My breath catches in my chest when I round the corner and take in the main living space.
The lighting is dim, but I can still clearly see the scene set out in front of me. There's a beautiful setting on the dining room table for two. Three bouquets of flowers make up the centerpieces and several lit candles give the table a romantic ambiance.
A man in a chef's uniform is standing next to the table along with a woman dressed in black slacks and a white dress shirt. She's holding a circular tray with two glasses on it; two glasses of champagne.
It's when she steps to the side that I notice him. He's wearing the same tuxedo he had on the night of this hotel's launch. His hair is neatly pushed back from his face. His jaw is cleanly shaven. He looks every inch the perfect date.
"Julian," I say his name softly. "What's happening?"
"We're celebrating your latest accomplishment, Maya." He approaches with steady steps. "I couldn't pass up the chance to spend the night with you."
CHAPTER THIRTY
Julian
I takeher in my arms not caring that there are others mere feet away watching us. I kiss her tenderly, softly even though I want more. I'll take more, later when we're alone.
"You said you had plans." She looks past me to where the chef and server are standing in wait. "You said they were unbreakable."
When I said that this afternoon I believed it was true. I was in panic mode and frustrated to hell and back that I had to deal with Isadora.
Once Maya stormed out of my office, clarity set in. I'd let her walk away believing that something on this earth was more important than celebrating with her.
"I want to explain all of that to you, Maya." I kiss her again. "I fucked up when you came to see me. I should have told you then that I was dealing with Isadora and the takeover of another hotel. "
Hearing my ex-girlfriend's name stiffens Maya's shoulders. "I have a confession."
I want her to be comfortable, so I unbutton her coat and help her slide it off. She's dressed impeccably in a simple little black dress.
I turn toward the chef and server. "We'll need a few minutes."
They nod in unison and walk toward the kitchen, but not before the server places the tray on the dining room table. I'm paying them both a small fortune so their time tonight belongs to me. If I keep them here until the stroke of midnight, neither will complain.
"Can we sit?" Maya moves toward one of the dining room chairs, but I stop her mid-step to steer her toward the leather sofa that faces the wall of windows.
She lowers herself onto it, and I do the same, taking a seat right next to her. "Confess, Maya."
Her eyes search my face before she reaches up to run a finger over my jaw. "You're beautiful. Do people ever say that to you?"
They do. Years ago, a magazine coined me as the sexiest man alive, twice. I laughed it off at the time. It made me uncomfortable and challenged my view of myself. I know I'm attractive. I hear it often, but with Maya I know she sees deeper within.
"Not as often as people say it to you."
That brings a squeak of laughter from her. "Somehow I doubt that's true."
"I'm excited for you," I say it because it's been something I've wanted to share with her since this afternoon. "Selling the Warton apartment is a big deal. It's a huge step forward for your career."
She kisses me, parting my lips with the tip of her tongue. I moan when her teeth scratch my bottom lip.
"You're making it hard for me not to take you home with me right now, Maya."
As she pulls back, her blue eyes lock on mine. "The second time I came to your office today I was wearing only my panties and bra."
My cock swells instantly. "When we were talking, you were wearing next to nothing under your coat?"
"Just the panties and bra I have on under this dress."
I'm tempted to rip the dress apart to get my eyes on what I missed out on earlier. I was too wrapped up in the potential deal to notice.
