“Thank you. Okay, what kind of kisser are you?”
“Jesus Christ, what did I do to deserve this today?” Sullivan grumbles under his breath, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Amusement rumbles in my chest. If nothing else, she’s giving me some interesting topics to talk about with Mal later. Makes a change from diamond mines and club business.
“Do you require a demonstration?” I breathe out with a raspy chuckle.
Halliday fixes her gaze on mine, unblinking. “You’re my client. That would be a gross breach of trust.”
“Right.” I clear my throat, my chuckle ceasing instantly. “Forgive me. That wasn’t very gentlemanly of me.”
Sullivan curses quietly before pushing off from the counter. “I need to go and pick up Molly. Halliday, it was nice to meet you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again over the course of the month. Sinclair, Dad.” He nods at us before striding from the room without looking back, his phone already up to his ear as he makes a call.
“My son runs our family business, Beaufort Diamonds,” I explain. “He’s got a new line about to launch. And he has a two-year-old daughter who still wakes in the night. He’s busier than usual.”
“I understand. He works hard. And he’s a perfectionist. I could see it in his aura,” Halliday says, unruffled by his swift departure.
“That he is.” I run my pointer finger over my lips as she turns the page in her notebook before looking at me.
“Perhaps you can think on my last question and then give me your answer? It’s important. Sex is great. But kissing and other intimate acts that are more subtle will strengthen bonds between partners and help align your frequencies.” She twists her lips in thought. “For now, I’ll put it requires work.”
“Right.” I frown.
“Okay, we’re almost done with this section. Now, can you tell me the last time you saw a woman you were attracted to? How did you feel? How did your body react? What was it about her that drew you in?”
I take a deep breath as Sinclair nods at me encouragingly. She’s glowing like a bright ball of sunshine. She honestly believes this is what I need.
“Well. I suppose it was…” I concentrate hard, trying to recall the last time I felt a deep pull of attraction, something deeper than mere surface lust for a physical itch that needed scratching.
I take in Halliday’s feet clad in high heels, her fitted pencil skirt and pearly pink silk blouse with the top two buttons undone, all the way up to her neck, where her pulse flutters beneath her smooth skin.
The need to lick my lips is overwhelming.
“It was…”
Her eyes capture mine, and my heart thuds out a deep rhythm against my ribs. She’s built a business from nothing and carries herself with the grace and elegance that I usually only see in women closer to my age. Women who’ve had longer to become confident in their unique strengths and beauty.
An allure that I very much admire.
She’s not much older than my daughter.
I shake my head, holding her gaze.
“Like I said, I’m not looking for love.”
5
HALLIDAY
“New York’s great.”
“Yeah? But I bet you miss home?”
I exhale steadily and count to five as I enter my apartment building and cross the lobby toward the concierge desk.
“Not really.” I check my watch, holding my phone to my ear with my other hand. “Rory, I’ve got to go,” I repeat for the third time.
He’s been harping on for the last fifteen minutes, killing any peace I was hoping to have on my stroll back from Central Park. I went to sit there with a coffee while I worked on Sterling’s match. I have a few females registered with Cosmic Connections already who could make a good connection with him. Although, until I get them in the same physical space, I won’t be able to tell for sure.
