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“No, this is perfect. Really. I must admit I was a bit startled at seeing Mike here the other night. I had no idea this is where he was rushing to that day in the rain. But then I thought, we’d never have met if I hadn’t sought refuge.”
Oh, this woman’s a devil in disguise. “That’s true. Perhaps, we should thank him instead?” Her smile’s so bright it could light up the darkest of rooms… or the darkest of hearts.
Akin to mine.
“Hmm,” Lili starts, “maybe it’s best if we don’t do it right away. Let him think I’m still upset with him for a little while longer. After all, he did frighten me at my apartment complex.”
“I’ll gladly play along with whatever you decide. Now, if you’ll excuse me I’m going to order us a feast. I sure hope you brought your appetite with you today, Lili. I’ll be right back.”
I feel like there’s a pep in my step when I enter the kitchen. And, if I’m being honest, Lili has intrigued me since the day Mike mentioned her name. “George, give me the best sampler platter you’ve got. I have a very special guest and we’re both famished.”
“You got it, Z. Coming right up.” Two thumbs up and then the man’s in the zone. Ready to prepare us a mouthwatering masterpiece. And that right there’s the reason I snatched him up from The Harvest.
A sudden what the fuck are you doing slaps me in the face as I shove through the kitchen doors. Then I try convincing myself it’s only lunch. That it’s no biggie. We’ll make small talk, eat and then we’ll go about our lives as if we’ve never met. So why does that make me anxious? Because just the touch of her hand makes you feel alive, you fucking idiot.
I’m a goner the moment I walk back into the bar and see her beautiful smile. The funny thing is I’ve never had time for a serious relationship because I’ve always been too busy building a business. And, I always thought of women as a distraction I couldn’t afford. A long time ago, they were my kryptonite—only satisfying my dark, sexual cravings. But, looking at Lili, I wonder if I’ve been delusional all these years. Is it possible to have my cake and eat it too?
“I really should get going,” she says. “My visit was a spur of the moment impulse and clearly you had your day all planned out. That was rude, please accept my apology.”
“I thought we were friends, Lili.” When a look of bewilderment flits across her face, I want to smile. But when her pearly whites worry her bottom lip again, I want to growl. I need to sit before she notices the bulge springing to life inside of my trousers. A hard-on is such a terrible thing to waste. Unless she’s naked and face-down on the table with me behind…
Get a fucking grip, Sinclair.
Reaching across the table, I gently cover her hand with mine. A sudden rush of adrenaline courses through me when her eyes meet mine. “When you caught me smoking the other night, I asked you to call me Z. Remember?”
A beautiful smile captures her face and it’s contagious. There’s a gleam in her eye and for a split second, I hope it was me who put it there. “Of course I remember. Z it is, then.”
“Good. Now that we have that all sorted out, tell me what terrible vices you have that I should know about.” A small blush sprinkles her cheeks.
“I’m afraid you’d be bored out of your ever-loving mind if I were to give you a play-by-play synopsis about my life. Now, I bet you could tell me a few stories that would put me on a New York Times Bestsellers list. Am I right?”
I know what she’s trying to do. Flip the tables around so I’ll do all the talking while she sits back and listens. Not going to happen. If this is our one and only tryst, it won’t be about me. I want to know everything I can get my hands on about this woman. And why a beautiful woman like herself could be in a crowded room and still feel like she’s all alone. Lili wears her heart on her sleeve and right now it’s bleeding out all over the white linen tablecloth.
LILIANNA
I’ve been around good-looking men and sexy cover models for the better part of my life. So, what is it about this man that has me so intrigued? There’s something besides his charm and good looks that has me captivated. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I’d like to get to know him. And I haven’t felt like getting to know anyone in a very long time. I wait for his answer, but I already know he’ll ask me another question. It’s written all over his gorgeous face.
“Well,” he grins, “since you brought up that subject, when did you know you wanted to be a writer?”
I knew it. Somehow he knows I’m not comfortable talking about myself, yet he’s going to continue asking me questions. And why do I get the feeling that one lunch with Zane Sinclair is just an appetizer and will have me craving a seven-course meal?
Apparently, Zane hates talking about himself as much as I do. Should I be vague or hit him right between the eyes? I don’t have to give it a second thought when our food is served by the chef himself.
“Here’s your order, Mr. Sinclair. Enjoy, and if there’s anything else I can get for you don’t hesitate to ask.” Oh my, there’s enough food here to feed the whole club and then some. But everything smells delicious. I can’t wait to dive in.
“Once again, you’ve outdone yourself, George. Ms. Avalon and I will enjoy every delectable bite. Thank you.” The chef grins from ear to ear and bows before leaving the room.
I’m too busy staring at all this deliciousness that I’m not aware of Zane staring at me. Until I feel his gaze and look up. There’s a hunger in his eyes and, as much as I’d like to think it’s because of the table full of food, I think he has his sights set on me. It’s so confusing since I feel the chemistry sizzling between us, but we don’t even know each other. Besides, why would someone like Zane be interested in little ole’ me when he clearly has Dakota at his beck and call?
“Dive in, Lili.” All seriousness is lost when he smiles. It’s genuine, not forced like other men I’ve encountered. I do believe Zane enjoys my company as much as I do his. So, the burning question is how do we get to know one another when neither of us likes to talk about ourselves? Clearly, I’m not going to worry about it with all this food porn. Right now, I’m going to fill up on french fries, sliders, wings and everything fattening. My diet begins tomorrow.
One bite and I’m groaning with pleasure. The caramelized onions paired with the smoky Gouda on the sliders is phenomenal. The burger itself is cooked to perfection and topped with my favorite sweet Hawaiian rolls. I pop a fry in my mouth and I’m in heaven. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I don’t even realize my eyes are closed until I hear a chuckle from across the table.
Slowly I open my eyes and see Zane staring back at me. “Mm, I’m in ecstasy right now.” I didn’t stop to think of my choice of words before they fell out of my mouth. Oops, there’s a fire in his gaze. It’s the same burning desire that he had in my dream. All hot and angsty and suddenly I’m squirming in my seat. Crossing my legs to quell the throbbing ache between my thighs. My panties are damp and I’m suddenly so embarrassed when Zane clears his throat.
“Apparently I’m not a very good host, am I? What would you like to drink? Wine, beer or a soft drink?”
“I’d love a glass of white wine.” I’ll need the damn drink to calm my nerves at this rate. “Pinot would be perfect.”
