She ran her fingers through his hair. Kissed his neck. “We don’t have to go. No one will know. Let’s stay in—”
“Silver will know.” He eased back and released his hold so she slid back to the floor. “Joe and Tate will know.”
Pulling away from a beautiful, willing woman had never been this painful.
Her big eyes gazed up at him, flooded with heat and emotion and desire that twisted him inside out. “Let’s cancel,” she said, her voice husky. “Just tell them I’m not feeling well.”
Yes. Yes, yes, yes. There was nothing he wanted more. But he said, “No, Mia. This is important.”
She sighed, released him, and stepped back. “It’s more important to you than it is to me, but I still can’t quite figure out why.”
“What do you mean, why?” He already missed the feel of her. “It’s a great opportunity for you, that’s why.” He reached up and lifted her hair off her forehead. “And there’s a car downstairs waiting. Grab your things.”
She moved to the table, picking up a portfolio and clutch purse, and Rafe glanced around the hotel room while he pulled himself together.
“Ready,” she said.
Rafe turned toward the door and took his first full look at her. Hundreds of thousands of brain cells instantly imploded. Her dress was indeed red. Fucking fire-engine red. It hugged every perfect curvy line of her beautiful body and made Rafe ache everywhere. It was also that soft see-through material with a solid layer of color beneath. The straps were all sparkles, the bodice barely more than a bikini top. The material was gathered in a crisscross across the top, supporting her breasts in a way that created cleavage Rafe wanted to lose himself in. The knee-length skirt gathered on the side beneath another shiny jewel, giving the dress an uneven hem and Rafe a mouthwatering view of one toned thigh.
“That’s, that’s…” Yeah, he couldn’t find words.
“A mini empire chiffon,” she said, looking down.
“No, that’s not what I meant. It’s…” He shook his head and took her in again, head to toe, then met her gaze. Her hair was in a bun just above her nape, her long bangs loose on one side. It was like seeing her for the first time. Seeing her without all the filters he’d used for years.
“Gorgeous doesn’t even begin do it justice. Or you justice.” He was blown away by this whole amazing, stunningly strong woman. “You have never looked more beautiful.”
Her expression softened, and her gaze dropped away. “Thank you.”
On the way to the elevator, Mia asked, “Are Joe and Tate meeting us downstairs?”
Rafe hit the button for the first floor. “No. I got them their own car.” When Mia just lifted one brow, Rafe said, “I wanted to give you some time to relax before the meeting. And I didn’t think Tate and Joe would let you do that.”
Outside, Rafe opened the door to the Lincoln Town Car for Mia and slid in after her. Champagne was already waiting in chilled glasses. Rafe gave the driver their destination, the time they needed to arrive, and asked him to take the long way. Then he lifted the smoked glass between the compartments, stretched out his legs, and sighed.
Now, if he could just keep a couple of feet between him and Mia for the next half hour…
He picked up the champagne glasses, offered one to Mia, then raised his own. “To new business ventures.”
Mia tapped his glass, then tipped her champagne back, drinking until it was gone.
Now it was Rafe’s turn to lift a brow. “Are you okay?”
She sighed, set the glass back, then shifted on the seat, curling up real close until her breasts and belly pressed against his arm. Her flat hand slid across his abdomen, and heat flooded south.
Rafe put his own champagne away before he spilled it, and stroked a hand over her arm. Screw distance. This was way better. He circled an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. And when he looked down at her, she was staring back with these big green eyes.
“What is this really about for you, Rafe? Wanting me on this trip. Setting up this meeting…”
He changed the subject. “Are you still planning on going to your work party tomorrow night?”
She nodded and set the glass back in the holder.
When she didn’t go on, Rafe said, “I’d be happy to go with you if you don’t want to go alone. You don’t have to claim me as anything other than a friend, and I won’t cling and cramp your style. Just an offer in case you, you know, would like a familiar face in the crowd.”
She sighed and glanced around the car’s interior with a distracted “That would be nice.”