scolded herself, and tilted her chin assertively.
âNick, so sorry to keep you waiting.â
âYou are worth any wait, Liza,â Nick opined throatily. His dark eyes travelled over her from her hair, her face, lower to linger on her cleavage, revealed by the neckline of her dress, and down over her body and her long, shapely legs to her feet, then back to her face. âYou look stunning.â His eyes, gleaming with all-male appreciation, caught and held hers.
âThank you,â she murmured, her breath lodged in her throat as she dragged her gaze away from his, and asked in a desperate attempt to free herself from the electrifying sensations he aroused in her and be her usual assertive self, âI donât know where you planned on eating, but I thought, seeing as you showed me around today, perhaps you would like to be my guest for dinner, in the hotel.â
His firm lips quirked in a crooked smile. âCall me old-fashioned,â he reached out and cupped her elbow with his hand, âbut when I ask a lady out to dine I make the arrangements, and Iâm sure you wonât be disappointed,â he said, amusement colouring his tone, and, dropping his hand from her elbow to circle her waist, he held her to his side and turned towards the exit, taking control.
He felt her slender body tremble and stiffen and glanced knowingly down at her. âI thought we could eat at my villa if you have no objection. Plus you will be doing me a big favour, as my housekeeper loves to cook but I very rarely have any guests to dine when I am here.â
Liza flicked him a bright if strained smile; being held close to his hard body was playing havoc with the cool sophistication she wanted to display. âYour place is fine,â she agreed. âSo long as the food is not cooked over a volcano like lunch,â she tried to joke. âIt could be dangerous.â
âGood.â Nick dropped his hand and stood back to let her through the foyer door. Nowhere near as dangerous as sharing a suite with your boss, he thought sardonically as he immediately followed her out. The very obliging receptionist had quite happily given him the information. He reached an arm around her shoulders and led her to where the car waited at the kerb, and if his grip was a little hard he had good reason.
Liza felt the touch of his fingers, and repressed a sensual shiver. Nick was a very tactile man, and it was playing hell with her hormones, she thought as a wave of heat scorched her face, but that was all it wasâsexual attractionâon her part. That was all it could be, a simple feminine reaction to his raw masculine sexuality. âNo Jeep tonight,â she commented, striving for lightness as they crossed the pavement.
âNo,â Nick said shortly.
Then she noticed a man get out of the car and grin at them both as he opened the rear door of the car. Liza shot Nick a startled glance. âA chauffeur.â
âYes. Tonight I want to relax and enjoy my dinner with a beautiful woman and share a few glasses of champagne in comfort.â No need to mention he had already downed two very large whiskies because of the dilemma she had created in his usually very well-ordered life. âAnd donât worry, I think you will love the meal. Greta is the best cook on the island.â He smiled and lifted a hand casually to flick a strand of her hair over her shoulder and his darkening gaze trapped hers.
She swallowed hard and had trouble speaking. âIâm sure you are right,â she managed, tearing her gaze away from his and stepping towards the car.
Liza slid quickly into the car with more haste than elegance, sinking into a seat that was a lot more comfortable than Nickâs Jeep. But when Nick moved in beside her she realised it was also a lot more intimate as a hard masculine thigh pressed against her own, and a long arm was casually flung around her shoulders yet again.
âNice
Justine Dare Justine Davis