“Ben’s a goalie for Vancouver—or at least he was until he tore his knee up last week. It ended his season, but he seems to think it’s the end of his career.” His face grew serious, his lips pressing into a straight line. “I’m waiting for his pain meds to wear off before I try to talk some sense into him.” His mood lightened as he added, “That is, if Mom hasn’t already.
“Caleb, whom you met at the lake house, is a pilot in the Air Force. Dan’s finishing up his surgery residency. Ethan,” he said, pointing to the man with straight black hair that came down to his shoulders, with hints of tattoos peeking out from under his clothes, “is in a band.”
She took the frame and studied him closer. “Isn’t he the lead singer of Ravinia’s Rejects?”
Adam nodded as through it were some local garage band instead of the multi-platinum rock group known around the world. He continued down the photo, pointing to the man with red hair who seemed to be made of pure muscle. “Frank is a linebacker for Atlanta, and Gideon is an actor.”
She recognized the youngest brother as one of the hottest leading men right now, and it had almost as much to do with his acting abilities as it did with his status as of one the sexiest men in Hollywood.
Her fingers fell from the frame. Every single one of them had done something extraordinary, making her feel more insignificant with each passing second. “You have quite an accomplished family. Your mother must be very proud.”
He shrugged and placed the frame back on the mantle. “Our parents always encouraged us to do what we were passionate about. I suppose you of all people should know how powerful it can be to work day to day in what you love the most.”
“Yes, I do.” She’d been cautious not to bring up the lease over the last two weeks, but it was times like this when it weighed on her like a two-hundred-pound barbell. Part of her wanted to mention that she’d love to keep working with her passion, but it meant she’d have to ask him about his decision to let her keep the restaurant. As it was, she’d already started scouting out places that were in her price range, but none of them even came close to what she had now.
She turned back to the picture, staring at Ben. “Don’t be too hard on your brother when you talk to him. I can understand how disheartening it is to be faced with the prospect of not doing what you love.”
Adam met her gaze for a moment, then looked away. “Would you like to see the rest of the house?”
“Is this an upstairs tour or a downstairs tour?”
He jerked to a stop, his hand on the doorframe leading to the hallway. “Excuse me?”
Her mother had always warned her to bite her tongue. This was one the times she’d wished she’d followed that advice. “I know how things get when we’re alone together, and since we’ve already checked off the ‘hurried sex in a place where someone might walk in on us’ fantasy, I was asking if you’d invited me here to check off the ‘having sex in your parents’ bed’ fantasy or whatever it was you had in mind.”
He approached her slowly, one brow raised. “No, it’s the exact opposite.”
She didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until it whooshed out.
“Unlike most teenagers, having sex in any place where my parents could catch me was never a fantasy of mine. Even though I know my mom’s all the way in Vancouver, I still worry she may walk in on me, so sex is the last thing on my mind at the moment.” He stopped and threaded his fingers through hers. “I invited you here for the very reason I gave you last night. The two of us, fully clothed, enjoying a meal together.”
The warmth of his hand flowed up her arm and settled into her chest, chasing away her doubts. “I’d like that.”
“Me, too. I even packed a picnic lunch.” He led her into the cavernous white kitchen that perfectly suited the Victorian feel of the home. “It’s such a nice day out, I thought we could enjoy the sunshine”
“That sounds wonderful.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been able to stretch out under the sun and let it beat down on her skin. The spring day was warm enough to be comfortable, but the light breeze kept things from getting too hot.
Adam grabbed the basket and blanket sitting on one of the counters and motioned for her follow him outside. They wove along the winding path that cut through the garden. The air was full of the sweet scent of roses and gardenias, their fragrant blooms nodding as they passed. It was an ideal place to have a picnic, but Adam continued on to the soft grass ahead, finally stopping under the branches of an oak tree that must have been planted when the house was built.
“This look good to you?” he asked, spreading out the blanket.
She nodded and sat down beside the basket. “What’s on the menu?”
“I bet you enjoy asking that for a change,” he said with a laugh. “We have a gourmet selection of sandwiches.” He pulled them out one by one. “Turkey and Gouda. Ham and Swiss. Roast beef and cheddar. And last, but not least, the classic PB and J.”
It was times like this when she forgot that he was a successful businessman who was probably worth millions. Adam may have been born to money, but he also acted like a common Joe when he was out of the suit. “What? No caviar and champagne?”
“Nope, but I have potato chips, dill pickles, and the ever-refreshing Coca-Cola.” He held out a bottle of pop like it was a bottle of Dom Pérignon.
She couldn’t suppress a grin. “Impressive.”
“I learned my lesson when it came to cooking.” He popped the lid off the bottle and handed it to her. “Keep it simple.”
“Simple is good from time to time.” She picked up the turkey sandwich and unwrapped the deli paper around it. “Besides, it still took some time and planning to pull this together.”
“Yep, complete with a trip down to the local supermarket.” He pulled out a pink box and a book. “For dessert, we have cupcakes and poetry.”
“Now I know you went all out.” She picked up the book and read the spine. “John Donne?”
“One of my favorite poets. I developed an appreciation for him while I was at Oxford.”
“And when was that?” she asked before taking a bite of her sandwich.
“In college. That’s where I met Vanessa, the woman I brought to La Arietta.”
The food stuck in her throat as she tried to swallow, and the unwelcome sensation of jealousy prickled along the base of her spine. “Oh?”
“Yeah, she lived in my building. Don’t let her posh accent fool you—she’s the daughter of a mechanic and a school teacher—but she’s been a good friend over the years.” He opened the book and pulled out a piece of paper. “In fact, she wrote this about your restaurant.”
The first thing she noticed was “The Times.” The next thing she realized as she scanned over the review was that Vanessa had raved about the food. “This is fabulous.”
She wanted to sound excited, but her voice sounded hollow. What good was this review if she was forced to close her doors in a little over a week?
Adam must have heard her hesitation because he lowered the paper enough to meet her gaze. “I told you I would do my best to let you keep your restaurant, and I’m working on it.”
A dozen questions flashed through her mind. What was he doing? Had he shown Schlittler any of the other places? What did the chef think of them? When could she expect to have an answer? But she pressed her lips firmly together, asking none of them. She’d already made one verbal faux pas today. She didn’t need to insult Adam again.
Those blue eyes of his never wavered as he watched her. “You want to say something. I know it.”
“Yes, but I’ll keep it to myself.”
“One of the things about you that impresses me is the fact you’re more than considerate about keeping our business out of our pleasure. Most women I know have no problem pressing their own agendas when they’re with me, but you’ve remained relatively silent.”
She laid the review down, soaking in the praise a second longer before replying. “You know how
I feel about it. I don’t need to make a pest of myself. Besides, I do enjoy your company, all business aside.”
“I’ve never doubted that for a moment.” He cupped her face in his hands and placed a chaste kiss on her lips, pulling back a fraction of inch when he finished, so that their noses still touched. “You’ve placed me in an awkward position, you know.”
She brought her hands up to his arms. “I’m sorry, Adam.”
“No, don’t apologize.” He pulled back and played with his chips, not eating them. “Before I met you, I knew what I wanted and I had no problem staying on course until I got it. But with you....” His brows bunched together and rubbed his hands on his jeans. “I’m learning the hard way that compromise doesn’t come easy.”
Her pulse quickened. “Then why did you stray off course this time?”
“I thought that was obvious.” He leveled his gaze on her, the heat in his blue eyes enough to leave her feeling hot and bothered and entirely over-dressed. “I’ve seen how much you enjoy your passion, Lia, and if I could only grasp ten percent of that passion, I’d be a very happy man.”
A new kind of warmth flooded through her, one that overwhelmed the heat of desire and left her far more content than even the most powerful orgasm. The fact that he cared enough about her to change his plans so she could be happy made her heart flop as clumsily as her tongue for a several beats. And although it seemed too small of a reply, she managed to say thank you.
“Don’t thank me just yet. I still have a few more things to take care of before I can safely say the lease is yours, but I’m working on it.” He picked up the book and lay back, bunching a corner of the blanket up into a makeshift pillow. “Shall I entertain you with some of Donne’s sonnets?”
She curled up next to him, placing her head on his chest. The position had almost become second nature to her now, a place to call home while in his arms. She’d worried about the possibility of falling in love with Adam, but now there was no denying the fact. With each passing day, he won more and more of her heart and left her more and more vulnerable to having it broken. But for now, she’d savor every moment she had with him.
The steady drum of his pulse beat in time with the rhythm of the words he read aloud. “Go and catch a falling star....”
****
Adam paused after he finished reading “The Triple Fool” and looked down at Lia. She’d fallen asleep beside him, her dark lashes casting deep shadows on her cheek. The sunlight that filtered through the leaves above shimmered in her hair like liquid gold. He ran his fingers through the silky strands, committing every sensation to memory.
His father had told him years ago to find a woman he could enjoy the quiet moments with. At first, he’d laughed at the idea. But as he grew older, he began to see the wisdom behind his father’s advice. He’d been in relationships where the sex was awesome, but that was it. Then there were the relationships where awkward silence would take over, a sure signal that it was time to end things. He’d never been with a woman where he was absolutely content to watch her sleep, until now. This was what he wanted this afternoon—confirmation that he could enjoy the quiet moments with Lia.
He closed his eyes and tried to imagine a future with her, one where she was the last face he saw every night and the first one he saw every morning. It was all too easy to visualize. He could stand behind her every night as she cooked, his arms around her waist so he could swing along with the rhythm of her hips as she swayed in time with her spoon. She’d let him sample her creations, and he’d reward her with a kiss. They would share a blanket on the couch as they watched movies. And then he’d carry her off to bed and make love to her until they both collapsed from exhaustion.
The images flashed forward at a dizzying pace. He could see welcoming guests into his condo for a dinner party. He could see them snoozing in a hammock in Hawaii. Then the images started going in an unfamiliar direction that quickened his pulse. He could see her stomach full and round with their child, could see her holding a baby, surrounded by several children, the two of them as happy as his parents had been.
He snapped his eyes open with a start. His breath came in quick pants as though he’d just sprinted around a track. When he’d thought about a future with Lia, he’d never expected it to go there. Marriage? Children?
But when he looked down at her again, a peace settled over him, calming his racing heart and slowing his breath. Yes, he could see that kind of life with her. She made it so easy for him to fall so hard for her. He just hoped the restaurant deal wouldn’t destroy his chances of obtaining it.
She stirred in her sleep, and he glanced at his watch. Two o’clock. Time for him to wake her so she could make it to La Arietta in time for the dinner crowd. “Lia,” he murmured, “it’s time to go.”
Her lashes fluttered, revealing the deep green of her drowsy gaze as she looked up at him. A sleepy smile spread across her lips. “Ti amo,” she said in the slurred voice of the still-dreaming.
He touched her cheek. “And what does that mean?”
Her pupils constricted, erasing the last traces of sleep from her gaze, and her brows pulled together to create a single line above her nose. “Huh?”
“Never mind.” He tilted her chin up so he could kiss her lips. “You were talking in your sleep.”
She sat up and stretched. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s a good to know we can actually sleep next each other without having torn each other’s clothes off beforehand.”
She chuckled, a wash of deep pink flooding her cheeks. “I agree.”
As he watched her, snapshots of them together in the future flashed in front of him, distracting him from the here and now. He rubbed his eyes to clear them from his sight. “I regretfully inform you that it is just past two.”
The smile fell from her lips. “Which means I have to go.”
He crawled toward her, grinning as he said, “Of course, you could just play hooky for the rest of the day.”
“Sorry, but my name is not Ferris Bueller, and I don’t get a day off.” She gave him a playful shove and rose to her feet.
He followed her, taking a moment to throw everything back into the basket. “We should do this again some time.”
Her shoulders tensed and her eyes widened. Her gaze moved up and down his face before she relaxed into a nod. “Yes, we should.” She took the blanket from him and draped it over her arm.
The house was dry and cool after the humid heat of the afternoon, but lonely and empty. He’d grown up here and couldn’t remember a moment where he and his brothers weren’t running through the halls. Even after they’d all grown up and moved out, there was still Jasper galloping from room to room, trailing his mother or any houseguest who might have come over. What good was a big house if there was no one to fill it?
They were at the door before he realized it. Lia paused, her hand on the door, and leaned over to brush her lips on his cheek. “Thank you for a lovely afternoon, Adam.”
The glance she gave him as she left told him she hoped to see him again soon.
As she drove off, he pulled out his phone and found the translator app. He set it for Italian to English and repeated the words she’d said earlier. “Ti amo.”
“I love you,” a proper feminine computerized voice replied.
The blood rushed from his head, and the bones melted from his legs. He sank down onto the stairs.
She loved him.
And he could no longer deny that he’d fallen in love with her, too.
But until he settled the restaurant problem, they didn’t stand a chance.
He stared at his phone, paralyzed with fear rather than indecision. He knew what path he needed to take, and he dreaded the struggle that lay in store for him.
Chapter Thirteen
Lia wiped the sweat off her brow after adding the finishing touches to another order and watched as it was whisked into the dining room. The folded piece of paper con
taining her review in the London Times scratched against her thigh through the fabric of her pants. She reached into her pocket, holding it in her fist once again to make sure it was real.
Everything this afternoon had been part of some perfect dream that had shattered the moment Adam reminded her that it was time to come to work. Her hands had trembled the entire drive into the city. Her gut told her that he would keep his promise to let La Arietta stay here, but a creeping wisp of doubt danced along the fringes of her mind, always asking her “what if.”
What if Adam did choose Schlittler over her? Would she still want to be with him?
What if he did let her keep the restaurant for now, only to ask her to give it up as their relationship progressed so she could become the society wife someone like him deserved?
The prospect of finding herself locked in a gilded cage again terrified her more than she cared to admit. Worse, the fact she’d actually toyed with the idea of going along with it to keep him sent chills into the very essence of her soul. Adam understood her love of cooking, her passion for the restaurant. If he truly cared for her, he’d never ask her to give it up.
Julie used the break in the action to come stand next to her. “So, how did it go today?”
Lia had been so determined to throw herself into work that she’d gone nonstop from the moment she stepped into the kitchen. “It went...well.”
Funny how she could capture all the confusing thoughts rolling around in her subconscious into one tiny word.
“Well? Or well-well?” Julie raised her brows suggestively.
“Just well. No hanky-panky involved.”
Her sous chef gave a dramatic sigh. “And here I was hoping to hear all about your afternoon delight.”
Lia giggled and bumped Julie’s hip with her own. “It was just a picnic in his backyard, sweet and romantic.”
“As opposed to the way you took off with him last night and came back with your hair all tangled up.”
The Sweetest Seduction, Breakaway Hearts Page 11
