“Anything for the beautiful Kate,” he said, his heavy Italian accent adding extra charm to the sentiment.
Kate had known Joseph since her first solo event upon taking over her stepmother’s company. He had saved her then, and he was rescuing her from potential disaster now. She just hoped he wouldn’t hit on her again. “I’ll have one of my secretaries in New York arrange you and your team’s flight.”
“I look forward to seeing you soon. I hope to steal a dance with you, as well. I assume there will be dancing?”
“If I can get a band or orchestra in time,” she joked. “See you soon. Thank you again. Ciao.”
Yes! Thank God for something. She immediately texted Julia the good news. A few minutes later, her phone rang with the number from the Maddox office. Kate was impressed—Julia at work, even on a Sunday.
“Hey, Julia. I’m so relieved we were able to get such a fantastic chef on such short notice.”
“Looks like you’re pulling this party off. I guess I’ll have to wear a monkey suit after all,” Michael responded, his voice light and friendly. Just the opposite of how he’d left her last night.
“Oh. Hi, Michael. Sorry, I assumed it was Julia. I just texted her.”
“I was just checking in on you. Wondered how you were doing.”
Kate flushed with embarrassment. Why had she told Michael about her mom? “I’m sorry for diving into my issues with you. I don’t normally share my personal life with people.” She ran a hand through her long hair and shook her head, wishing she could erase last night’s conversation.
“You don’t need to apologize.”
“Yes, I do. I don’t mix business with . . .” Pleasure?
“Let me take you to lunch. We can talk about the fundraiser.”
Was he serious? For someone who professed to hate such events, he was certainly showing a lot of interest. “I have a lot of work to do, unfortunately. Maybe I can email you an update tonight?” She didn’t want to come face to face with Michael again, not until she had to.
“Kate.”
The way he said her name made her groin ache.
“Dinner.” His voice was resolute.
He didn’t sound like he was giving her an option, and Kate was beginning to think Michael was not used to hearing the word no. “Where do you want to meet?” Kate! Client!
“I’ll just meet you at your room at seven.”
“Okay. See you then.” She ended the call and stared down at her phone. What she was getting herself into?
***
Michael stood outside Kate’s room but found himself hesitating. If his sister found out about his intentions with Kate, she’d sock him square in the jaw with her killer left hook. It was the first time in his life he had ever stepped out of bounds in regards to his rules of professional conduct. But he needed to make an exception with Kate. He had wanted her from the moment she’d spilled her drink on him at the club; ever since, he couldn’t stop envisioning what she would look like naked, with her long, tan legs wrapped around him.
His fist tapped the door, and he waited with a strange feeling of guilt in his stomach. Would she see the hunger in his eyes?
“Hi,” she said, opening the door. She radiated sensuality no matter what she wore, but tonight, dressed in skin-tight black pants and a white top that clung to her breasts, she made him feel a little weak. And weakness was not a feeling to which Michael was accustomed.
“I wasn’t sure where we were going.” She hesitated as her eyes raked over his jeans and T-shirt. “If you give me a minute, I can throw on some jeans.”
“You look perfect,” he said, stepping into her suite. He forced his eyes to remain on hers, instead of dipping lower to her cleavage. “I’m taking you to a little Italian place around the corner. Do you mind walking?”
“Sure.” She reached for her clutch and followed him to the elevator.
“How was your day? Productive?”
“Yes, actually. I got a lot done.”
As they stepped into the empty elevator, he took a deep breath and focused his attention on the silver doors. He didn’t usually have such a problem keeping composed around women, but for some reason, he could barely control his desire to behold every inch of her body. “I’m glad you agreed to dinner.”
She smiled at him as the elevator chimed. “Thanks again for the offer.”
He opened the door to the street and touched the small of her back, which triggered a small twitch from her body. “It’s just a block away,” he said before removing his hand.
They walked in silence to a drab brownstone building on the next street. “It’s quaint,” she said when they entered the dimly lit, but romantic setting.
“Mr. Maddox, so good of you to join us.”
Michael looked over at the restaurant owner and smiled. “Frankie, Kate here is from out of town. I wanted her to have the best Italian food Charlotte has to offer.” He looked to Kate, who was smiling at the older man.
“Nice to meet you.” She reached out to shake his hand.
“What a beautiful woman.” Frankie eyed Kate for a moment before he directed his attention back to Michael and winked.
Kate’s skin reddened at his compliment, which Michael found endearing. She was modest. “Thanks for fitting us in,” he said while patting Frankie on his back.
“Anything for you.” Frankie looked back at Kate. “Hang on to this one. He’s a good man. He helped me start my business. I began my restaurant at sixty-eight—two years ago. Can you believe it? All because this man believed in my vision.”
“Oh—we’re not dating,” Kate responded, her cheeks blushing again. “But that’s great about the restaurant,” she added.
Michael studied Kate and then looked at his friend. “How’s Billy?”
“Pretty good. Coming home to visit soon.” He must’ve realized he was still holding Kate’s hand because he released it while speaking. “He’s a Navy Seal.”
“Wow. Impressive.” Kate smiled at Frankie and nodded. “Is he your son?”
“Yes,” he answered while directing them to a small table near an exposed brick wall.
“You must be so proud,” she replied.
“I am. And I look forward to running the restaurant with him someday.” He gave one last look to Michael and Kate and grinned. “I have to say, you would make one adorable couple. Well, enjoy your dinner.” He nodded at Michael and retreated to the kitchen area.
Michael looked away from Frankie and pulled Kate’s chair out. He watched with curiosity as her face wrinkled in surprise at his gesture.
“You help a lot of people, huh?” She reached for her black linen napkin and let it fall open and rested it on her lap.
He shrugged off her comment and slid into his chair. He remained silent, studying her face. Her glossy lips were parted, and her blue-green eyes were staring into his. He couldn’t wait to taste her lips and kiss her neck. “I highly recommend the eggplant.” He broke their gaze and cleared his throat. His body was reacting to her way too fast.
“Sounds great,” she said. “I trust you.”
That’s the last thing you should do.
“So, tell me about your business. Do you like being an events planner?”
Before she could respond, a waiter appeared at their table. “Can we have a bottle of Barolo and an order of calamari, please?” Michael thanked the waiter and looked back at Kate, waiting for her answer.
“It’s not what I originally planned on doing with my life, but my stepmom needed me.”
“Is she still involved with the business?”
“She helps out now and then, but she stopped focusing on the business when Alex, my brother, joined the military.”
“I can understand that. My parents didn’t handle my time in the service very well. It can be hard on family.” The topic was darkening his mood, and he didn’t want to face that side of him again. He didn’t want to repeat the previous night’s cold goodbye. “When you told me last night that I
don’t know you—well, it’s true. But I would like to get to know you.”
Her eyes narrowed on him, and she leaned back in her chair. “Know me how?” she asked, raising a brow.
In bed, for starters. “I just want to know more about you.” He tilted his head and mimicked her body language, moving back and concentrating his eyes on hers.
“Michael, I—I don’t get involved with clients.”
He noticed the tremble in her voice. “I’m not exactly suggesting a relationship.” He’d already admitted to her that he didn’t do relationships—clearly she was not referring to that. “I don’t get involved with people I work with, either.”
Kate’s eyes shifted from his face to his chest, as if noticing the steady increase in his breathing. “So, what are you saying?” Her gaze returned to his eyes.
“I want you, Kate.” He could see the shock flash in her eyes, and he worried that he’d been a little too candid.
She stared at him, her mouth ajar. Then she snapped it shut. “Like I said, I don’t get involved with clients. And I would never entertain the idea of being with you—regardless.”
He didn’t believe her. He could feel the way her body responded when she was around him. Had their conversation not turned heavy last night, he would’ve made a move.
And she had invited him up for a drink last night. Certainly, that meant something.
“Unlike you, I only do relationships.”
He nodded with understanding, but he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to give up the idea of tasting her lips. “I guess that settles it then.” He paused and quirked his eyebrows. “Friends?”
“Sure,” she replied after a minute. She looked up at the waiter, who was now standing by their table and uncorking the wine. “I could definitely use a drink.”
Michael waited for the waiter to leave before looking back at Kate. She returned his gaze beneath long eyelashes, and his pulse jumped a notch. “So, why aren’t you in a relationship right now?” he asked, curiosity swelling inside him.
She titled her head to the side and brought the wine to her lips. She took a sip, licked her lips, and set the glass down. “Why does it matter?” She edged back in her chair, but her posture remained upright.
“I just can’t believe you’re available.” He took a swig of his drink.
“Most of the men I meet are either clients or guys from bars . . . guys who only want one thing.”
He almost choked on his wine. Guys like me. “And I fit into both those categories, huh?”
She nodded and tucked her blonde hair behind her ear, exposing a small pearl earring. “Yes, Michael, you do.”
“Good thing we’re just friends.” He studied her reaction. She was unraveling at the seams, just like him. He could feel the sexual energy radiating from her body, matching his own. But he knew it would be wrong of him to pursue her if he couldn’t give her what she needed. Right?
She smiled and nodded thank you to the waiter who delivered their calamari, and then she looked back at Michael. “Why did you join the military? Was it because of 9/11?”
He flinched at the question and put down the fork he had just picked up. “Why are you asking?”
She moved in her seat as if the question had even made her uncomfortable. “I’m always wondering what my life would be like had I chosen a different path, if I hadn’t taken over for my stepmom. I guess I was kind of thinking you might feel the same?”
He exhaled a deep breath and considered her question. “The military and the CIA pursued me when I was finishing my last year in graduate school. They told me I could help them win the war on terror.” He took a quick drink. “To be told at twenty-one that my designs could help locate terrorists and save lives was a little overwhelming.”
“But you did it.”
“I chose the military. I didn’t want to be in the CIA.” He stared down into his wine glass. To his eye, the glass appeared to rattle with the sounds of war. He shut his eyes and tried to silence the memories. Too loud. His erect posture waned for a moment as his shoulders arched forward a little.
“You okay?” she asked, her voice softening a touch.
He blinked his eyes open. “Yeah, sorry.” He swallowed. “But yeah—yeah, I know what you mean about wondering if life would be different if I didn’t join the Marines.” He didn’t regret his decision, but he knew he would never be the same.
“How about them Yankees?”
He looked up at Kate and smiled, her words surprising him.
“I always say that whenever things get a little too much.”
He nodded. “I’m more of a Red Sox fan.”
“Really? So am I.”
“I guess we have more in common than we realize,” he said with a hint of a smile in his eyes. God, you’re sexy. He forced his attention away from her as the waiter delivered their food.
They ate in relative silence until Michael finally spoke. “I’m going out of town tomorrow. Just for a night. But I assume I will see you in the office Tuesday?” He finished his last bite of eggplant parmesan and set his fork on the table.
“Business meeting?”
“I usually spend every other week in New York, but I didn’t want to be away all week.” I want to get to know you more, he thought as he looked up at her with hooded eyes.
She cleared her throat and touched her lips. Her eyes remained frozen on his as her bottom lip slipped down at the touch of her fingers. She blinked a few times. “Must be tough to bounce back and forth each week.”
He gulped, relieved that she’d spoken and moved her fingers away from her sensuous lips. Was she trying to tease him? “Not really,” he said once he realized her statement was still hanging in the air. “How did you like dinner?”
She smiled and looked down at her empty plate. “It was delicious. And the wine was amazing. Nice choice.”
“Glad you liked it.”
“Thanks again for tonight. Sorry about—um—turning you down.” She licked her lips and looked at him from the corner of her eyes. The dilation of her pupils and the slight tremble of her lips seemed to belie her words.
He had to look away. He would lose his control. He would kiss her soft, full lips right then and there if she didn’t stop looking at him like that. “Let’s get going,” he said with a deep but strained voice.
He paid the check and said goodbye to the owner. They walked back to her hotel without speaking. “I should say goodbye here,” he said once outside the entrance of her hotel. He didn’t trust himself to be anywhere near her room. And he knew she felt the same way. He could feel it.
“Thank you again.”
His eyes drifted over the curves of her delicious body before returning to her pouty lips. God damn it. He blew out a small but unnoticeable breath and leaned forward. He rested his hand on her arm and kissed her cheek. “Goodnight, Kate.” There was a gruffness to his voice.
“’Night.”
He turned and left.
Two nights in a row he found himself walking away from a gorgeous woman—what in the hell was wrong with him?
***
Kate entered her hotel room and slipped off her heels. She couldn’t believe Michael’s arrogance. How could he be so bold as to mention sex at dinner? But then again, the man was used to getting whatever he wanted. To think that she had almost fallen victim to his gorgeousness.
She tossed her bag on the floor and sank onto her couch. She couldn’t get him out of her head. She wanted him so bad. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what the sex would be like ever since they met. But he only dated models. Well, he probably just screwed them. And she couldn’t be just another conquest for him. She had standards.
But somewhere inside of him was a good man. And good men didn’t just sleep around, did they?
Why did she have to fall for him? Kate groaned. She knew it was just lust, and that lust was all he felt for her. But why couldn’t she have been one of the only women—no, the only woman—in the world to b
e immune to him?
Frustrated, she pushed to her feet and walked to the bar. She watched as the red liquid sloshed into the wine glass. “What the hell happened tonight?” She brought the glass to her lips, berating herself for agreeing to have dinner with him in the first place.
She started to sit back down but flinched at the sound of a knock on her hotel door. Oh, God. Michael? Would she be able to keep up her thin veneer of restraint?
She set her wine glass down on the coffee table and approached the door. She rested her hand over the safety lock and shut one eye as she looked out the peephole with the other.
No one was there. Had Michael changed his mind and left so soon? She unlocked the door and stepped out into the hall, looking left and right.
No sign of anyone, but she did hear the sound of the elevator doors closing down the hall.
He must have gone. Maybe he realized his mistake and took off. Thank God. She turned to go back in but noticed a red envelope beneath her feet.
She took a step back and stared down at it. Her lip tucked between her teeth. She realized that it wasn’t Michael who had knocked on the door—whoever had been stalking her had just taken things up a notch.
She knelt down and picked up the envelope before returning to her room. She dead bolted the door behind her, then walked in the living area and tapped the crimson red envelope against her leg, not sure if she even wanted to open it . . .
Chapter Six
Thirty-six hours.
Kate hadn’t opened the red envelope since she’d received it thirty-six hours ago. She had switched her hotel room within ten minutes of getting the envelope, and booked a room for the next night at the hotel where the gala was to be held. There was no way she was going to sleep one more night in a room where her stalker had been.
Just open it, for Christ’s sake.
Kate’s hand slipped inside her large purse, which also served as her workbag today, and she felt the envelope in her hand. She inhaled a deep breath as she exited the revolving doors of the hotel and stepped out onto the sidewalk.
Silenced Memories Page 5
