Megan wasn’t sure what to expect when she stepped off the private elevator into Christian’s loft, but it wasn’t that she would be walking directly into the vast space of his living room. Or music studio, she amended when she took in the piano, several guitars on stands, and a complex network of stereo and electronic equipment. The room she’d entered was well over two thousand square feet on its own, and could easily encompass an entire home. The floors were a beautiful maple that matched the stain on the massive, original timber beams of the ceiling. The bookcases that lined the far wall were custom made, and filled with a multitude of vertically and horizontally stacked books, old record albums and periodicals. The furniture, rugs, and the few art pieces in the room suggested a minimalist, oriental influence.
“Megan?”
“It’s me,” she answered Christian’s distant voice.
A second later he entered the room from a hallway to the right. “Come on in. You can watch me while I slave away at your dinner.”
Megan followed him down a corridor that opened up to another large, well-lit space with a kitchen on the left and a dining area to the right. Her eyes widened longingly when she saw the gigantic terrace outside the sliding glass doors in the dining room, complete with lush landscaping and an outdoor hot tub.
“Nice little place you’ve got here, Christian,” she said wryly.
He laughed while he resumed slicing a tomato. “One of the advantages of Chicago. Only place I could get this amount of space and the view. Manhattan is too expensive for me and L.A. doesn’t have a view worth paying for, as far as I’m concerned.” He set down the knife and wiped off his hands on a towel.
“Would you like a glass of wine?”
Megan nodded and he removed a bottle of chardonnay from the stainless steel refrigerator.
“This kitchen is pretty state of the art. Do you cook a lot?” Megan asked with interest as she watched him expertly uncork the bottle and remove some wine glasses from the cabinet.
“No. But don’t worry. I know how to cook one or two reliable meals. Nothing fancy but you’re not going to choke on it or anything. At least I hope not.”
“That’s reassuring,” she said with a laugh.
He handed her the wine glass as his blue-eyed gaze ran over her face. “You seem happy. Your work went well?”
She wrinkled her nose and took a delicate sip of wine, savoring the flavor before she spoke.
“It was okay, I guess.”
“Are you ever happy with your sculpting?”
“Sure. For about three seconds both times,” Megan replied quickly.
He gave a full-throated bark of laughter. “Yeah, I guess we’re always our own worst critic. Thank God other people aren’t as harsh as we are.” He lifted his wine glass to hers. Megan took another sip and smiled appreciatively.
“You’re a natural sensualist.”
“What?” Megan asked, taken off guard by his husky voice.
He nodded toward her wineglass. “I’m just saying…you use your senses better than most people. I can tell from your art. Not to mention the way you appreciate your wine.” He gave her a reassuring smile when he noticed her disquietude. His unexpected words had…stirred her for some reason.
“Here’s to you and your showing. When will it be?” Christian asked.
“Not until December. I’ll never make it. I have so much to do.”
“You’ll do fine,” he murmured huskily. He glanced down over her. His forehead crinkled in concern and he straightened. He abruptly set his wine glass down on the ebony granite countertop.
“You look fantastic. I should go change clothes.”
“Why?” Megan wondered in confusion. He was dressed in the shorts and T-shirt that he’d been in several hours ago. He was barefoot, and he looked like the picture of sexy summer-time relaxation.
“You put on a dress to come over. I’m a heel. I should have dressed up for your special dinner.” He started to walk out of the kitchen, but Megan stopped him by putting her hand on his upper arm.
“It’s just a sundress. I put it on because of the heat. Don’t change because of me. I like the way you’re dressed.”
And the way you smell.
“Really?” Christian asked as he bent down close to her. Megan’s lips parted in alarm. She hadn’t just said that last thought out loud, had she? The heavy sensuality of Christian’s gaze and his body language suggested that she had. He put his cheek next to her hair and inhaled.