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She grimaced. “I can’t! It’s a bug.”
He stood up and moved his chair so that it was beside hers. Carter Mann-Hughes was not a man to care that he might get in the way of wait staff. He did what he wanted, without reference to anyone else. “Close your eyes,” he murmured, his own eyes glued to her beautiful face. She did as he said, fluttering her dark lashes like two fans on her cheeks. He put his finger into the buttery sauce of the escargot and lifted it to her lips. “Taste this.”
Her lips parted infinitesimally, so that he could press his fingertip in. Her mouth was warm, and wet. His gut clenched instantly, with fierce desire.
“Your mouth is so sexy,” he murmured, lowering his own lips and kissing her cheek. She sighed against his fingertip. “Do you like the taste?”
Silently, she nodded.
“Good. Now try this.” He lifted the escargot, letting it hover for a moment against her pout, before pressing it further forward. Her eyes flew wide, fixing him with an assessing look, as she chewed the slippery flesh. She swallowed, and screwed up her beautiful face.
“Well?” He asked, thinking that all he wanted to do was take her back to his apartment and make love to her.
“It wasn’t terrible,” she conceded, her nose still wrinkled. “But the mental hurdle’s too great for me to leap. Snail. Yuck!”
He laughed. “But you are so brave to try.”
Her heart turned over with pleasure at his compliment. She was completely, totally, truly in love with him. She’d known for days, but in that moment, it was an overpowering sensation. She clamped her lips shut, half afraid that she might blurt her feelings out. And surely it was too soon to say those words? Surely she needed a little more time to assess where he was at?
She stood hastily, almost knocking her champagne flute. Carter rose to his feet in response. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m just going to go freshen up. Do you know where the rest rooms are?”
He pointed to a doorway on the other side of the crowded venue. “Thanks.” And because they were both standing, she lifted onto tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. How she loved him. How she needed him.
He watched her beautiful figure as she walked across the restaurant; the way her ass swung from side to side with her effortlessly seductive gait. He forced himself to sit down and appear normal, when every bone in his body wanted to follow her and do something he’d never done before – risk an arrest for public lewdness. He grinned at the very thought of making love to her against a toilet stall wall. No. Better to save that for his jet. Perhaps he could arrange his next business trip to incorporate Jane.
She pushed into the elegant ladies’ room with a sigh of relief. Her reflection showed that she was in the midst of some kind of emotional meltdown. She moved closer to the mirror, and pressed the faucet. Cold water on her hands helped to cool her down, but inside, she was a maelstrom of intense and confusing sensations. Her gut clenched with the memory of making love to him, and she groaned aloud. Yeah. She was in love and in total lust. He was everything she had ever wanted in a man.
Did he love her, too? Was it possible?
He was certainly trying to connect with her in ways that weren’t just about sex. He had really wanted her to meet his cousin. He had brought her out tonight, not caring that it might mean her career as an escort would be laid bare, and that this might cause him embarrassment. She bit down on her lip. Maybe he did care for her, at least. But was that enough to build a relationship from?
The door pushed inwards and with real effort, she composed her features. The woman was tall and slim, with a face like a fashion model who’d had too much botox. Jane flashed her a polite smile then pretended she had only been washing her hands, and not trying
to unravel the mysteries of her heart and soul.
“So, you’re the poor bitch Carter’s got his hooks into these days.”
Jane froze, her innocent, chocolate eyes wide. “Excuse me?” She reached for a paper towel and used it to hide the way her fingertips were trembling.
“He’s not what he seems, you know.”
Jane shook her head. “Sorry. Who are you?”
“I’m the only woman he’s ever really loved. And he’s using you to make me jealous. So do us both a favour and forget you know him. You’ll be saving yourself, and me, a lot of running around if you just bow out.”
Jane screwed up the paper towel and tossed it into the waste paper bin. “Carter’s previous relationships are none of my business. I’m sorry that you’re obviously upset about things, but I’m not going to break up with him just because you want me to.”
“Break up with him? Oh, honey. Look at me, and look at you. Carter is using you in a pathetic attempt to make me jealous.” Her ice blue eyes narrowed. “Why do you think he brought you here tonight?”
Jane shrugged, her expression curious, despite her instant dislike for this woman.
“Because I’m here. He knew I’d be here, and he brought you here to parade you under my nose.”
“Why would he do that?” Jane asked sceptically, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
“Because he’s a sick bastard! My name is Renata. Ask him about me.”
