by Opal Carew
He turned to Melanie and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Please say you’ll join me and we can go somewhere quiet.”
Sue walked over. “Hi, I’m Sue.” She grinned broadly as she held out her hand.
Travis shook it. “Nice to meet you, Sue.”
“Travis, that’s our supervisor over there. I happen to know she saw your concert on Thursday night and is a big fan. I’m sure she’d be thrilled if you go say hi, and I doubt she’d turn you down if you ask if Melanie can leave for lunch a little early.”
“Thanks for the tip, Sue. I’ll be right back.”
“What are you doing, Sue? I’m seeing Storm.”
“Listen, Mel, you have two sexy men pursing you.” She winked. “Keep your options open.”
Travis strolled back to Melanie. “Ready?”
“I … guess so.”
***
Melanie and Travis sat down at the table on the patio of Genaro’s, a little café a couple of blocks from the shop. The hostess handed them menus, and after a quick glance at the specials, Melanie closed hers.
When the waitress came by, Melanie ordered the chicken-and-pineapple wrap with a salad and Travis asked for a beer and a burger.
“I’m surprised you came to see me,” Melanie said.
“Why?”
She couldn’t help staring at his blue-green eyes, which sent waves of warmth through her every time he focused on her, which felt like all the time. It was as if she was all he could see.
After years of working with Rafe and feeling invisible, it was a heady feeling. He continued to watch her with unabashed interest, as if he could peer into her soul and know her deepest secrets.
“Well, you don’t really know me. And I didn’t think you were staying in the city.”
“I wanted to spend some time with my sister. I only met her fiancé briefly when they came to see us play on Thursday, and we didn’t get much time to talk. I can’t let my little sister just marry some guy without getting to know him.”
She smiled. “And do you approve?”
He grinned. “That depends. Do you like the guy?”
“Mr. Ranier? Yes, of course.”
“You call him Mr. Ranier?” He shrugged. “I guess he was your boss. Yeah, he seems a bit overbearing to me, but he seems to make Jess happy.”
She nodded.
“And as for not knowing you,” he smiled, “I wouldn’t mind changing that.”
“Is that why you asked me to lunch?” She pushed a loose strand of hair, which had escaped the elastic that bound it, behind her ear. “You know I’m seeing Storm.”
He shrugged. “I asked you here because I want to get an engagement gift for Jess and I want it to be something special. I thought I could ask your advice. Maybe you’d even help me pick it out.”
“Oh, that’s nice of you.” She nodded. “Sure, I could do that.”
The waitress brought their food and she picked up her fork. As she enjoyed a bite of her salad, she gazed at Travis.
Just being at the same table with him set her off balance. Despite his tough guy attire, he had a sensual aura about him, and she sensed the soul of an artist in him. She felt a strange desire to run her fingers through his sandy brown hair. As if reading her mind, he pushed a lock behind his ear, revealing three small hoop earrings.
Why couldn’t she stop thinking about how sexy he was? Was she forming an addiction to rock musicians? Or with Travis, was the appeal that when he looked at her, he seemed to truly see her?
He glanced up and caught her staring at him. A slow smile spread across his face.
“So, darlin’, just how serious are you and Storm?”
***
The limo pulled up outside the coffee shop where Melanie worked and Rafe got out. He’d tried texting her about twenty minutes ago, but she hadn’t responded yet, so he figured he’d stop by and ask her in person. She didn’t keep her cell with her while she was working, so that meant she probably hadn’t left for lunch yet.
He stepped into the shop and saw the smiling Sue serving a customer, and another woman he didn’t recognize wiping a table by the window.
“Oh, hi,” Sue said when she saw him. “Um … Melanie’s not here right now.”
“That’s too bad. I was going to take her to lunch.”
“I’ll let her know you stopped by.”
“Excuse me.”
Rafe turned to the other woman who now stood beside Sue behind the counter.
He smiled. “Yes?”
She examined his face. “Aren’t you in Savage Kiss, too?”
Too?
“Yes, I am.”
Her eyes lit up the same way he’d seen a thousand times before when a female fan recognized him. Which boosted his ego every time, but right now he wanted to know who else she’d seen from the band. And when.
“I thought so. You’re Storm, the guitarist.” She smiled brightly. “You’re all really good, but you’re my favorite.”
“Thank you very much.”
If he had been wearing his jeans, he’d have smiled wickedly and called her baby, since the fans loved that so much, but in his suit it just felt … odd being recognized. No one had ever recognized him as Storm when he was in his suit before. Actually, no one in Philadelphia had ever recognized Storm from Savage Kiss. The band was becoming well-known now, so if he continued to play with them when they were in town, it would start to happen more often. That could become disruptive.
“Have any of the other band members come in?” he asked.
“Yes, the lead singer, Travis, came in about an hour ago. He took Melanie to lunch.”
Somehow, Rafe maintained his calm smile without even a flinch.
“Do you know where he took her?”
He noticed Sue glance nervously at the other woman.
“There’s a nice café on the corner two blocks east of here called Genaro’s. The staff often go there for meals. The other likely place is Freida’s Diner another block farther.”
“Thanks.” He turned and headed to the door.
Why had Travis taken Melanie to lunch? He fumed. As if he didn’t know. Fuck, he needed to tell Travis to lay off. That this woman was off-limits. But knowing Travis, that would only make him pursue her harder.
Why the hell would Melanie agree to go with Travis after he’d told her Travis would steal her away in a minute? Of course, despite the incredible night of sex they’d shared, there was no promise of anything more. Certainly nothing that said they were exclusive.
Once on the street, he started east, but his limo pulled up to the curb. The driver got out of the car to open the door.
***
Melanie shifted in her chair as Travis stared at her with those unnerving blue-green eyes of his, waiting for her answer as to whether she was serious about Storm or not.
“You’re hesitating.” He reached forward and took her hand, then stroked her wrist. “That makes me think maybe I do have a shot with you.”
He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm, sending tremors through her.
She knew she should pull her hand away, but she was mesmerized by his touch.
“Hell, no!”
Her head jerked around as she saw Rafe barreling into the restaurant, his nostrils flaring.
Also by Opal Carew
Bliss
Forbidden Heat
Secret Ties
Six
Blush
Swing
Twin Fantasies
Pleasure Bound
Total Abandon
Secret Weapon
Insatiable
Illicit
His to Command
His to Possess
About the Author
Opal Carew is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen previous erotic romances for St. Martin’s Press. To learn more, visit her on the Web at www.opalcarew.com.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portraye
d in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
HIS TO CLAIM #2: SAVAGE KISS. Copyright © 2014 by Opal Carew. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Patricia (Schmitt) e-ISBN 978-1-4668-5758-2
First Edition: June 2014
eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].
Find out how it all began! Read Jessica and Storm’s novel
His To Possess
Available now!
And don’t miss Opal Carew’s next erotic romance
Riding Steele
Coming soon!
