He agreed before climbing back into the driver's side and slumping in his seat. She nervously walked to the open front door.
"Hello?"
There wasn't an answer. She turned to look back down the road, debating with whether to leave or not and just deal with the consequences.
Finally, her business ethic won out and she stepped inside. She followed the sound of the soft music coming from the back. Walking through a small kitchen first, then an even smaller living room, led her to an open patio door. She stepped through and found a large table in the lit up back yard. Upon closer inspection, she found food and drinks, so this had to be the place.
No one was around, though. Had she been so late, they finished without her. If they had, why hadn't anyone called to tell her she didn't need to come? She'd left the message saying she'd be late.
"I'm glad you could make it, Katherine."
She tensed, her entire body reacting to Joseph's simple words. If he bottled that sex appeal, women around the world would be buying it up for their men, spraying a little on late at night, especially after a particularly hard day, when they needed to feel something other than exhaustion.
Pure passion – that's what he invoked, from the souls of her feet, all the way to her brain. She had to fight the yearning his presence inspired in her.
Katherine slowly turned to find him silhouetted in the doorway. His frame was eating up the small space, his stance confident, man-of-the-manor strong.
He was stunning, whether in a suit and tie, or the casual clothes he was wearing. It didn't matter. He was Joseph – the man she'd always love, but never have.
Her heart pounded, and her voice fled as she felt his powerful presence wash over her. What was she thinking coming to the meeting? She couldn't possibly keep fighting the burning need she felt for him, not even after being distanced from him for a month.
"You're late," he said as he stepped forward.
His motion snapped her out of her trance and she walked slowly around the table. She didn't want him to realize her distress, but she needed something solid between them. It gave her the illusion of protection.
"I notified you I would be," she finally said as he kept the same steady motion forward, only stopping when he reached the table, standing directly across from her. From the rise of his brow, he wasn't fooled by her seemingly casual movements.
Needing something to do with her hands, she reached for a full glass on the table, not caring what was in it, just needing to do anything to break the awkward moment.
She lifted it to her lips, taking a sip of the sweet wine, feeling the warmth slide down her throat. It was surprisingly good so she took a larger swallow. Not normally a drinker, she hoped to gain an ounce of courage from the drink.
"This is a strange location for a meeting," she commented when he said nothing else.
"I purchased it a month ago. I thought it was a great location. Private, with no chance of anyone showing up. It's been very conducive for business this evening."
"That's a positive, I suppose." She took another sip, then realized she'd drained the cup. She set it down and watched as his large hands removed the bottle sitting on ice, and he refilled her cup. She really shouldn't pick it back up, but her brain was short-circuiting at the moment.
Once it was filled to the top, she reached for the glass again, this time sipping slowly on the red sweetness.
"Where's the rest of the board?" she asked, not able to handle being alone with him any longer.
"I have a large tent set up to the north where we met. Come with me," he said, stepping to the side of the table and holding out his arm.
There was no way she was taking it, so instead, she took a step back and followed him. He moved quickly through a side gate, and a small distance before her, she saw a large white tent, something seen at a wedding or other big event. There were lights inside, but she still saw no movement.
That's when it hit her.
They were gone.
She was there, alone with Joseph, just what she'd been trying desperately to avoid.
As they reached the entrance, she stopped, knowing she didn't want to go inside. What was he planning?
"Where is everyone?" she asked, furious with herself for the small tremor in her voice.
"The meeting adjourned about a half-hour ago," he stated as if it were obvious.
"Then why wasn't I notified? Was this your plan?"
"Katherine, you were the one who was late. I can't control how short or long the meeting lasts. There were no arguments, so we moved quickly."
He spoke as if he were talking to a scared child, as if she was acting ridiculous for questioning his integrity. He'd tricked her into coming to his home, where they were completely alone, not even a neighbor within shouting distance.