"You can. Just think of it as an adventure."
She was trying to, but after she heard the name of the restaurant, she went into panic mode again. She had his card, maybe she would call and decline the invitation. Spirano's was one of the most exclusive expensive restaurants this side of town.
People had to book six months in advance to get a reservation. And it was not just about the hype. The food was excellent and the service stupendous, as was quoted in several food networks.
The chef was a celebrity who had his own network. Those were the kind of people Rodney Lancashire ran with. And she was out of her depth. But oh, she wanted to see him again.
It had been so long since she had someone look at her like that. In fact, no one had ever wanted her that way.
"God forgive me," she whispered faintly. "Please forgive me."
*****
He could not sleep. Taking the cognac with him, he went to his den and sat behind the desk. The solid honey teak was strewn with floor plans and notes he had jotted down.
His mother told him wryly that he was a perfectionist. The board was getting on his case because he kept changing his mind about the interior of the palace. But he wanted the best and people were willing to pay for it. Shoving the papers aside, he leaned back and propped his feet on the corner, the drink cradled between his palms.
It had happened so quickly, it left him spinning in the wind. He was not used to losing control so quickly. It was like being struck by lightning when he touched her.
The taste had him craving more. He had just managed not to rip the dress off her and devour. The animal inside him had wanted to break loose. He had barely managed to contain it.
Sipping, he took stock. He was thirty years old and had never been in love. He thought he came close with Megan. There had been something there.
He admired her spontaneity and what had struck him as her smarts. They had been compatible in bed. He grimaced at how tidy that sounded. For the first time since the breakup, he realized that the passion had been lukewarm.
Not like what he had felt tonight. Not by a damn long shot. He reached for the phone before he could change his mind anddialed her number. She might very well be sleeping but he had to take the chance.
When she answered, he took a deep breath and let it out shakily.
"Hi. I woke you."
"No." She sat up in bed, her insides trembling. "I wasn't asleep."
"You should be, it's almost midnight."
"What about you?"
"I'm used to keeping late nights. Look, I just wanted to tell you that I had a good time tonight. And I want to see you again, soon."
"Dinner," she reminded him.
"Which is not until next week. Why not make it sooner?"
"I can't." Melanie closed her eyes briefly as the lie formed. "I have an engagement that I cannot get out of."
"Should I be worried?" It was said in jest, but he felt his heart hammering as he waited for her response.
"What are we doing here?"
Shoving from the desk, he paced to the window to stare out at the ripple of water that was his backyard. His apartment sat on a prime parcel of land situated in the dense woodlands and was completely isolated. He preferred it that way.
But tonight, it felt like a cage and a very lonely one. He could just make out the sliver of moon reflected on the water.
"We're heading into having a romance." He waited as the silence stretched and wondered if he was jumping the gun. "Listen, I just want to get to know you. I already told you that there is something between us. I would like to explore it."
Melanie rubbed the sleep from her eyes and contemplated telling him who she really was. A single mother with paychecks that did not quite make the grade. Would he hang up and change his mind about getting involved? She already knew the answer to that.
Men like Rodney Lancashire certainly did not fall for women like her. So, she had no choice but to play this out. Finish what she started.
