Chapter Twenty-One
The same hotel, a different restaurant, this one dark and intimate, with an old-world gentlemen’s club kind of vibe. A pianist plays in a corner, an accompanying singer crooning softly about stormy weather.
I can see Kai from where I stand, his body angled away from the entrance, seated at an intimate table set for two. Dark jeans cover his legs and French cuffs peek from the sleeves of a dark suit jacket. I take a moment to just watch him, revel in his perfection while listening to the song that reflects the expression on his face. Eyes unseeing, he toys with the glass in front of him, thumb and forefinger laced around its sides. With a light touch, he slides them to the base and back again, disturbing beads of moisture glistening on the cool glass. A voyeur, I stand weighted to the spot.
Then, as though sensing the weight of my gaze, his head lifts slowly, countenance lightening, a smile breaking through like the sun after a storm. My own lips curl in response and my heart rate staccatos. Remembering to move, I approach him on perilous heels and unsteady legs.
As he stands to greet me, his hands find the curve of my hips. Lips graze my cheeks, soft and familiar, before he pulls me against him like we’re the only people in the room. In his arms, I’m surrounded by the scent of him; his spiced cologne, undercut by his unique man smell.
‘I thought you were having second thoughts,’ he murmurs into my hair.
‘I was just enjoying the view.’ Laughing softly, he releases me to pull out my chair. ‘You look lovely,’ I murmur, belatedly realising I sound like my nanna.
‘Spunky?’
One eyebrow curls in question and I know exactly what he’s referring to, and it’s not how good he looks. And of course, I blush as I imagine the stuff pulsing out of him.
‘H—Have you been waiting long?’
‘You were worth waiting for.’
Expecting the punchline, my head rises, my breath catching, warmed by the sincerity in his eyes. He stares at me for a long, thoughtful moment as though calculating the effect of his words. And the effects, what of those? I lower my gaze to my hands; I thought we were heading down that well-worn path of innuendo and smut. I’m unprepared for honesty. Least of all mine. He doesn’t need to know how his words bloom inside.
He wants me. Wants more? I want all, I fear.
‘Habibti, look at me.’
‘Mr. Khalfan, howwonderfulto see you again.’
A leggy blonde—the waitress—lays a hand on Kai’s shoulder, flashing him a mega-watt smile. As greetings go, this one is about as familiar as humping his thigh. She leans across him to deposit the menu, cleavage front, centre and obvious. Meanwhile, I don’t even warrant service with a scowl.
‘Saskia, a bottle of the Torbeck Runrig, 2004, if you please.’
Kai’s tone is cool, their eyes briefly meeting as he places the wine menu back into her hands. Clearly, this wasn’t the response she’d anticipated as she lifts it in an uncomfortable motion, smile now awkward and slipping from her heavily made-up face.
‘Looks like you wouldn’t have had to wait long,’ I say tartly as she leaves. It sounds arsey and I wish I could swallow it back, immediately. Instead, I add, ‘Another friend of yours?’
‘There are certainly lots ofkindsof friendship.’ The corners of his mouth twitch; amusement or tension? I can’t tell which. ‘And I’ve dined here many times before.’
Although I’m certain theirs wasn’t a particularly emotional connection, I decide there was no innuendo intended in his response. Plus, is it any of my business where...he eats?
I need to remember to be real about this.
Saskia returns almost immediately, offering the wine for Kai’s approval, pouring thimblefuls into massive fish-bowls on stems at his assent. I make a point of asking her to top up my glass. Petty, I know, but she shouldn’t have ignored me, should she? As she leaves, I bury my nose in the glass, unable to stop myself from wondering where—and by that I mean who—else he eats.Because I know he tips very well.Drowning my speculation with a large gulp, my mouth is instantly filled with the taste of fruit, and chocolate? Yep, chocolate and fruity and velvety and so much more refined than theChateau d’ Cardboardsitting in my apartment.
I bet Kai would be horrified.Wine in a box?
‘You know, I’m only interested in you.’
He stares at me intently and that sincere look in his eyes is back again. I attempt to lower the volume of my consciousness and un-wad my figuratively bunched knickers. My actual butt-less knickers are very comfortable, surprisingly.
‘That’s much better.’ His smile mirrors my own, only his is lazier, languid almost. ‘I like it much better when you look at me.’ I like looking at him, too, but it causes me all kinds of incoherency and squirming. ‘And I like it even more when you look at me and blush.’
‘Can’t help it,’ I mumble, my gaze sliding away. ‘It’s beyond my control.’ Like anyone would choose this reaction on a voluntary basis. ‘I thought the novelty would’ve worn off this blushing business by now.’
‘Not for me,’ he says, angling his head to one side. ‘I love that you blush. It’s almost a look inside your head. Helps me guess what you’re thinking about. I love that you get angry, too.’ Then he smirks.
Hello, crazy jealous lady of my dreams with the bright red face. A dream date right there.
