flopped around in her chest.
“Yes. How’s that working out for you?”
Alex was seated and he leaned back in his chair, his head cocked ever so slightly as his eyes raked over her again. “So far, so good.”
She flashed him a smile. Damn if she could help herself. The waiter was there to take the elegantly folded napkin, unfurl it, and lay it across Angel’s lap.
“Good evening, Mr. Avery, Dr. Hemming. I am Dustin and I’ll be your server this evening,” said the young blond man in a white shirt, tuxedo vest, and bow tie. “Davis, our sommelier, will be with you shortly for your drink order, and I’ll return in a few minutes.” He opened a leather-bound menu and handed it to Angel and then one to Alex.
“I guess you come here a lot,” Angel stated. “Since the staff knows you.”
“Some. It’s an excellent restaurant. We use it for business lunches at times, too.”
“Mmm…” Angel’s mind was racing, wondering if he brought Whitney here and if that was the cause of the hostess’s curiosity. She wanted to ask, but decided not to speak about Whitney unless Alex brought her up.
Alex appeared calmer than she felt. “I want to apologize again for Darian’s misguided matchmaking ploy. It wasn’t fair to you. Angel, I didn’t know what he was up to, so I hope you’ll forgive me.”
She sighed. “Apology accepted.”
“I must admit, however, that at this moment, I’m damn glad he was so insistent. You… intrigue me.”
“You’re just not used to a woman with brains, I guess,” she said, amusement lacing her voice.
Alex’s lips lifted at one corner but he didn’t smile; his eyes serious. “Not one so beautiful,” he said honestly. Their eyes locked and the amusement left Angel’s expression.
Suddenly, another tuxedo-clad gentleman was standing at the table. He was older and distinguished; his full head of hair, stark white and perfectly in place. “Good evening, Mr. Avery.” He nodded in Alex’s direction.