AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nathan looked up and caught her staring at him. His eyebrows rose slowly, giving her blood a chance to heat. The lazy smile that followed became her undoing.
“Hello, handsome,” she said, sauntering over on shaky legs to sit beside him on the couch. She angled her body toward him and crossed one leg over the other, trying her best to look seductive. She’d worn an emerald-green sheath that skimmed her curves and bared her arms. “Come here often?”
His gaze toured her ankles and calves before taking in the rest of her Dior-clad body. By the time he reached her face, she buzzed with desire. He folded the paper and used it to tap her bare knee.
“Obviously not often enough if you represent their clientele. I have a suite reserved. Could I interest you in a drink?”
“While that sounds lovely, I’m afraid I’m waiting for my lover. We rendezvous every Thursday at one. He is very handsome and very sexy.”
“And very late. It is already five minutes after one.” Nathan flicked his cuff over his watch and his lips curved in a his-loss-my-gain smile. “Have a drink with me. A man should never keep a beautiful woman waiting.”
“Well, since you put it that way.”
Emma laughed as Nathan pulled her to her feet.
He sent a bellboy to fetch her things. In the suite, while Nathan tipped the man and sent him on his way, Emma pulled out the room service menu and flipped through it. Nathan came to stand behind her, his fingers grasping the zipper at her nape.
“Hungry?” He slid the zipper down her back and bent to kiss her shoulder.
Emma turned in his arms, letting the dress fall to her feet. “Dessert first.”
Wrapped in a plush towel provided by the hotel, Emma dried her hair and regarded her reflection. Her eyes sparkled with secret delight and an irrepressible smile lifted the corners of her mouth. She glowed the way a woman who’d spent the afternoon being the object of a man’s adoring caresses ought to. Thank goodness it wasn’t illegal to feel this wonderful.
Just thinking about the exquisite way Nathan had plied her body made her shiver anew at the realization that they had all night to indulge in more such perfect loving. Of course, if they continued at their current pace, she might be dead of exhaustion by morning. But what a way to go.
“What are you thinking about?” Nathan returned from the bedroom where he’d been ordering room service. He stepped behind her and met her gaze in the mirror.
“You,” she replied, her smile turning salacious. “On the dining table in the other room, covered in whipped cream and chocolate sauce.”
His brows rose. “I think it’s your turn.” His hands snaked around her waist to loosen the robe’s belt.
“We can’t,” she protested, turning off the hair dryer so she could clutch the robe closed. “Dinner first. I’ve got to eat to keep my strength up.”
“You don’t need strength for what I have in mind. Just lie back and let me do all the work.” His grin was pure wolf.
She laughed, but continued to defend herself from his questing hands. Breathless with rising desire and from resisting his efforts to separate her from the robe, she was only half-relieved when a knock on the door announced room service.
While Nathan went to let the waiter in, Emma quickly checked her voice mail. She was hoping for a call from a woman who’d been interested in commissioning a piece of jewelry from her. Granted, it was too late for her to use the money toward winning the wager with her father, but this sort of business would provide a whole new source of income.
She wondered how Nathan would take the news that she intended to keep designing and producing jewelry after they married. He’d told her over and over that he wanted to take care of her, but she’d proved that she could take care of herself. She was proud of the business she’d started and the success she’d had. She had no intention of giving it up because she no longer needed the money she made from it.
Two messages had come in during the afternoon. One from Addison, wishing her good luck on her evening with Nathan. The second was from Thomas McCann at Biella’s. She’d called him earlier, hoping against hope that he’d had some luck selling the pieces that hadn’t sold at the Baton Rouge show. He’d been out, so she’d had to leave a message. Crossing her fingers, she listened.
“Emma, I’m glad you called. I have good news. We’ve sold all the new stuff you brought us. The buyers mentioned seeing your work at a recent charity event. I have a check for almost $11,000 waiting for you. And we’d really like it if you’d bring us more of your jewelry.”
In stunned disbelief, Emma ended the call. She set the phone on the dresser, scarcely able to wrap her head around what she’d heard. She’d done it. She’d met her goal by the deadline.
