“What?” Tessa couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Julia? She didn’t say one word to me about meeting any friends of Nathan’s. This was at the office yesterday you’re referring to? All she really talked about was the new pair of shoes Nathan was going to buy her.”
A slow smile spread across his face, and he shook his head in exasperation. “I think I’ve been had by a very devious interior designer. And I believe Nathan is quickly discovering he’s got his hands full with that little devil he’s engaged to. Not to mention several hundred dollars poorer after buying the aforementioned shoes.”
She was more perplexed than ever now. “I really have no idea about any of that. But I’ve got no interest in dating other men. Why would I when I’ve already got my Prince Charming?”
Her answer seemed to please him tremendously, as well as relieve any doubts he might have still been harboring. “Well, every princess deserves a prince, darling. And I’m going to work very hard to make sure you’re every bit as pampered and cherished as a queen.”
She let him coax her into sharing dessert, even though she was already full from the superb meal. He fed her bits of warm chocolate lava cake and salted caramel ice cream, while they both sipped coffee – an espresso for him, a foamy cappuccino for her. She didn’t drink coffee very often, but was already beginning to feel a little drowsy from all the champagne and rich food, and decided the extra caffeine would be a wise idea. There was no way she was going to fall asleep before they had the opportunity to play out her fantasy.
“Are we going back to our room now?” she asked hopefully as he finished signing the guest check.
“Impatient, are we?” he asked in amusement.
“Yes,” she replied in a breathless voice. “The – ah – anticipation is getting to be more than I can bear.”
He slid his hand to the back of her head and brought her mouth to his for a soft kiss. “Good. I want you wild with need, so aroused that you’ll come at the lightest touch.”
Tessa groaned. “I’m already there.”
“Are you wet?”
“God, yes,” she whispered. “So much that I think I might leave a spot on this chair.”
Ian closed his eyes, muttering something beneath his breath, before standing abruptly and pushing his chair back. “Let’s go,” he said roughly, stepping around the table to pull her chair out. “Otherwise, I’m going to kiss you right here in front of all these people and it will take an awful lot to make me stop.”
She was certain he would take her back to the suite after that, but gave a little sigh of frustration when they stopped at the piano bar in the lobby instead. He noticed the little huff she made as they sat at one of the tables and smiled at her.
“Remember what I told you earlier, love? The anticipation builds the pleasure,” he reminded her gently. “Don’t pout, Tessa, it won’t sway my decision. Trust me, darling, this will all be worth it in just a very short while. Meanwhile, relax and enjoy the music for a bit, hmm?”
He ordered them each a brandy, the Camus label she know he preferred. She still found the taste of the fine liqueur a little bitter for her taste but nonetheless sipped her drink daintily. Ian held her hand loosely in his as they listened in companionable silence to the vocalist and her accompanying pianist. Several couples in the bar were dancing in the small space in front of the piano as Ian pulled her to her feet and out onto the dance floor.
He held her close, one arm banded about her waist, the other hand clasping hers where it rested on his shoulder. He danced as smoothly and effortlessly as he seemed to do almost everything, and it was the easiest thing in the world for her to follow his lead.
“I wanted to dance with you so badly at the Christmas party,” he murmured close to her ear. “Especially when I saw you there all alone. But of course, I couldn’t, not without revealing my hand – and my feelings – to everyone else there that night.”
“Including your date, of course,” she replied teasingly.
He gave her waist a little squeeze. “Behave. I’ve already explained to you about Rebecca. And you were the woman I wanted that night, not her. When you told me as you were getting ready to leave about your divorce – you have no idea what I felt to learn the news. I couldn’t go back to the party for a while – I needed some private time to fully absorb the reality that you were finally going to be free.”
She nestled the top of her head beneath his chin as they kept dancing to the next song. “You were so kind to me that night – getting me a taxi and paying for it. But I just figured you were only looking out for one of your employees.”