“I do.” And she honestly did. For some reason, she felt safe with him.
He followed her over the threshold, and when she was about to walk away toward the minibar in her room, he reached out and brought her closer to him. “Will you dine with me tomorrow at six? I know a great restaurant not far from here. Dress will be casual,” he said.
“I’d love to join you, Skylar.”
“Great.” He glanced down at the floor and then back at her. “There is something I want to tell you, in case you hear it from others tomorrow. I don’t want it to catch you off guard.”
She wondered what it could be. “What?”
He held her gaze for a moment. “The Kingston Corporation owns this hotel as well as the two resorts on adjacent properties.”
It took her a minute to comprehend what he said. Then she figured her mouth had dropped open. “Oh.” Although they were based in the western part of the United States, she had heard of the Kingston Corporation and knew that they invested a significant amount of money in numerous charities and worthwhile causes. “You’re one of those Kingstons?” she asked,surprised.
“After my father’s death, I became the only Kingston. You hadn’t put two and two together?” he asked.
“No. Why would I? I just figured you were a successful businessman. But…”
He lifted a brow. “But what?”
She shrugged. “I’m just an ordinary girl from Tifton, Georgia. I understand that most wealthy men prefer to date women who are worldly, elegant, and sophisticated. That’s not me at all. So why the interest?”
He brought her hands to his lips. “In the hour or so I spent with you this evening, Haven, I didn’t see any part of you that’s ordinary. In fact, I think you’re beautiful, charming, and in a league of your own. You’re special. Extraordinary. Simply amazing.”
His words touched her and made her smile. “Thank you. I think you’re pretty special, yourself, Skylar.” She meant it. This was something she could not explain. They had bumped into each other that morning. Literally. Had officially met tonight and had already planned a date. He was only four years older than her, yet he carried himself with the confidence of an older man.
She had dated guys in college around her age or a few years older. She had even dated Myron Ingram, a thirty-year-old pharmacist in Chicago. However, none of them kept her interest for long. They’d lacked maturity. Including Myron. None of them had taken the time to get to know her. The only thing they wanted to do was get her to the nearest bedroom to claim a notch on their bedpost. She’d refused to go there with them.
He took a step closer. “I’ve dated other women, Haven, but I knew the moment after we bumped into each other thatthere was something about you that’s different from the others. I find you unique, an irresistible puzzle. I want to spend time with you and find out why I’m so attracted to you.”
She understood what he was saying because she felt the same way. “Then we will find out those things together, Skylar.”
He smiled, then once more lowered his mouth to hers. The moment their lips connected, she moaned and let her eyelids flutter closed. She gave her total attention to the pleasure he was giving her with this kiss. Never had she been kissed so thoroughly. And possessively. That thought should bother her, but for some reason, it didn’t. Although his tongue was demanding and greedy, hers was meeting his hunger, stroke for stroke.
Growling softly and then low in his throat, he finally broke off their kiss. Her head automatically dropped to his chest as she drew in a deep breath filled with the scent of him. He was wearing the same cologne he had worn this morning, and she knew she’d have to find out what it was, because she wanted to thoroughly remember this moment.
“I can’t wait to see you again tomorrow. I will already be at the restaurant for a meeting and will have Dante arrange a car to bring you to me,” he said.
She lifted her head from his chest and looked up at him. “Who’s Dante?”
“He’s the general manager of the hotel and the resorts.” He took her hand in his. “Now, come walk me to the door, my beautiful golden girl.”
She chuckled as they moved toward the door. “Golden girl? I’m not even thirty yet, Skylar.”
He grinned. “It has nothing to do with age. For me, it’s about value, and I valueyou immensely.”
He could say some of the sweetest things. She wanted to believe it wasn’t just a line or a game men played. Although she had only been in high school at the time, she had read her cousin Lance’s top seller,The Playa’s Handbook, and had found it quite interesting…and educational. When guys had come on to her using some of the lines from the handbook, she had been ready for them.
When they reached the door, he leaned down and rubbed his mouth against her throat. “You smell so good.”
She had thought the same thing about him earlier. “Thanks. So do you.”
After brushing one last kiss across her lips, he gave her a dimpled smile, and then he left.
CHAPTER 9
Danielle
Dallas, Texas
