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“You alright?” Jonas touching my arm. “Did I say something?”
I shook my head.Hedidn’t. “Sorry. It was just a thought. I’m fine.”
Jonas sighed. “You’re not. Come here.” He tugged my hand until I stood and pulled me into a hug, which I took, molding my body against him. His body was solid muscles under his shirt and as I inhaled, my nostrils filled with his incredible scent. He was truly intoxicating. What was probably a minute seemed longer, and when we parted I would have given anything to be in his arms again.
Nevertheless, we cleaned up and stacked the items on the cart. Afterwards, he escorted me back to the couch to sit down.
“Now, for the next part of our evening,” Jonas began, suddenly formal. “Did Gregor send over a copy of the proposal with you?”
Work… of course. I stood and walked over to my bag and removed the proposal. Handing it to him, I sat back down.
His gaze stayed on my face as he flipped to the back page and signed. “I’m agreeing to place Arch Limited on the short list for presentations to me in six weeks. A space left for the top three I’m considering to publish my book.”
My jaw dropped. “Wow. Seriously?! Wow. Gregor, my boss is going to be over the moon!” I exclaimed. “Thank you, Mr. Crane. I will go and call him now and—”
“Wait.” Jonas placed a hand on my arm and I sat back down. “There’s more. But Arch’s agreement has nothing to do with what I wish to discuss with you next.” He rose and refilled our drinks and handed me a glass of wine and sat down facing me.
“As you know, I travel for work. And as I said earlier, I’m in town for about ten days a month. I’m divorced. And you are single?” Jonas asked.
I nodded and took a sip of wine. “Yes. I am.”
“Do you have friends in the city?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Not really. Well, I do have my roommate, and my boss. But my best friend Mary lives in Boston. We try to see each other often, but with graduate school….”
“So no one you spend time with here?” Jonas putting his glass down and waiting for me to answer.
I licked my lips. “Well, I guess Gregor. He comes over for my silly old movie marathons, with a few acquaintances, but no one I’m dating or seeing much of.”
“I know you went to the symphony. Did you enjoy it?” Jonas asked.
I nodded a little. “Yes, I did.”
Jonas paused. His gaze intent as he placed his arm along the back of the couch. “Are you lonely?”
My eyes darted over him, but I kept my mouth closed, not sure if I wanted to answer.
“I know I am,” Jonas admitted, his hand running through his hair. “Dani has moved on. She has Alan now, and my son Paul is busy with friends. I’m finding myself alone when I come back here. I have friends, but it’s different.”
I ran my hands down my arms. “I can imagine. With Declan, his friends were friendly to me when I came down to spend time with him; but when we broke up, my friendships with them ended.”
Jonas reached out and lightly clasped my hand and let go.
“Lily,” his gaze bore into mine. “I would like to see you.”
My pulse sped up and I clasped my hands together. “See?”
“Yes. I hate going out alone. We’d go to the symphony, the opera, and various engagements. Basically going out in New York with me.”
My mouth went dry. “I. I don’t know what to say? Why me?”
“You’re beautiful, and easy to talk to. You’re smart and unassuming.” His lips curved. “The rest I go with my instinct.”
I moved my hair in front of my face to hide my smile.He thinks I’m beautiful?“So like… dating?”
Jonas blew out. “Not exactly. I’m not ready for a relationship. It would be more like companionship.” He took a sip of his scotch.
My brows knitted. “Companionship like friendship?”
