“We do.” Nadia touched her goblet to Sherry’s. She’d chosen her assistant well. Sherry was only twenty-six, but she had solid design skills and loved to dress the part of a fashionista.
Today she wore a tight black skirt and black knit top paired with impossibly high heels and enough silver jewelry to fill a display case. Her blonde hair was cut in a short, choppy style, with a little burgundy woven in by her favorite hairdresser.
Sherry’s hair seldom looked the same two weeks in a row. As a Were, she had somewhat unremarkable butterscotch-colored fur, but in human form, she took full advantage of the chance to be outrageous.
“I want to show you something.” Nadia pulled her small laptop out of her satchel and turned it on. “I couldn’t sleep last night, so I worked on some things for the spring collection.” She handed the laptop to Sherry.
Her assistant scrolled through the drawings, her green eyes intent.
“They’re still rough, but I—”
“They’re awesome.” Sherry looked up, her small features alight. “I love these. I adore the drape of the fabric on that first dress, and that jacket paired with the cropped cargo pants would be an instant hit.”
Nadia beamed with pleasure. “Good. I really liked them, but I did them in such a rush that I wasn’t completely sure about them.”
“I’ve never known you to knock out this many designs in a few hours. Something must have really inspired you.”
“Something did. And someone, actually. At Jessie’s I ran into Roarke Wallace and his cousin Quentin. Roarke had to leave, but I spent some time with Quentin, and . . .”
Sherry laughed. “I think that’s what they call a pregnant pause. I take it this Quentin is a special sort of Were.”
Nadia could feel herself blushing. “He is.”
“Well, if he inspires you to create designs like this, I’m all for him.”
“We both know it’s a temporary relationship. He’s settled here and I’m likely to end up the Henderson alpha. But for now, we’re not thinking too hard about all that. I’m planning to see him again tonight, if you won’t feel abandoned.”
“Are you kidding? I could spend every night at the theater and not get sick of it. Besides, I wouldn’t want to stand between you and your muse. Go for it.”
“I wouldn’t say he’s my muse, but he certainly puts me in a terrific mood.”
“That’s worth a lot.” Sherry raised her goblet again. “To Quentin.”
Laughing, Nadia lifted her goblet. “To Quentin, source of many good things.”
Their order arrived, and although Sherry wanted to continue discussing Quentin, Nadia changed the subject. She didn’t want to give Sherry the impression she was seriously involved with him.
But she’d cleared the way for her to spend the evening at his place. Back at her hotel late in the afternoon, she stopped short of packing an overnight bag. She’d save that for another time, and the way she felt about him, there would be another time, and another, until her obligations forced her to give him up.
He’d called to provide his address and she discovered he did indeed live near a park. Central Park, to be exact. His apartment had a doorman and a magnificent view of the park and the New York City skyline.
He seemed almost apologetic about it as he handed her a glass of champagne. “It’s overpriced and not my first choice,” he said. “I bought it planning to renovate the place and sell it. I had a buyer, but he went to jail for insider trading. I decided to live in it until the market picks up a little more.”
She sipped her champagne as she stood by high windows overlooking a green canopy of trees lit by the setting sun. If his suggestion of making love in wolf form involved going into the park, they’d have to wait until dark.
His offer of champagne and hors d’oeuvres was a classy way to spend time until then, though. She glanced at him. He’d dressed in navy sweats and T-shirt, perhaps because they’d be easy to take off once they reached the park.
She’d brought nothing but dresses to New York, so she’d worn the most casual one she had, made from a soft material in a subtle pewter and black pattern. Tonight her heels were black.
“Have you ever had a permanent home?” she asked.
“Not since I left the Wallace compound. My parents still have their stone cottage there, but that hasn’t been my home for years.” He walked over to stand beside her and slid his hand under her hair to cup the back of her neck. “Where’s home for you?”
“I have an apartment in a high-rise overlooking Lake Michigan.” It seemed strange that he wouldn’t know exactly where she lived after they’d shared such explosive sex the night before.
His casual caress was the first time he’d touched her since she’d walked into his apartment. The hours they’d spent apart had created a subtle barrier of unfamiliarity and hesitancy. Now they needed to rediscover each other.
But rediscover each other they would. She imagined them strolling through the park tonight and finding a secluded spot to undress and shift into wolf form. Sexual tension coiled within her as she imagined how Quentin would look as a wolf, his fur a rich blend of russet and gold.
He massaged her neck, his fingers strong and sure. “This place is probably more your speed than the Greenwich Village loft.”
“Not at all. I can imagine how that loft will be once it’s finished, and I’m sure I would like it very much.”
“Then rent it from me.” He looked at her. “Give yourself an excuse to stay in New York every couple of weeks.”
She thought about Sherry’s comment that he was her muse. “How soon will it be ready?”
“If you’re serious about renting it, I’ll throw all my resources behind the project. I could have you in there before Christmas.”
“Christmas . . .” She shouldn’t be thinking of spending Christmas with Quentin in the loft, but the prospect was too delicious.
He continued his slow massage of her neck. “I’ll even bring you a giant Christmas tree and a holly wreath. We could decorate the tree together.”
Her heart lurched crazily as she imagined that cozy scene. She couldn’t think of a holiday plan she’d like better.
“I’m planning to install a fireplace. I forgot to tell you that.”
“Wood burning?” She pictured the two of them taking a walk in the snow before coming in to snuggle by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate. Heaven.
“I’d planned on that, but if you—”
“I love a wood-burning fireplace, love the smell.”
“Good.” He sounded pleased. “Then wood-burning it is. I’ll supply you with firewood whenever you’re there in the winter.”
She turned her head to look at him. “Quite the accommodating landlord, aren’t you?”
He met her gaze and smiled. “Why not? I’ve found the perfect tenant. I want to keep her happy.” Draining his champagne flute, he set it on a table by the window.
He could be referring to her sexual happiness, but Nadia didn’t think that was all that concerned him. He seemed to savor the prospect of making her happy, period.
“How did your meeting with Saks turn out?”
“It went very well, considering I didn’t sleep, after all.”
“Sorry about that.” He looked pleased with himself. “But not too sorry. It’s a compliment, in a way, to have you tossing and turning, missing me. I didn’t sleep much, either.”
“Oh, I didn’t toss and turn. I worked. I designed most of my spring collection.”
“Wow. I didn’t realize you had to work last night. I can’t regret what we did instead, but—”
“Oh, it wasn’t something I had to do. But I was inspired and couldn’t help myself.”
“Yeah?”
“The mural and the chandelier were creatively stimulating.” She paused. “And so were you.”
“I was?” He smiled with obvious pleasure. “Now that’s a compliment. When are you going to show me the designs?”
“When they’re more polished. But I think I should rent your loft, Quentin.” She felt like a cliff-diver saying that, but staying part-time in the loft and being with Quentin held such wonderful possibilities that she had to go for it.
His hazel eyes shone. “Great.”
“If nothing else, I’ll keep you from leasing to someone who doesn’t appreciate it. That would be a travesty.”
“You’re right. And this way, you can have input as I finish the place so it will suit you even better.” He lifted her champagne flute from her hand and set it on the table next to his. “We need to kiss on it.”
Heat rocketed through her, leaving her moist and trembling. “We might get carried away.”
“I sincerely hope we do.” His lips touched hers.
With a soft moan, she relaxed into the kiss and heard music. Unfortunately, it was the cell phone in the purse she’d left on his sofa, and the ringtone was her mother’s.
Her mother believed cell phones should only be used in an emergency, which meant that a crisis had erupted at the Henderson estate. Nadia didn’t need much imagination to figure out that the crisis somehow involved Theo.