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I locked my gaze with his and held for a beat, two, three. The scent of his cologne and his painfully masculine face intoxicated me. Heat flared in my cheeks as I realized I tipped the scale from confident to flirtatious, but I didn’t glance away. It was already done.
Was he who I thought he was? That question burned behind my lips, but I didn’t dare ask. It wasn’t appropriate, even for the new me.
The appetizer and bottle of Chardonnay arrived before Raphael could say more. He raised his glass to toast me, face cordial but unreadable.
“To new beginnings.”
Chapter Five
Raph
“Imay have to take you up on that offer.”
I gave her a devilish grin and turned my attention to our food.
When she said I could have her whenever I want her, she was talking about the project. I knew that, really, I did. She was talking about the project. Repeating that mantra in my head did little to temper my reaction to the suggestive words. Or the teasing black dress with lace in all the right places. My slacks grew a little tight in front, and I adjusted in my seat, growling low.
Keep it together. The meeting was no different with her than anyone else.
Lia was a doe, and I was a wolf, ready to devour her on the spot. Those wide eyes beckoned me, begging me to place them. I sighed and steepled my hands on the table. She was beautiful, but there was more to it. I knew her. But from where?
That train of thought was taking me nowhere. I needed to refocus on why we were really there. She needed to know the specifics of the job before she signed anything. I wanted her to be available all day for questions. She also needed to work closely with the construction team to make sure they didn’t hit any snags on the ambitious timeline.
While we enjoyed some chardonnay, we discussed the finer details, like color schemes and materials. When I felt we’d gone over everything, I presented her with the contract. She agreed and signed.
Thank God.
She was mine for the next six weeks. I hoped that was enough time to quell my insatiable curiosity. I felt it pulse every time our eyes met. Where had I seen Lia Hall before? Her mystique drove me wild. And the way she’d touch her chest whenever she faltered. Such a cute tell.
After we finished up the brass tacks, Lia calmed down and opened up. Her shoulders relaxed, and her laugh wasn’t forced. With every bite of food, she stopped and savored. She appreciated the moment and didn’t try to dig for more. It was sexy, and I was entranced.
Lia transformed from reserved and timid into a gorgeous woman brimming with fire and passion. Her eyes lit up as she talked through her plans, and that zeal had me hooked.
Though it was our first hour working together, I was already in danger. Attraction spelled trouble.
I stared at her heart-shaped mouth as she spoke and wondered if this captivating change mirrored her actions as a lover. Would she start out timid, then blossom for me? Would her chest flush as much as her cheeks when pleasure found her?
She tucked a stray golden lock of hair behind her ear as she picked up her wineglass. I watched her throat while she swallowed. The more I tried to stop it, the more my mind drifted away from polite conversation.
We could have a lot more fun somewhere else.
But this wasn’t about having fun. It was for Experience Shoreview.
Despite that, every word she spoke in her sweet, dulcet voice drove my focus away. She was a vision, and though it might be the wine running the show, I was getting lost in her. Celibacy was catching up to me.
I hadn’t cut loose since I lived with Kendall, enjoying the bachelor life to the fullest. According to him, when you worked at Experience, you had a guaranteed pickup line. That anecdote rang true more often than not. Kendall had always used his strengths and never spent the night alone. I had my time playing the field, but I was lonelier for it. I had craved more substance in my life than a warm body could provide.
Women who wanted me for my status were not to my taste. I aligned more with Geoff. He was my mentor and fed my ravenous hunger for success. Work gave me the outlet I needed to push forward, a worthy way to deplete my excess energy.
Seeing Lia across the table in the candlelight, all my business acumen got lost in transit.
It was her eyes that had first entranced me. That and her mystery, her honey waves, that tantalizing black dress… hell, it was everything about her. I couldn’t look away even when I tried. She was looking at me with an odd expression.
Shit.
I cleared my throat.
“Could you repeat that?”
