“Yes.” She laughed, a giddy sound, and the tension stiffening her spine went loose. “It was all very fascinating, but he applied one of my theories to a program he was building. It uses base algorithms to identify information chunks and reconstruct an entire server’s worth of data based on stringing data theory which presupposes individual chunking of data bits will have similar bases. Then, by identifying the primary numbers and matching, you should be able to reconstruct a problem by piecing together the solution. It was a delightful challenge.”
Enthusiasm shimmered in every word, her face warmed, and pure delight rippled in her laugh. “Of course, application and theory are wholly different beasts and we maintained a regular correspondence during his software build so he could get my input on troubleshooting.”
“I didn’t know you were involved in his work.” He hadn’t. Of course, it explained Daniel’s excitement when Sebastian mentioned Meredith. “What other projects have you done?”
“A few. A lot of my work is theoretical, but there are people out there who see beyond the numbers. More than one company has approached me with a proprietary interest.” She settled back in the chair and played with his fingers.
Pleased by the contact, he allowed himself the pleasure of stroking his thumb against the side of her hand. “You believe information should be in the public domain.” Of this, he was absolutely certain. In fact, her belief and speech on the subject had actually been the source of their very first debate.
“You remembered?” Why did it surprise her? The haze of pleasure in her eyes sent a jolt through him.
“Of course I do. I remember everything about the night we met. You wore a cream dress. It was perfectly understated andhugged your curves so well I was envious of it.” It had been a boring, obsequious event. One which held no interest for him, but he’d attended because Armand was in the process of launching a series of clinics and refused to reschedule for an event which only required a family face to be seen.
“That dress. Lord, I’d almost forgotten about the dress.” She covered her mouth and her face went a deeper pink, but her eyes darkened with arousal.
“I loved how you looked in it,” he told her, perfectly aware of where her thoughts went. “I loved how you looked when I ripped it off you even more.” In their enthusiasm, they’d been too impatient to take the time when the zipper jammed. Meredith laughed and he lifted their joined hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
“I thought for sure I would have to return to my room in a towel. You didn’t even leave my panties intact.” Her eyes widened.
Still grinning at the memory, he shrugged. “You didn’t need clothes for the next several hours.”
“Hours? Try days. Three days we stayed in your suite. I didn’t know how I would ever explain to my department head why I’d missed so many of the conference lectures. Thank God they recorded all of them.” She laughed.
“We were having fun,” he told her, sobering. “Stay with me, and let’s find that fun again—you and I.”
Her amusement shifted to thoughtful consideration. “I don’t know if we can. We’re not those people anymore.”
“Yes, we are,” he argued, cupping her face and pressing his forehead to hers. “We are exactly who we were then. I am still as crazy for you today as I was the night we met. In fact, I’m showing great restraint by not stripping you naked and having you for breakfast.”
Her breath hitched at the declaration. “Sex has never been our problem, but it can’t be the basis for a relationship.”
“Why not?” Their conversation was too important. She was too important. “Do you know how many relationships out there simply make do? We work, you and me. I can be myself with you, no pretenses. I know it hasn’t been easy, and I don’t pretend to understand everything you’ve gone through, but Ineedyou, Meredith. Stay with me. Give me these next few days. I promise, you won’t regret it.”
They needed time together, time to repair the damage of the last year. He’d kept her at arm’s length while he recovered. Not his first choice, and one he recognized as a mistake. He’d reasoned it was to protect her, which was true, to a point.
She sighed and tugged her hand from his. Rising, Meredith paced to the glass and folded her arms, staring out into the garden. Though she’d been the one to pull away, she looked so alone and forlorn he couldn’t stay in his chair. Moving behind her, he wrapped his arms around her and cradled her against his chest.
“I know I’m asking for a lot.” And if taking his pride in hand to beg would help, well, he would.
“Oh Bastian…” She sighed and closed her eyes, leaning her head back against his shoulder. It wasn’t capitulation, not yet. Her brow creased with a frown, and she bit at her lip. She hadn’t surrendered, but she considered it. “How does this even work? We’re not going to solve anything hiding away in your room.”
They weren’t hiding, but he let it go for the moment and concentrated on her question. “We spend time together. We talk about what is important to you, what is important to me. We get to know each other again…” Remember what drew them together in the first place because, though his feelings were far from waning, maybe hers had.
It kicked him square in the gut to consider the possibility, but she lived an entire life he wasn’t part of—a career she was proud of and work she thrived on. Loosening his grip, he coaxed her to turn. “Maybe you could even explain your last paper to me, the one on class polynomials.”
“The research was only released last month.” Disbelief warred with surprise and she gave him a wondering look. “How did you know about my paper?”
“I have every paper you’ve ever published and subscriptions to all the major journals.” Needing to prove the point, he kissed the tip of her nose and took her hand, tugging her gently. “Come.”
His briefcase was downstairs in the office he used when he was on the island. He hadn’t planned to do any work whatsoever, but with Meredith in tow, he led the way down the staircase, past the open drawing room and reception hall, to a private hallway. Armand’s office was also located in the same section and, though another was reserved for George, his youngest brother never darkened the doorway of his.
At the entrance to the dark-wood paneled room, Bastian had to release her in order to open the double doors. Inside, he was gratified when she not only let him take her hand again, but threaded her fingers through his. Guiding her across the room, he paused at the oversized cherry wood desk and unlocked his briefcase with a three-digit combination.
“913.” Meredith’s little gasp dragged his attention to her. Tears shimmered in her eyes.
“Yes.” He gave her a small smile. “I told you, I remember everything.” 913 was his suite number. He’d discovered the best woman in the world behind those doors. Sentimental perhaps, but he considered it his lucky number.
She sniffed then gave him a smile that threatened to stop his heart. When she leaned into him, her breasts brushed his armand her fingers tightened against his. “Okay,” she whispered, her voice husky and soft. “I am pretty sure this isn’t what you dragged me down here to see.”
