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The maître d’ approached Barrett. “Sir, I’ve been asked by the manager to inform you that your party will receive a complimentary appetizer. We just need to know your preference. Your server has a menu at your table.”
Barrett gave a loud bark of a laugh. “Must be my lucky day. Hope to see you again, Calista.”
Calista said nothing and reached for her glass of wine, barely resisting the urge to hiss at the man.
“You don’t like him, do you?” Leo asked.
“Was I so obvious?”
“You turned pale,” he said.
“He treated my family poorly during a difficult time,” she said.
“Then I’ll tell his server to pour red wine on him,” he said.
His suggestion lightened her mood. “Oh, they wouldn’t do that on purpose,” she said, feeling a slight pinch at the memory of the margarita she’d poured on Leo.
He lifted an eyebrow. “My personal assistant usually runs interference when I’m eating in a public place, but I allowed this man to approach because he might have been a friend of yours. Next time we’re in public, I’ll stick to my routine.”
Although Calista had been raised in a relatively wealthy home, she’d never heard of her father employing an assistant for such a task. She glanced around. “Is your assistant here tonight?”
He nodded behind her and waved his hand. A brawny middle-aged man approached them. “George, this is Miss French. We’d prefer no interruptions for the remainder of the meal.”
“Miss French,” George said in a gruff voice with a nod.
“George, it’s nice to meet you,” Calista said, extending her hand.
Looking slightly uncomfortable, he shook her hand. “Pleasure to meet you also, Miss,” he said then turned to Leo. “Enjoy your dinner, sir.”
George turned around with his hands folded behind his back, creating a barrier between their table and the rest of the room.
Calista let out a sigh of relief. Barrett wouldn’t be approaching her again that evening. “Must ask. What does he say to people who try to approach the table?”
“Mr. Grant and his guest would like to enjoy their meal without interruption. Thank you for your consideration,” he recited.
“Has it ever not worked?” she asked. “What happens if they ignore him?”
“That’s only happened three times. George says, I insist.”
“And if that doesn’t work?”
He hesitated, then smiled. “You want to know about the one time that a man wouldn’t take no for an answer? George is a former boxer, but he was homeless when I met him. He’s my trainer and sparring partner.”
Surprised, she stared at him for a moment. “Is he your bodyguard?”
Leo laughed. “Hell, no. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had. I just had to find a way to get him off the streets and the only way I could do it was to employ him. Shocked?”
“Yes.” She paused a second. “In a good way.”
He lifted his glass and clinked it against hers. “To no more interruptions.”
A couple hours later, Leo escorted her downstairs and outside. He was tall and moved with athletic grace. He oozed confidence, strength and mystery even though she knew his secret. Sliding his fingers through hers, he looked down at her. “Come to my house for an after-dinner drink,” he said, his eyes full of invitation.
Her stomach dipped, taking her by surprise. “I can’t. I have my car,” she said.
“One of my drivers can pick it up for you,” he countered.
She was stunned at the heat that rushed through her. “I have to go to work tomorrow,” she said and suddenly remembered she was supposed to be seducing him. “Rain check?”
He leaned toward her and pressed his mouth against hers. Her breath left her body.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
She vacillated, not wanting him to see her older vehicle. “Um.”
“I insist,” he said and slid his hand behind her back.
They passed a homeless man on the sidewalk with a can for donations. She watched in amazement as Leo stuffed a twenty dollar bill inside. “Take care,” he murmured to the man.
“Thank you,” the homeless man said. “Go in peace.”
Leo glanced at her and must have read the surprise on her face. “In different circumstances, that could be me,” he said.
Something in his tone jerked at her heart. He spoke as if he had insider experience. She slid another assessing glance at him. Who was this man? He was different than she’d expected.
They arrived at her car in the parking garage and a black Town Car pulled alongside them. “Don’t worry. It’s just George. He’s also one of my drivers,” he said. “Are you sure I can’t persuade you to extend the evening?”
“You probably could,” she said, surprised at the breathlessness in her voice. She had a plan here, a strategy. She shouldn’t be this attracted to him. “But I’m hoping to appeal to your better nature and that you’ll encourage me to get the rest I need for my busy workday tomorrow.”
Leo gave a rough chuckle. “My better nature? I’m not sure that exists.” He lowered his head and pressed his mouth against hers. His mouth was both firm and soft, exploring and seducing. “Come to my lake house this weekend,” he muttered against her lips. “It will be your reward for being a good analyst.”
Calista sighed. “I can’t. I have a previous commitment on Saturday.”
“Break it,” he said.
“I really can’t,” she said. “I promised to take my younger sisters shopping for prom dresses on Saturday.” She shot him a teasing smile. “Wanna join us? Your opportunity to get up close and personal with teen girl drama.”
“Sounds tempting, but I’ll pass,” he said dryly. “Will you be done by Saturday evening?”
“Yes. Why?” she asked.
“Then we can leave for the lake on Saturday evening. We’ll take my helicopter. Say yes,” he said.
She looked into his deep brown eyes and felt a shudder of intuitive warning reverberate inside her. “Yes,” she said and wondered if she was making a huge mistake.
“Good.” He glanced down at her car and frowned. “You won’t be driving this car home tonight.”
“Why not?” she asked then noticed her tires had been slashed. Her stomach dipped. “Oh, no! Are all of them—”
Checking the tires on the other side of the car, he nodded. “All four.” He glanced at the car next to hers. “Look,” he said. “All the tires of the cars in this row have been slashed. Damn vandals,” he muttered and waved for George to approach.
Calista mentally added up the cost of replacing the tires and stifled a groan. She had neither the time nor the money to spare for this.
“Yes, sir,” George said to Leo.
“We’re going to need to get Miss French’s car towed to the garage so her tires can be replaced. Just use our garage.”
“No, that’s not necessary,” she said.
“I insist,” Leo said. “You can stay at my condo. It’s just a few blocks from here.”
Panic surged through her. “Oh, that’s crazy. There’s no reason I can’t sleep at my own place tonight.”
“Your vehicle won’t be ready until the morning,” he said, then shot her a half smile. “Don’t worry. You won’t be all alone with me. I have staff.”
Two
Moments later, Leo dropped his Town Car with the valet, and they took an elevator to the penthouse of an exclusive condominium building. A woman greeted them at the door. “Good evening, Mr. Grant. Can I get something for you?”
“Would you like another glass of wine?” Leo asked as they entered. “Margarita?”She shot him a sideways glance. “Just water please.”
“Water for both of us, Brenda. Thank you,” Leo said.
“This is very nice,” she said, looking around at the posh furnishings.
“It works when I’m spending a lot of time in the city,” he said with a shrug. “I have another place just outside of town where I rarely stay. This is convenient.”
Brenda returned with chilled water. Calista gulped hers down.
“Are you upset about your tires?” he asked, studying her face.
“It’s a little disturbing even though it wasn’t personal,” she said and realized a big part of the reason she wasn’t more upset was because Leo had been there with her. She would have to be very careful around him. It would be all too easy to enjoy having a strong, decisive man on whom she could count and let her strategy slide from being her top priority. “I’m just thinking I need to get up early in the morning so I can go back to my apartment before work. I think I’m ready to turn in. Where is the guest room?”
“You have a choice of two beds. The guest bed, or mine,” he said with an undertone of seduction.
She felt a quick rush of forbidden temptation but pushed the sensation aside. “I’m not sure I’d get much sleep in your bed,” she admitted in a whisper. “And sleep is what I need.”
He slid his finger over her jaw. “If you say so,” he said, then lowered his head and kissed her.
The light scent of Calista’s perfume lingered for a few seconds after she walked down the hallway to the guestroom. He inhaled deeply, wanting to catch the last bit of her. The taste of her was still on his lips, but he wanted more. He couldn’t remember wanting a woman this much, this quickly. He wanted her in his bed tonight.
Calista was the flesh and blood equivalent of his dream woman. Classy, well-educated, polished, yet warm, she could make him clean. With her by his side, he could travel with ease in any social circle. She would also be an asset to his business.
Yes, she would suit his needs nicely, in bed and out. After he seduced her, and he would, maybe he could con himself into believing she could make him clean on the inside, too.
