“Did you see that?” she asked.
“Can you blame them? I’m sure most men come running with the crook of your finger.”
Warmth swept from her heart up to her cheeks. He had to stop saying things like that.
“Did you know,” he said, his voice suddenly casual, “the fish in the middle of the school control the school? The ones on the outside follow their lead.”
That was better. The normalcy of his statement gave her a chance to regain her bearings.
“Look up,” he commanded.
She did. A great white shark glided overhead; his sharp, lethal teeth, creepy gill slits, and smooth white belly provided an ominous sight. She gasped and her breath fled her body. Her muscles tightened and she stumbled back into a steady, protective embrace. He enclosed her in his arms and a sense of calm descended over her. She leaned into him and they stood together as her terror faded away.
Eventually, Katie returned. “If you’ll follow me . . .”
She’d forgotten about the other woman. For a few moments she’d believed they were the only two people here and the reminder that they weren’t helped. She inhaled and turned to Adam. “There’s more?”
He nodded and took her hand, his strong grip giving her a feminine thrill. Katie escorted them to a large room where they could look down into a pit filled with stadium seating. A large screen rose from the front of the room and tilted up the wall and over their heads to some point behind them she couldn’t see. It looked like a movie theater with the biggest projection screen she’d ever seen.
“Are we watching a movie?” Chelsea asked.
Adam smiled. “In a manner of speaking.”
Down on the floor at the front of the theater sat an elegantly dressed table covered in white linen. Suddenly, the lights went out. Everything around her disappeared and stars burst forth all around them. She felt as if she were floating through space.
He slid a hand around her waist. “I thought we’d enjoy dinner beneath the stars.”
Planets appeared and floated past. She recognized the redness of Mars, the serene blues and greens of Earth, the rings of Saturn. When he guided her down the stairs, she imagined them taking a stroll across the universe.
She’d always thought of herself as a strong woman, but she wasn’t made of titanium. How could any woman resist this man? She pressed a hand to her chest, overwhelmed by the beauty she’d seen and the immense thoughtfulness of the man at her side. “I can’t wait.”
He pulled out her chair and, once she was seated, took his place across from her. A server materialized with their first course.
“The chef took the liberty of creating a specialized menu for you. Please, enjoy.”
The food looked spectacular and smelled even better.
“Is this from Quartet?” she asked.
Quartet was one of the best restaurants in the city, home to a James Beard award-winning chef who specialized in Italian-and French-inspired cuisine. Reservations were at least six months out. What kind of favors did Adam have to call in for their dinner tonight?
“Yes,” Adam said. “The chef is a friend and I’m an investor in the restaurant.”
The mystery of his incredible access solved.
“I didn’t know that,” she said, surprised and impressed. He was more a man of the world than she’d thought. “I’m excited to try the food. I’ve heard good things about it.”
“It’s a great restaurant. I wouldn’t invest my money in anything less.”
She pursed her lips. “But you said the chef is a friend.”
“He is.”
“So you’d want to help him, without regard to his talent.”
His features tightened and his eyes hardened. “Are you questioning my integrity?”
She started to smile, thinking he was playing along, but his stilted tone caused her to rethink her initial assessment. “No, no. Adam, I was kidding.”
His eyes cleared, his face relaxed and a sexy grin curled his lips. “So was I.”
“Oh.” She bit her lip and let her lashes fall to cover her embarrassment. “Good one.”
Their shared laughter swept away any lingering tension.
“Did you become friends with the chef after your investment or did you know him before?”
“I met him in college.”
“Wow.” She swallowed. “Have you known Mike for that long?”
He nodded.
“Loyalty must be really important to you.”
“Paramount.” He lounged back in his chair and rested an arm on the table. “What made you choose a career in entertainment?”
She paused, her fork in midair. It was an innocent enough question, a variation asked by millions on first dates. But theirs wasn’t a typical social outing. The man across from her was astute and had already proven his proficiency at detecting inconsistencies in her story. She needed to hold on to that fact and remember she couldn’t afford to lower her guard any further and get personal with him. She ignored the part of her brain that flashed images of just how personal their joined bodies could be.
“I’m a people person,” she said, giving him the stock answer she trotted out at parties and gatherings when asked a similar question.
“I intentionally seek shelter from the limelight. You bask in it.”
“I wouldn’t say I ‘bask’ in it. It’s been reflected onto me because of my proximity to others. I understand it. I’ve learned how to use it to my advantage.”
He nodded slowly, his brows furrowing, then releasing. He had a way of focusing on her with his complete, undivided attention. Like she was his current project and he was solving for x. Being the object of such intense scrutiny was flattering but a touch uncomfortable. Especially when she possessed information that needed to stay hidden.
“Have you always liked computers?” She took another taste of the mushroom and artichoke tortellini.
“Not in the stereotypical fashion that’s always portrayed in the movies. I didn’t dismantle them or create my own super computer. I was interested in video games. I liked to escape into worlds I could control.”
She hadn’t thought they would have anything in common, but she could relate to his teenaged self’s need to escape his circumstances. There were numerous times growing up that she’d go to sleep at night praying her life was some never-ending nightmare from which she’d finally awaken. “Then, why not become a video game designer?”
“It was more than the software. I wondered how I could adapt the hardware. Find better uses for it in the world. My real-life fascination outgrew my interests in the make-believe world.”
Some might say she chose a similar path. That she couldn’t stay in her make-believe world where she wasn’t the victim of her mother’s choices, but needed to find a way to make living in the real world bearable.
“At some point you had to get into computers, right?”
“Of course . . .”
His eyes flashed as he discussed his work. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm, wanting to take it all in and not miss anything. He was a lethal combination of brilliance, good looks, and a relatability she hadn’t been expecting.
Careful, Chelsea. You’re teetering on infatuation.
Who wouldn’t be? They’d spent an incredible day together. Could she be blamed for succumbing to his charm?
He broke off abruptly, his gaze shifting sideways. “Sorry.”
“For what?”
“Sometimes my desire to continue talking about a topic outpaces the interest of the person listening.”
Her face relaxed into a smile. “Where have you been hiding him?”
“I—” He blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“This man in front of me. You aren’t the same man I met two weeks ago.”
His
expression was solemn. “Yes, I am, Chelsea. I’m the same man and I have all of the same issues.”
“Then, how do you explain all of this?”
He took her gesturing hand in his, and the friction of his thumb sliding across her skin spread quivers of sensation throughout her entire body. “I want you. This is my opportunity to show you I’m more than computers and routines and my mountain. I want you to see that my world can be fun. That we can have fun in it together.”
She couldn’t imagine saying this two weeks ago, but damn, he had a way with words.
He wanted her. Not Chelsea Grant, mover and shaker in PR, executive in one of the country’s top PR firms, influencer in all things image related.
He wanted her, Chelsea Grant. The woman.
She wasn’t even sure she believed it was possible. When was the last time it had happened? When she knew the man she was with was interested in her for who she was and not what she could do for them?
Adam’s words about the movie she watched the day after the storm swept into her mind. She lied to him. He doesn’t know her.
She may still be confused personally, but professionally she was more determined than ever to make sure his presentation was the best it could be . . . and not only for her promotion. She could list all of the reasons they shouldn’t be together, the big one being the lie that hung between them like a two-way mirror, but his conviction touched her, fed the part of her unused to such regard. She would ensure his invention received the launch of the decade.
Her heart wouldn’t permit her to do anything less.
Chapter Thirteen
THE LIGHTS OF the aquarium exhibit bathed Chelsea’s smooth skin in an aqua hue, and Adam couldn’t help but admire her profile while she studied the colorful marine animals. Her high cheekbones, the graceful slope of her nose, the addictive fullness of her lips. She entranced him more than any woman he’d ever known.
After dinner they’d made their way back to the underwater tunnel. There had been numerous revelations throughout the evening, but the most significant had been that the launch and his presentation weren’t the sole focus of their conversation. Despite his fears, they’d engaged in an earnest and lively discourse about books, movies, and politics. He’d answered her questions about computers and the tech industry and she’d shared anecdotes about her experiences in entertainment.
She wasn’t on his intellectual level—very few people were—but she was smart, perceptive, and possessed an aptitude for dealing with people. Rather than diminishing his attraction for her and confirming that the feelings he’d been experiencing were wrapped up in the circumstances of the storm, their interaction had left him determined to experience her kiss and her touch, again.
And that wasn’t good news for the HPC, Computronix, or the launch.
She turned to him and smiled. “I had an incredible time tonight. No one has ever done anything like this for me. Thank you.”
A remarkably serviceable word, incredible. He’d use it to describe the meal they’d consumed, the exhibits they’d enjoyed, and most fittingly, the short dress she wore that clung to her curves and emphasized her amazing legs. She’d pulled her hair off her face and neck and secured it with a jeweled clip. A few tendrils had escaped to curl around her face and one had claimed an enviable position at the top of her cleavage.
He’d been eyeing that curl for the past hour, the way it nestled against her skin. He’d never thought it possible to begrudge a lock of hair, but he now found himself rethinking that assertion. When her smile dwindled and she ducked her head, her lashes falling to cover her eyes, he realized he hadn’t responded to her comment.
He cleared his throat. “You’re welcome. I told you, I wanted you to enjoy yourself.”
“Well, mission accomplished, because I did.”
He gazed into her upturned face and cupped her cheek, the contact causing his palm to tingle. She was beautiful. Complex. Intriguing. He’d spent two weeks in her company and he’d yet to decode her, to unravel the enigma that hid behind her eyes. But he would figure her out. He could no more resist that compulsion than he could refrain from breathing.
The thumping of his heart blocked out all ambient sounds until Chelsea was his sole focus. She licked her bottom lip and swayed toward him, lifting her hand to rest her fingers on his forearm. He slid his hand from her face to grasp her nape, squeezing gently as he tugged her closer. Her lashes fell, shielding her pretty brown eyes. The heat from her body warmed him, her smell aroused him, and his eyes drifted shut as he lowered his head and—
“Mr. Bennett?”
His muscles went rigid and he opened his eyes. Chelsea stared at him, her lips parted, her lashes fluttering wildly. She pushed away from him and, reluctantly, he released her. They turned in unison to Katie, who stood across the room.
She clutched an iPad to her chest. “The culinary service team is cleaning up and the Academy’s staff is waiting for us to leave so they can lock up.”
He nodded, keenly aware of Chelsea standing next to him, smoothing her hair into place. Dammit. If he had his way, more of those curls would be spilling out instead of being tucked away. “Thank you for your assistance this evening.”
“It was our pleasure, sir.”
“Hey, what about me?” a deep voice asked. “Aren’t I entitled to some of that gratitude?”
Adam laughed and walked over to Jonathan, his hand extended in welcome. “What are you doing here?”
“When I heard you’d booked our services for tonight, I thought someone was fucking with me,” Jonathan said, clasping Adam’s hand and bringing him in for a hug. “I couldn’t imagine what would get you down off your mountain for a night in the city, especially considering our conversation a couple of weeks ago. I had to witness this marvel for myself.” His gaze strayed over Adam’s shoulder and he lowered his voice. “Is that the miracle worker? She’s lovely, and quite different from the last one.”
“Watch yourself,” he muttered, while motioning for Chelsea to join them. “Chelsea, this is Jonathan Moran, executive chef and owner of Quartet. Jonathan, this is Chelsea Grant.”
Adam placed his hand on the small of her back as they completed the formalities of the introduction. Jonathan was a brilliant chef, dedicated restaurateur, and notorious womanizer. He didn’t want the man to create any notions about Chelsea.
“Nice to meet you,” Jonathan said. He glanced at Adam’s hand and grinned widely, his brown eyes shining. “Did you enjoy dinner?”
“It was perfection,” Chelsea said. “I particularly enjoyed the duck with the chanterelle mushrooms.”
“A woman with exquisite taste.” Jonathan shoved his hands into his pockets and widened his stance. “Next time you’re in San Francisco, have him bring you to the restaurant for the true Quartet experience.”
“I’d like that.”
“I’m looking forward to the presentation next week,” Jonathan said, nodding as he turned to Adam. “I expect nothing less than having my mind blown.”
It took a moment for Adam’s mind to shift from the woman at his side to the presentation.
“Then your expectations will be met,” he said.
“You’ll be there?” Chelsea asked.
“I never miss a launch. How many people can say they know an actual genius?”
Jonathan’s support remained constant long after Adam’s initial investment in Quartet had been repaid. His loyalty was one of the many reasons Adam called him a friend.
“I’ve got to get back to the restaurant. Chelsea, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you.” Jonathan took her hand and raised it, glanced at Adam, and then with a quirk of his mouth, settled for a handshake.
“So, he’s the other friend you mentioned?” Chelsea asked as she stared at Jonathan’s retreating figure.
“Yes.”
“You su
rround yourself with very talented people.”
Enough about his friends. He ached to return to their interrupted kiss. His heartbeat quickened as he laced his fingers through hers and gathered her close. With his free hand, he pulled a few curls loose and let his thumb sweep across her smooth dark skin. Her lips parted and her head tilted into his caress.
Gorgeous . . .
“Before we were interrupted, you were telling me how much you’ve enjoyed this evening. So I need to know—” His fingers continued to move over her cheekbones and across her delectable mouth. Desire swelled through him, heating him from the inside. As her lashes closed he leaned forward and whispered, “Is the evening over?”
He held his breath.
Her tongue darted out to dampen her full bottom lip and his cock hardened further as he imagined it sliding between them. She opened her eyes and met his gaze.
“No.”
THE SENSE OF smell was a basic biological function. When odorants stimulated sensory cells in the nose, electrical currents were passed to the brain, which processed and interpreted the patterns as specific odors.
Adam knew this, but it was possible he’d confused basic with insignificant.
When he missed the first turn, he attributed the mistake to the late hour darkness. It was only after he zoomed past their second turn that he realized the road wasn’t holding his attention. The sweet citrus scent of her skin filled the car’s intimate interior, permeating every breath he took until she was his brain’s primary polestar. Although he’d driven up and down the mountain numerous times, the winding road still required his full consideration. Especially at night. Now he understood he was concentrating on Chelsea instead of the path ahead. Spotting one of the mountain’s scenic overlooks, he pulled the car onto the gravel turnout and engaged the emergency brake.
Love On My Mind Page 15
