Melanie looked somewhat satisfied with the explanation. “Okay, I overreacted, probably because I saw this as my first big chance to impress you. Plus, you seemed to take it for granted that I’d drop everything to get ready for that meeting, and you didn’t even bother to have your secretary reschedule.”
“Because I was going to see you tonight myself. I was hoping the flowers would get me off the hook,” he said.
“Admittedly, they were a nice touch,” she told him, a smile finally teasing at her lips. “But a few sincere words would have been better.” She gazed into his eyes. “Then, again, I imagine you’re not used to apologizing to anyone for your actions, are you?”
“I do when it’s necessary,” he said, disconcerted by her too-accurate assessment. He wasn’t used to anyone questioning his actions. What was it Destiny had said, that too many people bowed to his every whim? Taking another person’s feelings into consideration was going to be a new—and most likely humbling—experience, at least if tonight was any example.
“Which you deem to be the case how often?” Melanie inquired tartly. “Once a year? Less?”
“Less,” he admitted with a shrug. “I am sorry for canceling the meeting. My schedule was too tight in the first place, even without that unexpected opportunity to bid on the company I want. I should never have scheduled another meeting, but I knew how anxious you were to get started and I wanted you to see that I intend to listen to your advice.”
For the first time since his arrival, her expression brightened. “You do?”
Richard laughed. “Don’t let it go to your head. I said I’d listen, not that I’d act on it.”
She grinned. “That’s a start. I thought you were just dismissing me today because you figured whatever I had to say wasn’t important.”
“Honestly, Melanie, I do want to hear your impressions. You can tell me in the car.”
“How far away is this fund-raiser?”
“Ten minutes.”
She nodded. “I’ll talk fast. There are only a few people worth talking about anyway.”
When they walked outside, she stopped and stared at the limo waiting by the curb. “Very fancy.”
“I find it useful when I hope to get some work done.” He met her gaze as he ushered her into the luxurious car. “Or when I want to devote all of my attention to the person I’m with.”
“Oh, boy,” she murmured. “How am I supposed to concentrate after you say something sweet like that?”
“We could just put aside all these pesky business things till later and go back to kissing,” he suggested slyly. He was fairly certain he’d never get enough of kissing her.
When he started to lean toward her, she held him back. “I don’t think so. You didn’t hire me for my kissing prowess.”
He laughed. “You sure about that? We do have two deals, you know.”
She gave him a look filled with confusion. “Believe me, that has not slipped my mind for a single second. Something tells me it’s going to be keeping me awake at night.”
Richard bit back another laugh. “Trust me, sweetheart, I’ve had the same thought.” He regarded her hopefully. “If we’re going to be awake anyway, we could spend the night doing something interesting.”
She gave him a look clearly meant to freeze his libido in its tracks.
“I don’t think so,” she said icily.
Richard might have taken her at her word if there hadn’t been the tiniest flicker of pure fire in her eyes. He was counting on that flame to defrost all that ice eventually. He just prayed he could manage to control himself till then. Exercising his restraint was getting to be more difficult with every second he spent with her.
Melanie was startled when the first person they ran into as they entered the hotel ballroom was Mack. He seemed to be on the lookout for them, because he instantly latched on to Richard’s arm and pulled them right back into the bustling corridor, where a half-dozen registration tables had been set up so people could pick up their table assignments.
“Brace yourselves,” he said grimly. “Pete For-sythe is here, looking like a cat who was let free in the aviary. One glimpse of you two and he’ll have the lead for tomorrow morning’s column.”
“Won’t that be fun?” Melanie muttered, then brightened. “We could use this, you know.”
Richard and Mack both stared at her.
“How?” Richard asked.
“He wants a juicy tidbit. Let’s give him one. Let’s end the speculation right here and now and tell him that you are definitely considering a run for Alexandria City Council and that you’ve hired me to advise you.”