“Absolutely,” she responded.
The waiter approached them, and of course, Meg found herself staring idly at the man across the table from her again, hoping he wouldn’t notice. She watched and listened as he placed their order.
She fantasized of trailing kisses along that long neck of his, then down further to his broad chest. Just how the hell am I going to think or speak without making a total ass of myself? She imagined her hands going through the soft silk of his dark hair, combing her fingers through his curls.
“I hope you don’t mind, Ms. Malone. I took the liberty of ordering for both of us,” he said drawing her attention back to the present.
“Yes, absolutely, I don’t mind.” The last thing on my mind is food right now, Mr. Noble, despite how empty my stomach is.
“I hope you’re hungry and don’t worry, we won’t be skipping dessert.” He threw her a wicked smile and raised one eyebrow. All of a sudden, Meg felt like she was dessert and he was going to eat her up if he kept staring at her like that. Is it hot in here or is it just me?
Sinful thoughts swam through her head and she had no idea what he just ordered. It could have been meatloaf, which she despised, but she didn’t care as long as it meant spending more time with him.
“Ms. Malone?”
“Oh, sorry, I was just lost in thought there for a second; rest assured you have my full attention.” Meg had a tendency to daydream quite a bit. Her head always took her places at the most awkward times. Although the past had affected her in some ways, she was still an innocent woman with romantic ideas and dreamed that one day she would meet Mr. Right.
Hmm, I wonder what she’s thinking. “I hope you are having good thoughts. I would love to be inside that head of yours right now.” She is so incredibly cute when she blushes.
Did he really just say that? Feeling dizzy from his obvious flirting, she must have turned every shade of red again. She never did get that under control. “I, umm, no, it was nothing,” she lied.
The blushing seemed to have toned down a bit before she worked up enough courage to look over at him again. “So, where would you like to start?” I certainly know where I would like to get started. Mind out of the gutter, Meg, now would be good.
“We could get started with a quick discussion of the financials if you’d like.”
She bent over to her right and retrieved her iPad. “Just a moment, I’ll get that information out so we can review it together.”
He reached out to touch her arm and a tingle ran its course through her body. He really should stop doing that. “I’ve reviewed them already,” he assured her. “I just have a few questions.”
“I see you’ve done your homework, Mr. Noble.”
“Well, one doesn’t jump into these things without first being familiar with the opportunity for growth and potential revenue,” he added.
“Yes, of course. I didn’t mean to assume you hadn’t done your research, I was just...”
“No need to apologize, Ms. Malone.”
Somewhat embarrassed, she responded. “So, what is it that you would like to know?”
He straightened in his chair and the softness in his features took on a businesslike demeanor. He leaned his upper body toward Meg and they both engaged in a conversation with respect to the company’s finances. Meg was pleased that she held her own and answered every question thrown her way with precision and accuracy. They talked for maybe half an hour on that particular topic. Mr. Noble had waived off the waiter twice, telling him each time to give them another ten minutes.
He watched her intently, the way her mouth moved and the thoughtful way she answered his every question. It was clear she knew the company well and thoroughly enjoyed working there over the past eight years. He was transfixed by her natural beauty and realized throughout the conversation she was extremely intelligent, not at all like the women he had dated over the years. This woman was a dream and he was hoping like hell that he could get through this meeting and not make a fool of himself, which in hindsight surprised him. He never really thought that he had to work at impressing a woman, at least not before now.
Finally, he allowed the waiter to approach the table and deliver the appetizers. They both continued to talk while he filled Meg’s plate with delicious olives, feta cheese, and pickles along with warm a piece of Italian bread and butter. Meg was overly impressed with the fact that he took the time to place the food on her plate. She ate everything and after she finished, he asked if she would like more. What a gentleman. No one has ever, in my adult life, placed food on my plate before now. He did it without preamble, and it seemed to come naturally to him, as though he were taking care of her. Meg witnessed firsthand his charismatic charm. She realized in that moment there was much more to this man than just good looks. “What I really want to know is how the culture is, the staff, are they hard working? Are they qualified? Do they make a good fit in your opinion, Ms. Malone?”
“They’re an excellent group, and they work well together under pressure. Deadlines are achieved with minimal errors. The issue isn’t necessarily the employees themselves,” she continued.
Raising one eyebrow in concern, he waited for her to continue on.
“Mr. Noble, I—”
He cut her off immediately before she got started and leaned in closer. “It’s Drake. Please call me Drake,” he said.
“Drake,” she whispered his name.
He looked at her quizzically. “Yes,” he repeated, “Drake. I prefer that you call me by my first name. Mr. Noble seems a little too formal.
Drake studied her. The way his name rolled off her tongue made his cock twitch. Christ, what’s wrong with me? Get a grip, man.
“If you insist I call you by your first name, I insist you call me Meg.”
“Okay, is it Meg, Meggie or Megan?” he asked. Wow. The sound of her name rolling off his tongue with that perfectly sexy accent set her on fire instantly. “My friends call me Meg, but my first name is, in fact, Meggie.”
“Meggie,” he repeated back to her in a whisper. He smiled, his perfect white teeth lighting up his entire face.
“Okay, Drake.” His features took on a sudden darkness the moment she repeated his name. He hesitated and fixed his eyes on her. She cleared her throat and continued with her précis of Griffin Publishing, ending with the company’s solid reputation and good public image. Drake asked a few more questions, which thankfully she was able to answer with ease and confidence. Lunch arrived and it looked positively delicious. Meg’s stomach started growling with hunger, and she immediately took on an appreciation for the food now sitting in front of her.
“Umm, this looks delicious,” she said and watched as Drake poured two tall glasses of wine. He’d ordered Sirloin Oscar for both of them and it was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Meg couldn’t help but close her eyes for a moment, savoring the taste. When she opened them again, she looked over at Drake. He stopped chewing and she caught him staring at her. He watched her intently and Meg swallowed the food.
He shifted in his seat a little. “Delicious?” he asked. His voice was strained and God, was he ever aroused, watching her slip that fork past her perfect lips and then the sensual way she chewed her food. And if that wasn’t enough, her perfect pink tongue swiped over her lips and that just about made him come in his trousers.
“It’s mouth-watering,” she added. “I had no idea how hungry I was.” Drake carried on and continued to chew his food, and she couldn’t help but watch the movement in his throat as he swallowed. God, that was sexy.
All through lunch, Drake hung on to Meg’s every word. His eyes fixated on her mouth the entire time. He encouraged her to continue with a nod of his head and asked questions in between. Halfway through lunch, Meg felt an odd sensation. It started with her tongue, her lips felt like they were on fire, and the roof of her mouth was irritatingly itchy. It felt like her throat was closing in and leaving her little room to swallow. Before she knew it, her speech was slurred and she
was having difficulty breathing. He must have noticed the changes that were taking place because his eyes were fixed on her mouth and his eyebrows drew together in concern.
“Meggie, do you have allergies?”
“No, but I haven’t had seafood in a while. Why? Do you think I’m having an allergic reaction?” A look of humiliation crossed her face when she heard the slur in her voice and her tongue started to swell quickly. Her throat felt like it was closing in tighter, and she couldn’t stop scratching and rubbing her neck at this point.
He stood up and went over to her side of the table and cupped her chin in both hands. He held her face upward and with a concerned frown covering his handsome features, he continued to look her over. His finger traced a line gently over her lips and her cheek, and then he turned her head to the side to check out her neck. “You’re definitely allergic to something. You’re breaking out in hives and your face is starting to swell.” He wrapped his fingers around Meg’s upper arm and stood her up before him. He bent down to gather her purse and briefcase and rushed them both toward the door. He stopped briefly at the bar to let the waiter know what was happening and he assured him his assistant would call before five in the evening to settle the bill. He was a regular here and they knew he would make good with his word. After quickly thanking the gentlemen there, they made their way out.
“Come on, I’ll take you to ER. I’m not sure how much time we have. Do you think you can hang in there or should I call an ambulance?” Drake waited for her response but Meg could hardly breathe at this point.
“I think I can hang in there,” she managed to wheeze out. Truthfully, she had never, in her life, had any kind of reaction. In fact, Meg was unsure if she would make it okay, but she was so overwhelmed with this happening so quickly, that she just wanted to get the hell out of there, to a hospital.
Drake led the way walking in long strides and Meg could hardly keep up. “I can get you there more quickly,” he said and he picked up the pace. He pulled Meg closer to his side, trying his best to hide the panic creeping over him. “Come on, you have to keep up, Meggie.” He keyed a number into his phone with one hand. “Are you out front?” he said into the phone. “We have an emergency and I need you to get us to the closest hospital.” He went quiet for a moment. “Okay, we’re about to walk out the entrance.” Meg eyed the car on the sidewalk. The driver held the door open, and Drake ushered her into the backseat.
* * * *
The emergency room was packed; you could barely get through. Drake approached one of the nurses at the station, demanding to speak with Dr. Luscienda immediately. The nurse took one look at Meg and pointed down the hall. Drake rushed Meg in the direction of where the nurse pointed to an outpatient room. Once inside, he helped her up so that she was seated on the bed. The swelling was so bad now that Meg couldn’t talk and her breathing was heavy as air wheezed in and out of her lungs. Meg was completely and utterly mortified, not to mention scared. Drake stood next to the bed and kept a watchful eye on her, yelling out for help.
“Meggie, are you okay? Can you talk?” She shook her head no. He laid her down gently on the bed and helped her to her side before pointing his long finger at her. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back with the doctor,” he ordered before exiting the small room. Within seconds, a large African lady, with a name tag that read Dr. Luscienda pinned to her long white overcoat came rushing in to the room. She took one look at Meg and asked Drake what they ate and when did the swelling start. He answered the doctor while she proceeded to lean in and observe Meg’s face, her lips, and then her neck. She started to loosen Meg’s blouse at the front and saw panic written all over Meg’s face. “Sorry,” the doctor apologized. “I thought you two were—.” Before going any further, she ushered Drake to the door.
He looked at Meg who motioned for him to go ahead. She was already horrified at him seeing her this way. Her face and lips were completely swollen and she was covered in hives. His jaw twitched and his lips pursed together in a straight line. “I’ll be right outside the door,” he said and then hesitated briefly before stepping out.
The large African doctor helped Meg remove her blouse and skirt and then helped her slip into the plain green hospital gown. Meg felt a sharp prick in her left thigh and moaned a little. She didn’t see that coming and was totally unprepared. “That was an EpiPen. It will kick in right away.” Meg’s throat was pretty much closed, and despite her efforts, she couldn’t swallow the Benadryl. The doctor gave up and threw the pills in the garbage and turned to get the IV. “I’m hooking you up to an IV. This will get the Benadryl into your system more quickly,” she said. Meg felt the needle poke through a vein on the outer side of her hand. In a thick French accent, the doctor continued, “The medication will kick in shortly.” She then placed an oxygen mask over Meg’s face. “Take slow deep breaths,” she instructed, her tone was calm and soothing. Meg followed the doctor’s instructions and her breathing was moving slowly toward a steadier pace. The doctor turned to move toward the door once Meg’s breathing was regulated. “Another nurse will be in shortly to check you over before releasing you,” she assured Meg and left the door slightly open behind her.
An hour or more must have gone by and although Meg was feeling much better at this point, she had to fight the overwhelming urge to sleep. It was becoming increasingly difficult to keep her eyes open. The itchiness and red welts that covered her chest and arms had slowly subsided and her tongue felt its normal size again. The realization of what happened sank in as Meg laid there staring up to the ceiling. She felt embarrassed that Drake had seen her this way. She knew she shouldn’t feel uncomfortable, considering she could have died if he hadn’t gotten her to the hospital on time. But she was attracted to him and his seeing her this way made her lose confidence in the definite sizzle they shared between them a few hours ago.
The door creaked open and Meg looked over to see a young nurse. She quickly checked her over, letting her know that everything was back to normal and the allergic reaction was no longer a threat. She explained it would be extremely important for her to see her family doctor upon her return to Canada. She handed Meg a prescription for an EpiPen and told her to ensure she filled the prescription right away, instructing her to carry it with her at all times. The nurse disconnected the IV and removed the oxygen mask from Meg’s face and asked how she was feeling. “Tired. I feel much better but extremely sleepy,” Meg managed in a weak voice. She was to the point of exhaustion and was fighting to stay awake.
“Yes, I’m afraid you will be tired for a while. The Benadryl is strong and drowsiness is a major side effect, but I promise you will feel much better tomorrow. You just need a good night sleep,” the nurse assured her.
Meg turned her head at the sound of a low knock on the door. Drake stood there, and for the first time, she realized how tall he was. He must be at least 6’3, she thought. He filled the doorway entirely and Meg’s breath hitched at the sight of him, his presence was powerful.
“May I come in?”
“Yes, come in,” she whispered.
“How are you feeling?” His voice was low and filled with concern as he walked toward her. His long fingers reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Are you okay?” Drake looked at her and couldn’t believe how angelic she appeared. Even though dark shadows were evident under her eyes, she was still the most breathtaking woman he’d ever seen.
“Yeah,” she replied. “I’m feeling much better. Thank you for everything you’ve done. I feel awful though, you should go. I’ll call Sarah, she’s a friend of mine and I’m sure she can come get me. Please, Drake. You’ve done so much and I’ve taken up enough of your time. There must be some place you would rather be than stuck here in a hospital with me.”
He ignored the request for him to leave and lingered instead. “I hope you don’t mind, but I followed up with Dr. Luscienda to see how you were doing before the nurse came in. She said you will need to take it easy for the rest of the evening.
The Benadryl is strong and she suspects that once it kicks in full force, you’ll be knocked out cold for the night. She also suggested you see your family doctor as soon as you can and stay away from seafood until you know what it is that you’re allergic to.” His voice turned soft and apologetic as he continued. “I had no idea you were allergic to anything, I didn’t even think to ask before I ordered. I’m sorry,” he said.
Meg gripped his forearm and squeezed lightly. “It’s not your fault. I didn’t even know I was allergic to anything until this happened,” she assured him. “I’ll be fine.” Meg struggled to sit up and felt woozy all of a sudden. Drake curled his fingers around her upper arm and helped her into a sitting position.
“You’re weak and off balance. The nurse said to take you home and get you to bed. After a good night sleep you’ll feel much better. Come on,” he said. Drake realized then that Meg was still in a hospital gown. His voice trailed off before continuing. “Let’s get you dressed and out of here.”
He picked up her clothes from the end of the bed and assisted her to the washroom. Before closing the door, he handed her the clothes. “Are you okay to get dressed or should I call the nurse to help you?”
Meg retrieved the clothes from his hold. Their hands touched slightly. Startled by the brief contact, her eyes widened and she looked up at him. “I’ll be fine,” she said before closing the door between them.
* * * *
The following morning, Meg woke up in unfamiliar surroundings. She laid back and rejoiced in the renewed energy she felt. She couldn’t recall ever feeling this well-rested. With her head on the pillow, she took a moment and looked side to side before realization sank in of the events from the previous evening. She sat up rather quickly and relived the details of the day before and felt totally embarrassed. She tried to recollect what happened after leaving the hospital and getting into the limo that was supposed to take her back to the hotel. She drew a complete blank and couldn’t recall a thing. She guessed that Drake must have taken her back to his place. Where else could he have taken me? How else would I end up here in this bed?
Meggie's Secret Page 12
