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He glanced sideways at me before returning his eyes to the road. He reached for my hand. I snorted even as I slid my palm against his. The sharp current of attraction warred with my apprehension.
“Tonight, we’re going to see about this business of yours. Tonight, we’re going to focus on possibilities for the future.”
I wrapped my fingers around his hand tightly, despite my next words. “You’re not going to be part of that,” I whispered.
He squeezed me back. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“It doesn’t-”
He pulled my hand over to his thigh, and held it there. “Not tonight, Ruby.”
I attempted to tug my hand from his, but he held tight. He slanted a hard look at me that flipped my stomach and made my panties wet.
I sat back in my seat, shocked at the strength of my response to him, surprised at the change in his usually good-natured, easy-going demeanour. I did not know this Vander. I felt my arm go slack.
He gave me a gentle squeeze in response and turned the conversation back to Spuds.
Before long, he pulled into a parking space and turned to me.
“This meeting is only a starting point. I’m going to introduce you to Gary Dolman, you’ll tell him about Spuds, your hopes and goals for franchising, and we’ll see what he has to say. You don’t need to commit to anything tonight. In fact, it’s probably better that you don’t. Not until you also meet with the other company.”
“You know them, too?”
“I do. They’re equally good. You can meet with both, and then decide. Alright?”
I took a deep breath, and a short nod.
“Are you nervous?” He asked.
I glanced at him and pulled my shoulders up to my ears. I couldn’t help my smile. “Excited!”
His smile was wide and warm, his eyes warmer still as he scanned my face. “I love to see you like this. This is how I remember you.”
I felt sudden sadness at the girl I used to be. The girl who jumped in with both feet. The girl with a ready laugh and a thirst for adventure.
“Stay with me, Ruby. Focus forward,” he murmured.
My eyes flew back to find his cool and determined. Ah, here was the sharp businessman. I’d never seen this side to him, it reminded me that he was a different person now.
I nodded sharply. This was a good opportunity. I needed to stay focussed. I opened my door and twisted to get out.
He met me at my side in time to close my door, and we walked across the lot, his warm hand light on my back. Lord, that felt good. I leaned back slightly into his touch.
It had been so long since I’d been touched.
Last fall I’d gone out on a date with a nice man who had touched me just like this, eliciting a gentle buzz of warmth and possibility. That date lasted approximately five minutes before he admitted he was in love with someone else. I wondered if things worked out for him and his lady love.
Vander’s hand elicited an altogether different response. His touch was the only one I’d ever craved. Heat spread outwards from the warmth of his palm on my back, edging across the expanse of my skin.
My breasts tingled and my chest expanded. I longed to turn to him and press my body against his. I yearned for more of his touch, more of his warmth. I trembled. It was mine for the taking. But for how long?
I leaned away from him and heard him sigh. I glanced at his face and was immediately arrested by the tenderness in his gaze.
He brushed the backs of his fingers down my cheek. “There’s no point in fighting it, Ruby. It’s always been us. It’s always going to be us.”
The sting of tears prickled behind my eyelids. I blinked them back and looked at my feet and my polished toes in my new sandals. “I can’t think about this right now.”
“Fair enough.” He relented immediately and I composed myself. He placed his hand back on my lower back, gently propelling me forward. “Let’s go in and see if our table is ready.”
