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Destiny slid her hand across the table until their fingers touched. She sucked in her breath as a sharp pain rushed into her temple.
“Is something wrong?” Chris rubbed his thumb across hers.
“Nothing. I’m glad I came.” She sat still as the light seemed to dim in the room. Her own voice seemed to echo in the space and the sound of her heart beating rapidly thumped in her eardrums.
Very good. You are learning. You are becoming…
Had Chris said the words? She held her breath and slowly moved her hand back.
“I’m glad. I want you to feel extremely comfortable with me. Trust is vital.” He wrinkled his brow but pulled back his arm. When his cell phone rang, he offered a slow hiss and his expression said the call was important. “Please excuse the interruption.”
“Of course.” As he got up from the table she allowed a shiver she’d been holding to take over and rubbed her arms. Trust. Why had he used the word? Was he trying to seduce her? Yes. Of course he was. The man was enigmatic. Power oozed from every pore. She was surprised at her body’s reactions. Then again, it was as if he’d been inside of her, reading her subconscious mind. She took a sip of wine just as her cell phone rang. She eyed the display and was jerked back to reality. “Gina. Is there something wrong?”
“Are you still at lunch?”
“I just got here.” She glanced at her watch. At least thirty minutes had passed. What was going on with her?
“I thought you’d like to know something about your mystery date,” Gina said in a jovial tone.
“And this couldn’t wait until I returned to the office?”
“I’m off this afternoon. Remember?”
Destiny exhaled. “I’m sorry. I forgot. What did you find out?” She searched for Chris through the late lunch crowd. He was nowhere to be seen.
“He’s on the up and up. Christopher Worth. I knew I’d recognized him.”
“From?” The name rang a bell.
“Jesus. You do need to get out more. He’s in the last Richmond Magazine. You know as one of the top ten bachelors? He’s also considered one of the top five wealthiest men up and down the East Coast. You ever hear of that huge development called River City Aisles?”
She caught a short glimpse of him. He had a hand over his ear. “Sounds familiar.” He was definitely angry. “Wait. I thought that was stalled both in the city as well as some contractor issues.
“Not any longer. The project is back on and anticipated to bring over two thousand jobs to the city and my guess is several hundred million to Mr. Worth.” Gina laughed. “You know how to pick them.”
A real estate developer. Ruthless no doubt. “I guess.”
“Wow. Don’t sound so enthused. I just thought you’d like to know. Nice catch.”
“Thanks, Gina.” The information registered. Why was a wealthy and eligible bachelor having to look for the perfect woman?” She knew the answer. He wanted someone who would be his intellectual match without any strings attached.
“O-kay. Well. Enjoy the rest of your lunch. You have one more appointment at three, then you’re finished for the day.”
“I remember. Enjoy your afternoon.” She frowned as Chris walked into the dining room. His face was pensive. He seemed to be contemplating making another call. Then he shoved his phone into his pocket and came back toward the table.
“I apologize.”
“Anything wrong?”
He shook his head. “Nothing I can’t handle. Business. I have some contracts I’m dealing with and some of the terms, as well as the people involved are tenacious. Ah, lunch. I do hope you like my selections.”
“What do you do?” she risked asking.
“Many things, sweet Destiny but let’s just say I always get what I want.”
She shivered and could tell he was dead serious.
The food was succulent, the conversation lively and the second glass of wine soothing. She found him easy to talk to and he seemed to enjoy learning about her. He said little, remaining quiet, but responded to the majority of her questions. Still, by the time they finished their food, she realized she knew little more than they had started. At least Gina had found out his name and occupation. She’d do some surfing of her own at home later in the day.
