Just before three, Ethan had sent her directions to a small but excellent Italian restaurant in Reston. Natalie knew the place; she’d been there once with Brian right before she’d gone to college. Louise and Belle, of course, had been too busy to spend the day with her. As usual.
The restaurant was a low, square building in the middle of an Etruscan-themed shopping center, orange lights glowing inside and casting the diners into silhouette. The evening breeze toyed with an Italian flag as Natalie walked up the entryway. She pulled open the heavy cherry door and was immediately greeted by a tall man, all dark, wavy hair and white teeth, who called her signorina.
She mentioned Ethan’s name and was led through the dining area back to a private corner where a horseshoe-shaped seat wrapped around the table.
Ethan sat—or was it lounged?—on one end of the seat. His face lit up when he saw her.
“Good evening.”
She returned his smile, sat on the other side, and ordered a glass of Chianti. “Sorry I made you wait. The meeting this afternoon lasted longer than expected. How long have you been here?”
“I just sat down, actually.” He sipped his red wine and gestured at the breadbasket full of crusty garlic bread. “Help yourself; they just brought it out. So, everything taken care of?”
She nodded and reached for a piece. It was still warm. “Danielle should have the numbers ready by tomorrow morning.”
“Excellent.”
A familiar baritone voice came from behind her, and Natalie’s heart almost stopped. She turned around to see Alex looming over her. “What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you again too,” he said in a bland tone that didn’t quite manage to hide his amusement. “Didn’t
Ethan tell you? It’s a welcome dinner for him.”
She gave her new boss a sharp glance. He responded with a smile, which somehow failed to work its magic this time. She turned back to Alex. “So, where is everybody?” She made a show of looking around. “It doesn’t look like you invited anyone else from the office.”
“Well, you’re the only one who’ll be working closely with him.” Alex sat beside her, and she had no choice but to move closer to the middle to make room. Now she was sandwiched between the two large men.
Despite her apprehensions, Alex didn’t seem to want to focus his formidable sexuality on her. But her senses were so acutely attuned to his presence that it didn’t really matter what he did. The man had an animal magnetism that just wouldn’t quit. How could one person exude so much masculine force? It made her want to wrap herself around him and luxuriate in hot, virile male flesh.
Doing her best to ignore him, she took a bite of the bread. Herbs and butter created an exquisite blend of flavors on her tongue. Alex and Ethan started talking about a recent tennis match. The restaurant was too crowded for business conversation, especially anything confidential. And a lot of DDE’s work fell into that category, given that the Department of Defense was the company’s biggest client. She pursed her lips. Why was she here? She felt out of place and excluded, especially since she didn’t know anything about tennis.
When their waiter returned, everyone ordered. When had Alex and Ethan figured out what they wanted? They’d been chatting the whole time, their menus untouched.
Ethan turned to her. “We never talked about your roles and expectations,” he said. “We’re consolidating the work of three people into two, so it’s going to be more challenging, but also a great growth opportunity for you.”
She nodded. Two people doing three people’s job… Did it mean DDE didn’t plan to fill her old position which was now vacant? Or maybe Alex would be leaving soon?
Ethan went on with her new duties. She tried to concentrate on what he was saying, but her mind wandered to Alex. If he was only going to be around for a short while, she was glad she hadn’t given in to him. He’d undoubtedly been looking for a short fling, and that wasn’t what she wanted right now.
The waiter returned to the table with a large tray balanced on his hand. His arrival pulled Natalie out of her gloomy thoughts. There was seafood pasta to be had, and it looked positively delectable, filled with the tiny peppers that she loved.
Ethan’s cell phone rang. “Sorry.” He glanced at the caller ID. “Juliane. Guten tag.” He made a face and excused himself from the table.
Natalie glanced at Alex. Ethan’s presence had made her feel safer, but now…
“Ahh…Europeans.” Alex smiled. “You’d think they’d have more respect for our business hours.”
“Maybe it’s really his girlfriend. She must be very sad to see him go to America.”
“I’ve seen his girlfriend. She won’t be lonely for long.” Alex took a sip of his wine. “Ever been to Europe?”
“I went to school there for fourteen years.” Exiled would be a better word. Shrugging, she pasted on a bright smile. “My parents wanted the best education for me.”
“America has some fine private schools. Especially in this area.”
She fiddled with her napkin. “True. I actually was accepted at Exeter, but my parents wanted me to have a more cosmopolitan upbringing.”
“Hobnobbing with the likes of the Rockefellers and the du Ponts wouldn’t have been cosmopolitan enough?”