She snapped her gaze to his. The rhythm of her heart sped up, but she dampened the excitement rising within her. “No, Mick. I don’t think we should get that close.”
“I understand, but how else are we going to talk about how to approach the bank when we visit them tomorrow?” He shrugged. “We need to know what to do, and what to say when they want to steer the conversation away from what we want. And believe me, they’ll do that, and we need to be ready for a counter-attack.”
She chuckled, wishing his eyes were not so hypnotic. “Fine. We can go to dinner, but the topic better stay on the bank. Nothing else.”
“Nothing?”
“Well... as long as it is business related.”
“That works, I suppose.” His gaze moved over her, and his eyes twinkled. “Nicole, I haven’t gotten the chance to tell you how beautiful you look today.”
Heat flooded her face, and she couldn’t decide if she was angry or elated. “Mick! I just said that the topic had to stay on business.”
“But sweetheart, we’re not at the restaurant yet.”
“Then I suggest we hurry and get there before this conversation gets out of hand, just like what usually happens when I’m around you.”
“Do you blame me? I’m just a normal man, after all. And you are...” his gaze caressed every part of her before jumping back to her eyes, “a luscious babe.”
Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her purse and briefcase before moving past him and headed toward the door. “Save your charm for another woman, Mick. I’ve learned my lesson, and I don’t plan on being burned again.”
She’d said the words, and yet she didn’t feel like she meant them. Mick wasthatcharming. He was the first man she’d ever met who had the ability to make her insides turn to mush, and her knees weak, and her heart palpitate so fast she thought she was running for her life.
He reached the door before she did, and he opened it for her, acting like a true gentleman. As they walked down that hall, she realized everyone had gone home. Was it that late?
They walked in the elevator, and she pushed the button for the first level. Mick leaned his shoulder against the wall, facing her.
“Do you remember the last time we were in an elevator together?”
She groaned silently. Why did he have to bring that up? Of course, she remembered. She would never forget it.
Sighing evasively, she looked at him. Hopefully, her expression would tell him that this topic bored her. “It’s been a long day, Mick. I don’t have the energy to reminisce over everything that’s happened between us.”
“You know,” he continued, “I still can’t stop thinking about that kiss.”
She bunched her hands, wishing she could stuff cotton in her ears to keep from hearing him. “I’m sure your girlfriend would be very hurt if she ever found out.”
“I’m not going to deny that I’ve kissed my share of women, but Nicole, the one we had in the elevator...” He sighed. “It was the best of the best.”
Nicole wanted to yell at him, to tell him to shut up. And yet, women loved hearing things like this. And the look in his eyes confessed the truth of his feelings. Was hethatgood of a liar?
She leaned back against the same wall he was pressed next to, keeping her gaze on his. “I told you before, Mick. What you’d felt was a combination of the effect of the sleeping pills and the Colorado Bulldog you’d drank that night.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Tell me, lover-boy, why doyouthink you felt that way, especially since you already had a girlfriend?”
The elevator jerked, landing them on the lower level, but neither of them moved. She wanted to hear his answer, and she didn’t want any interruptions. She quickly reached over and pressed the redstopbutton, keeping them inside for a few minutes longer. When she turned back toward him, she folded her arms across her chest, waiting for his answer.
Mick’s eyes smoldered, making them darker than before. Her heartbeat tripped several times, but she tried not to let it affect her in any way.
“Six years ago,” he said softly, “I came to visit your grandfather to pay him back for the kindness he’d shown me by helping me get a car loan. His secretary took me in his office, and I waited a few minutes for him to join me. On his desk was a picture of a beautiful young woman with the loveliest green eyes I’d ever seen. There was something about those alluring eyes that captivated me. For weeks after meeting with your grandfather, I dreamed about those eyes and about the beautiful woman they belonged to. I used to imagine kissing her for the first time, and how wonderful it would be.”
He pulled away from the wall and stood directly in front of her. His warm breath blew across her face, and she inhaled the cologne she loved to smell on him.
“When I had you in my arms,” he continued, “and the journalist acted like he was going to take your picture, I wanted to shield you from his camera. I didn’t want the tabloids to ruin your name as it had ruined mine. I suppose I could have found a different way to block his view, but I’d wanted to kiss you since you landed in my lap and I realized who you were.” He caressed a lock of hair by her cheek. “My girlfriend was the farthest thing from my mind at that moment. I’m not in love with her. I never was. And when I kissed you, I thought of nobody else but you. That’s why the kiss was so magical to me. It was like...” he paused, and his gaze dropped to her mouth. “It was like my dreams had finally come true because I was kissing Nicole Adkins.”
Her legs had weakened – again – and she wanted to lean against him. She wanted him to take her in his arms and kiss her like he had that first time in the elevator. The pull was so strong and she cursed the control he had over her body. But she must fight this feeling. His words were seducing her again, but in the end, he’d just break her heart.
