He chuckled. “You’re not alone, are you?” At her pointed silence, he added, “I’m serious. We need to talk. Will you come tomorrow?”
“It would seem I have no other choice. Now, Ireally have to go.” She ended the conversation by returning the receiver to its cradle. “I’m sorry about that, Kurt.”
He regarded her far too acutely. “I assume that was your young man from last night?” He held up a hand before she could reply. “I caught a glimpse of you and your mysterious friend leaving together.”
Francesca stiffened in alarm. Had he recognized Sev? No, he couldn’t have or he wouldn’t be acting so understanding. “And that didn’t worry you?” she asked hesitantly.
“Not when I consider some of the antics Tina and I got up to when we were first dating. Ido, however, recommend in the future that you don’t mix business with pleasure.”
Embarrassed color warmed Francesca’s cheeks. “I hope you know that I don’t usually... I’m not—”
He waved that aside, but not before she saw his cheeks turn a ruddier shade than normal. “I helped you out of a tight spot this time because, quite frankly, we need you and what you can do for Timeless Heirlooms. But Iwon’t bail you out again.”
“I understand.” It killed her to be having this conversation with her father. More than anything she hoped to win both his approval, as well as his friendship. Instead, he’d helped her lie to his wife and put their relationship at odds. “As I told Tina, it won’t happen again.”
“Listen to me, Francesca.” He took the chair Tina had vacated. “Your six-month contract with Timeless Heirlooms is almost up. Tina and I are both very excited with what we’ve seen from you so far. Equally as important, we’ve enjoyed working with you.”
She smiled in genuine pleasure. Receiving such a huge compliment from her father meant the world to her. “Thank you. I’ve enjoyed working with you, as well.”
How could she not? She was living the dream of a lifetime, one she wanted more than anything. Thanks to the detective she’d hired, she’d been able to track down her father the minute she’d graduated from college andapproach him without anyone being the wiser. To her delight, she discovered that he shared her passion. Even more incredible, the company he and Tina ran were actively hiring designers, if only on a trial basis.
“Tina and I were on the verge of making your position here permanent. But after last night, we simply can’t take the risk. Not yet. You understand our predicament, don’t you?”
Her smile died. In the past six months she’d struggled to prove herself as both a top-notch designer, as well as a woman he’d be proud to claim as his daughter. It had all gone so well. Until last night. And now she’d ruined everything.
“I do understand,” she managed to say. “Kurt, Ican’t thank you and Tina enough for giving me this opportunity. Iswear I’ll make it up to you.”
“I don’t doubt that.” He offered her a slow, generous smile, one that never failed to fill Francesca with an intense longing. He stood and held out his hand. “We’ll give it another couple months. Maybe once we have Juliet Bloom under contract, we’ll feel more comfortable offering you a permanent position with us.”
Francesca slipped her hand into his bearlike grasp, fighting back tears. Determination filled her. It didn’t matter what it took, she’d find a way to win his approval, as well as a permanentjob at Timeless Heirlooms. If that meant avoiding Sev—well, after the lunch he’d forced on her—then that’s what she’d do. Because nothing was more important than having the opportunity to get to know her father, even if she could never tell him the truth about their relationship.
“Thank you for offering me another chance,” she said with as much composure as she could manage. “You won’t regret it.”
“All right,”Francesca stated the minute she joined Sev at Fruits de Mer. She took the seat across from him and folded her arms across her chest. “You blackmailed me into coming here. What do you want?”
Sev studied her silently for a long moment. If he could peg her with a single word it would be defensive. From the moment she’d stepped foot in the restaurant and spotted him, she’d had trouble meeting his gaze. He could guess why. He’d seen this woman naked. Had taken her in his arms and made love to her, not once or twice, but three times during their night together, each occasion more passionate than the last. It should have ensured an ease between them. And maybe it would have, except for one vital detail.
Forty-eight hours ago they’d been total strangers.
And yet, nothing had changed. No. That wasn’t true. If anything, the attraction between them had grown, become more palpable. He could see the hunger and desire lurking in the depths of her gaze, unwanted as it was undeniable. Her pulse throbbed in her throat and a heated flush touched her cheeks. Most damning of all, her body reacted to his presence. Aheated flush touched her cheeks and her pulse throbbed in her throat. His gaze dipped downward briefly, not surprised to see the hard peak of her nipples against the thin silk of her blouse.
“You expected things to be different,” he said. “Didn’t you?”
She looked at him, the unremitting darkness of her eyes making a startling contrast to her pale complexion and honey-blond hair. “Today, you mean?” She gave him her full attention, apainful vulnerability lurking in her gaze. “Let’s just say I’d hoped things would be different.”
She’d changed toward him since their night together and he could guess the reason. Now that she’d discovered his identity, she’d decided to end things between them, something he refused to allow. “You hoped our reaction to each other would change now that you knowwho I am. Because you work for Timeless Heirlooms and I own Dantes, you thought that fact would put a stop to what we’re experiencing.”
“Yes.” A slight frown creased her brow. With a swift glance toward nearby tables, she dropped her voice to a whisper. “I need to explain something. Idon’t know who that woman was two nights ago. I’ve never—” She took a deep breath. “I’m not making excuses.”
“Of course not.” He understood all too well. “But that doesn’t alter the facts.”
She retreated from him, icing over tension and longing with such speed he suspected she’d had many years of practice. “As far as I’m concerned, whatever happened between us has run its course.”
He tilted his head to one side. “Because you say so? Because it would be so much more convenient on the work front?” He couldn’t help laughing. “You’re kidding, right? This isn’t something you can cut off like a light switch.”
“I think it is.”
He studied her for a moment to assess her veracity. Satisfied she actually believed the nonsense she trotted out, he placed his hands flat on the table. He slid them across the linen-covered surface, inch by inch. When his handscame to within a foot of hers, she released a soft groan.
