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“I’m sure I can go over the numbers with whichever one of you has the head for them. It’s clear you make a great team, and I am genuinely excited about working with both of you.” As I spoke, I looked between them, letting Sarai have as much of my attention as her husband and partner.
She relaxed, her shoulders lowering, and Richard glanced at her as she smiled.
“Both of us would like that,” she said as Richard sat back a little and allowed the conversation to open up. Now, this was business I could enjoy. Business that would hopefully distract me from this wedding and everything about Kit.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Kit
As I came down to the dining area the following morning, I knew I was shaking slightly. I wasn’t sure what to make of Lukas or his demand that I join him for breakfast that morning, but I was grateful that most of the house was still asleep. Everyone had stayed up late the previous night despite the wedding today.
I hadn’t been able to sleep, however. Something about Lukas had drawn my attention. I’d tried to hide it from the others, and most didn’t seem to notice, his attention mostly coming when others weren’t really looking. He’d also confused me.
Something about the way he had escorted me down to dinner had felt more right than wrong. But he’d denied that it meant anything at all. And then he’d happily gone to sit with others. When I put my armor back up and decided he was going to be yet another guy who wanted attention only when it suited him, he demanded I join him for breakfast.
I hadn’t known what to say and knew I’d given the impression that I would before he walked off. Despite that, I had considered not. Standing him up was something I had even intended to do about half the night. But when it came to morning, I wasn’t able to resist.
After all, I was awake anyway, and he was an interesting guy. It hadn’t made things any worse to find out that he was one of the wealthiest men at the party, and everyone thought highly of him. Kai had mentioned something about a mess with an ex a few years earlier, but I hadn’t been able to ask more questions without seeming suspicious, and the subject had changed.
It was also the first time that no one had made me feel small for giving an opinion on a house or the designs. Lukas had given my opinions to his close friend as if they were his own, as if he valued them. And that was a level of respect I wasn’t used to.
There was also something about the way he looked at me, with an almost raw hunger in his eyes. He had demanded my presence for breakfast like he was some kind of wolf and I was going to be his dessert. Even just thinking about it made heat rise in me and my heart race.
Lukas was just attractive enough and sure of himself enough that I wanted to be in his presence in a way I wasn’t used to.
At first, I was alone in the dining room, not a single other soul up and awake, although I could hear pots and pans banging from the open kitchen door. No doubt the chef for the wedding later would be in there beginning to prepare everything.
“You beat me. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting,” Lukas said, his voice making me jump. This morning, he wore a more casual outfit, but the effect was the same. His sculpted chest was clearly visible under the fabric, and he strode into the room like he owned the place.
I swallowed, finding my mouth wouldn’t work. What was it about this man that had this impact on me? He seemed to make me weak at the knees, and I couldn’t think straight or figure out what to say.
“Are you okay?” he asked as he reached my side, offering to take my arm again even though I wasn’t wearing heels this morning.
“Yes, thank you.” I frowned again, trying to figure out what to say.
“I made you wait, didn’t I?” He led me toward the outside terrace again, even though it was empty and no one knew we were even here for food yet.
“No. Not at all. I was only a few seconds before you.” I tried to see inside the kitchen as we went past the doorway, but I couldn’t. He glanced that way, following my gaze, but didn’t comment. The pair of us were alone for now.
Outside, there were already several settings for people to eat, and a few of the heat lamps were on despite the sun already warming the area. However, it was still appreciated to take the edge off the morning breeze.
Lukas led me to a table right by a heater and pulled out a chair for me to sit down. No sooner had we both taken seats than some of the staff came out and took our orders for breakfast from a seemingly endless list of options.
Already nervous, I chose something light and marveled when Lukas went in the opposite direction. Thankfully, he didn’t comment on my choices, seeming to respect them, or at least not mind them. I wasn’t the thinnest of women and sat a little above the average, although Juno always told me I carried the extra weight well.
Some men liked curves, and I had them, but there had been more than a few who criticized my food choices and felt they had the right to because I wasn’t stick-thin and as careful about food as others. Lukas didn’t seem to mind what he saw, if I read him well.
Although it still stung that he’d walked me to dinner the night before just to go somewhere else.
“Did you enjoy dinner last night?” I asked, my thoughts going in that direction and making me feel the anger that had almost stopped me from coming down for breakfast.
“I did. Although it was almost all business, as things often are at these events among these sorts of people.” Lukas waved it off. “But that’s concluded now. The last thing I want to talk about is more business. I’ve finished that, and I want to enjoy some good company and the romance of a wedding.”
I lifted an eyebrow. This was very forward compared to last night. Was he trying to seduce me? If so, I was beginning to fear it might be working. It might be really working.
“Tell me, did you sleep well? I found it so peaceful listening to the waves and imagining myself on a ship somewhere, rocked to sleep by its gentle movement.” He smiled again, giving me his attention even as more staff appeared to give us drinks and bring out the first part of our breakfast.
“I slept very well,” I replied, deciding to hide how worried I had been about him and his presence and attention. “Although I can’t say my dreams were romantic or anything.”
