He was relaxed in the plush chair, skimming the wine list, when the maitre-d’ ushered in an exquisitely elegant lady in a stunning emerald dress that molded her curves like a second skin. As the man brought her closer Stone raised his eyebrows in surprise. Why was she here? Had they got his unexpected visitor mixed up with someone else?
He rose to his feet and gave a courteous nod and that was when he got a really good look at the queen who had sauntered into his private salon. Her lips pert and prettily painted, her hair soft and feathery around her face and her eyes – those beautiful eyes, now arresting in their beauty, the colors on the lids making them sparkling green behind her long lashes. The regal beauty standing before him was none other than his awaited guest, Indiana Lane.
Her dramatic beauty stunned Stone. He knew Indiana was beautiful but this was way beyond what he could have imagined. Realizing he was still staring he gave her a smile to break the tension.
She smiled back then she did something that threw him for a loop. Was she batting her eyelids at him? He had to stop himself before he got caught in a frown. Was cool and matter-of-fact Indiana Lane flirting with him?
He had no time to ponder that question. She was standing right in front of him now, her lips parted, her chin tilted up toward him.
“Indiana, thank you for coming,” he said as his eyes roamed her face. “You look very beautiful this evening.”
She cocked her eyebrow and gave him a slow, even smile. “Why, thank you,” she breathed, her voice a deep, sultry purr.
God, what a contrast to the firm tone she’d used on him the evening before. He blinked then pulled out the chair for her and as she sat down his nostrils were filled with the seductive fragrance of her perfume. He could only describe it as seductive because, if the tightness in his groin was anything to go by, he had already fallen under her spell.
He went to sit on his own chair, thankful for the chance to hide his lower half from view. With relief he took the wine list from the maitre d’ and pretended to be lost in its contents. He needed those few seconds to readjust his thermostat. He put a hand up and ran his finger inside his collar then tugged his tie back in place. God, it was hot in here.
The maitre d’ called a black-suited young man and thankfully, by the time the server took the orders, Stone was back to normal. The room had cooled down wonderfully in the past few minutes.
He turned round from thanking the server and was just about to say something charming to Indiana – or ‘Indie’ as she called herself – when he noticed that she’d opened her little gold purse and was carefully perusing what looked like a folded sheet of paper on which she had notes or some sort of list. And as she read she was frowning, seeming deep in concentration, and she was mouthing the words. If he could read lips he would swear she’d mouthed, “Always flatter him". He almost laughed at his stupidity. There was no way her paper said anything like that. He was ninety-nine percent sure that what she was reading had something to do with business.
“Lots of things on your ‘To-Do’ list?” he said with a smile. “Had to take you work with you, I see.” His tone was teasing. He knew what it was to have a million and one things to cram into a measly twenty-four hours.
Indie jumped and her wide-eyed gaze flew to his. She immediately dropped her gaze again, shoved the paper back into her purse and snapped it shut. Then she dragged it off the table and dropped it onto her lap. When she looked up again her face was rosy with a guilty blush.
That only made Stone smile wider. It was amusing, maybe even sweet, that she’d taken her work with her and then felt guilty at being caught. “It’s okay,” he said magnanimously. “No need to feel bad. I’ve been guilty of the same thing.”
When she gave him a look of confusion he continued. “Taking my work with me. Not leaving it back at the office.”
At that, her face cleared. “Oh,” she said, a look of relief passing over her face, “that. Yes, I…can’t seem to leave the office behind.” She gave a little giggle and it made her seem much younger and a whole lot less audacious than the woman he’d met the day before. Charming, but he sort of missed the woman he’d run into.
By the time the meal arrived Indie was almost back to what he considered her normal self, ribbing him again about his name. She was never going to let him live that one down. But then, just like the transformation that had taken place with her appearance, her personality changed again. Indie’s lips softened in a smile and her eyelids lowered seductively. “Uhm, that’s a lovely tie you’re wearing.”
Stone couldn’t even remember which tie he’d grabbed when he was getting dressed. He glanced down and saw that it was a narrow black one with thin, almost invisible strips of gray. Nothing spectacular, as far as he was concerned. But maybe it appealed to women. He had no idea, but Indie certainly seemed to like it. “Thank you.” He acknowledged her compliment with a nod and a smile.
“And your cologne,” she said softly. “What is it? Issey Miyake?”
Surprised, he nodded. She had a great nose for scents.
“Perfect choice,” she almost crooned. “It suits you.” Then she lifted her glass and the tip of her pink tongue slipped from between ruby lips to taste the dark red liquid. She took a slow sip and raised shimmering green eyes to him.
Stone almost groaned. If she kept this up he’d probably reach across the table for her and kiss her senseless. A man could only take so much. He shifted in his seat but getting comfortable was next to impossible just then.
He cleared his throat. “How’s your steak?” he asked as he picked up his fork again.
She blinked. Then, as if snapping out of a trance, she straightened up and the smoldering embers left her eyes. Instead, the mischievous light was back and her lips curled in a smile. “Very well done, like I asked.”
He looked at the dark mass on her plate. “It looks like it’s been burned to a crisp,” he said.
“Just the way I like it,” she said with a laugh and to his relief it was a real laugh, not low and sexy and disturbing, but light and melodic and genuine. Now that was the Indie he liked.