He stared at her a full ten seconds with those intense green eyes. She had him speechless. A first. Then he said, ‘You’re still on for tonight, I hope,’ and something in his gaze sharpened.
She felt its effects right down to her toes. ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘So you’re one of those quick dressers, are you? That’ll be a first.’
‘Not particularly,’ she said, trying for nonchalant, but that flick of his eyes over her body as he’d spoken had felt like a flame thrower. ‘You haven’t told me where to meet you.’
‘I told you yesterday I’m picking you up at seven.’ The tone of command with a dash of impatience.
‘I said I’d meet you there…wherever.’
‘No. You didn’t.’
He was right, she realised. He’d cut her off when she’d tried to ask. With a little resigned inward sigh, she slung her bag over her shoulder. She didn’t have time to argue and she knew she wouldn’t win this one. She also knew it wasn’t all business, so she asked, ‘What’s the dress code for this place you’ve chosen?’
‘How does casually elegant sound?’
‘Fine.’
‘Pacific Gold apartments…?’
‘Unit 213.’
‘Make it seven-fifteen.’
Humour snuck in and she arched a brow. ‘We agreed on seven. You saying you can’t be ready in fifty-five minutes?’
He didn’t reply but his eyes flashed a challenge.
She shook her head once. ‘Seven o’clock.’ She turned away quick smart and headed towards the lift, praying, praying, he didn’t follow. She simply couldn’t handle another trip in the elevator with him right now.
Jared drove home only a touch above the speed limit and jumped in the shower. He didn’t have time to think about the tight sensation in his chest, nor to acknowledge the sense of anticipation he hadn’t felt since his teenage years. Which was just as well.
Moments later he ran his fingers through his damp hair. Quick shave, splash of subtle cologne at the last minute. He threw on dark chinos and an open-necked oatmeal linen shirt. No tie. Casual business dinner. One that might lead to a more relaxed after-dinner coffee somewhere?
He was walking to the front door at the same time as Melissa, also dressed for a night out.
‘Wow.’ Looking him up and down, she sniffed the air. ‘Is that a new cologne?’
‘You and Crystal gave it to me last Christmas.’ He just hadn’t had an occasion to wear it. ‘And it’s a business dinner, Liss.’
‘I certainly hope so—I heard you arrange it in the car. You wouldn’t win any dates with that austere approach…’ She studied him some more, met his eyes with a cryptic look. ‘You don’t look business… Are you going to be late home?’
‘I don’t know, Liss,’ he said, annoyed and running late. She was asking him that question? ‘Why?’
‘Just letting you know I’ll be out late too,’ she said, walking to the door ahead of him. ‘I’m meeting friends for burgers then we’re going clubbing later.’
‘Don’t get into a vehicle with anyone who’s been drinking.’
He was checking for his wallet but he could almost see her eyes rolling up as she walked down the garden path when he heard, ‘No, Daddy.’
He made it to the front door of Sophie’s apartment with two minutes to spare.
The door opened as he was about to knock and he was looking straight into those eyes, touched with humour now. ‘What took you so long?’ she said.
‘No points for being early?’
Her warm brandy eyes weren’t the only things attracting his attention. His gaze dipped. She was wearing a slim white knee-length dress. A complicated series of straps pulled the bodice into a bunch of fabric just below her collarbone and tied behind her neck, leaving her shoulders bare. Stunning smooth shoulders that gleamed like honey in the amber light behind her.
So she hadn’t gone with strictly business either.
Half-moon earrings the colour of limes dangled on gold thread. She wore a matching bracelet. She reminded him of a tropical milkshake cocktail, long and cool and inviting. Too inviting. He wished they could just dine in. On each other.
‘I’ll grab a jacket.’ She hesitated before asking, ‘Do you want to come in for a moment?’
Come in? His groin tightened. More than you know and for a lot longer than a minute. He cleared his throat. ‘Maybe later.’
She disappeared while he counted the various species of tropical flora on the other side of the balcony that formed a courtyard within the apartment block, and thought about penguins and Antarctica and ice-cold beer.