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“By all means,” she said with a slow smile, leaning toward him as if the warmth of his body could relieve some of the sexual tension zinging through her system. His cologne, barely discernible over the cozy morning scents of breakfast and coffee, tugged at her memory.
Before she could place it, he stepped back. She blinked a couple of times, frowning as he put space between them as though she had a leftover case of cooties.
“You look great,” he said. His tone was warm, though. Not cootie-wary. The look he gave her, like a gentle caress up the length of her body, was even warmer. It was as if he lit a fire in her body as heated awareness filled her. Maybe she’d imagined his hesitance?
“Thanks,” she said. His gaze made her very aware of how low-cut her red sweater was and what an interesting view he must have from his height. Zoe didn’t know whether to pull back her shoulders and smile. Or slap her hands over her half-naked chest and remind him that they used to climb trees together and plot to take over the world.
The naughty voice in the back of her mind suggested she combine the two, pull back her chest and ask him to climb on.
“Join me, please. Have a cup of coffee and tell me what’s new in your life,” she said. She couldn’t tear her eyes from him as he sauntered over and took a seat. Wow. Who knew such a sexy hunk of manflesh had been lurking in such a, well, totally geeky nerd?
“What have you been up to?” he asked as soon as he sat. With a flick of his finger, he let the passing waiter know he wanted coffee. Zoe noted his absolute confidence, his easy command. His attitude said he clearly knew he was in charge and didn’t expect his authority to be questioned.
Before she could answer, two guys from her class stopped at the table. They greeted Dex like a long-lost friend, invited him to a party and mentioned golf the next day. Her, they treated like a potted plant.
Zoe ignored them right back. She didn’t care. She had an intriguing puzzle sitting across from her to focus on. She was too busy wondering what Dex had been doing and how he’d morphed into such a gorgeous man.
“Sorry about that,” he muttered. “So you were telling me what you’ve been doing?”
Tearing her eyes from his very large, very strong-looking hands, Zoe forced herself to stop wondering how they’d feel taking charge of her body and focused on his question.
“Me? Not much. I’m a business consultant specializing in communication companies. Basically I troubleshoot. You know, check out the company, assess the problems, offer a pile of suggestions and take off.”
“And how does that translate into whips and leather?” he asked with a grin, nodding his thanks to the waiter who poured his coffee.
“Whips and…” Oh, man. He’d seen her? Why hadn’t he said anything? Zoe hadn’t worried about sashaying around in her little leather bikini among her former classmates. After all, she didn’t give a rip what they thought of her. But Dex?
She took a sip of cold tea to hide her nerves at the idea of him seeing her in such a revealing getup. Did he think it made her sexually aggressive? Did he like the idea? Was the riding crop a turn-on? Her breath lodged somewhere in her chest as she tried to figure out if she’d be excited or freaked if that was his reaction.
“I didn’t realize you’d been at the party,” she murmured, watching him doctor his coffee.
Dex’s gaze flew back to hers. He fumbled the creamer a little, so it poured as much on the table as in his cup. “I wasn’t.”
Zoe frowned.
“I heard about the costume,” he continued. “From some of the guys.”
The guys. She glanced over at the men, now sitting at a crowded table, who’d stopped to talk. Unlike her, Dex’s geek status hadn’t kept him out of the popular circles. Zoe pulled a face. “I guess it’s a toss-up who the bigger gossips are—the guys or the gals.”
He just gave a half smile and shrugged. That he wouldn’t meet her eyes made Zoe wonder if the gossip had been rude. Zoe pressed her lips together, the sting of rejection a little harder to ignore this time. It wouldn’t be the first time her classmates had made obnoxious comments about her. Dex used to try to hide them from her back in school, too.
Her heart gave a little sigh at the sweet gesture.
Despite the hurt, the mention of gossip sparked an idea. Everyone talked to Dex. Which meant he might know something about Gandalf. Or at least who was doing what since school.
“So…” she said slowly, leaning back in her chair just a little. His gaze intensified into molten aqua, sliding over her chest with a heated caress that made her glad her sweater was a thick one. Zoe swallowed hard and shifted a little in her chair. Wetting her lips, she forced herself to speak normally. “I have to admit, it’s a little bit of a shock to find you here in town. I though the only person who wanted out of this Podunk town more than I did was you.”
