At the time, she’d only been out dating men for a couple of years and so far, hadn’t been very impressed. Even since then, she’d kept her dates casual, enjoying the company of men, but never going so far as to become intimate with any of them. Never had she even been tempted.
She hadn’t met Alec then. He was unlike any of the men she’d met or dated. He was definitely in a class all his own.
After a long, pregnant moment, he released her and Helen breathed a sigh of relief as she worked quickly to get her thoughts and body under control. It was difficult because, although he’d released her, he was still close. She could still smell his cologne and his male scent and she wanted to move closer, to run her fingers through his hair, to have his lips touch hers and feel his strong hands against her body once again.
Turning slightly to the side, she took a deep breath.
“So which option are you going with?”
She bit her lower lip, concentrating. “Let me get this straight. I can either go inside as is, let you spend thousands of dollars on a dress, or go home with you. Does that summarize the options adequately?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
She crossed her arms over her stomach and shook her head. “What about option number four? I just leave here and go home alone, never to see you again.”
He stepped closer and shook his head, one finger moving to her cheek, touching her skin and sending fire along her nerves. “That wouldn’t be a good choice, my beauty. Helen was instantly immobilized by his touch, barely able to breathe or move. And she dared not move her head so that he was touching more of her. That would be wrong. Suicide, even. “If you went with that choice, we wouldn’t get to explore this attraction we both feel for each other,” he said and covered her protest with his finger before she could utter the first word to contradict him, “ and I would fire Mick and Edith by morning.”
Her eyes widened with horror. “You wouldn’t do that!”
His expression told her instantly that he would. This man did not bluff. “I would call the head of my human resources and have them instantly terminated for letting you into my office. But you’re not going to take that choice, are you Helen? And not simply because I would fire them. You’re curious about me. You want to go into that restaurant and find out something about me, anything that would get your mind off of this attraction that has fired up between us. Something that will negate what you’re feeling.”
“I don’t need to do that.”
“You do,” he contradicted softly. “Because if you don’t, you’ll go home tonight and wonder, try to work out this puzzle we’ve created between us but your mind won’t have enough facts. You’ll still be trying to work things out.” He paused for a long moment, letting his words sink in so she could realize the truth in what he’d said. “And for one other reason.”
“What’s that?” she whispered, trying desperately hard to fight the attraction, the hypnotic spell he was weaving but she couldn’t deny the truth to what he was saying either. She fought it, but her heart, as well as her mind, knew that he was absolutely right on target.
“You also want to find out that I’m not as good as you think I am. You want to find a weakness in me, something that will make you dislike me and discount the attraction we’re feeling, the attraction your determined to fight for some strange reason.”
She stared at him, her mind sifting through his words and knowing that he was right on target with what she was feeling. Helen shook her head, defeated. “As is, then.”
His only response was a slight raising of his eyebrows before he accepted her decision. He turned and walked away, leading into the restaurant.
Helen watched him for a moment, her eyes mutinous. She started to take a step, but then stopped herself, crossing her arms over her chest. She waited until he realized she wasn’t next to him. He slowly walked back to where she was standing.
“Is something wrong?” he asked with no expression on his face.
“Even cavemen had manners occasionally,” she quipped.
His eyes showed his amusement. “Am I to understand that you’re not satisfied with my manners?” he asked.
She shrugged slightly. “A little charm wouldn’t go amiss,” she pointed out.
It took a moment, but then he threw back his head and laughed. It took him a long time to get his mirth under control but eventually, he looked down at her, a smile still on his face as he said, “I will endeavor to be more charming. Will that get you into that restaurant? I’ve been up since four o’clock your time this morning, and have gone through six time zones and can honestly say that I’m not really sure what time I last ate. I’m starving.”
Helen rolled her eyes. “You’re horrible,” she said but took the arm he offered her, slipping her hand onto his elbow and allowing him to lead her into the elegant exclusive restaurant filled with all the movers and shakers of the business world, and beyond. If you wanted people to know you’d ‘made it’, The Weston was the place to be seen.
The maitre’d didn’t even blink at her casual clothing. Instead, he and the rest of the wait staff practically gushed over the honor of serving him and his guest. Helen looked at him curiously as they were led through the dining room. When he dismissed the waiter who held out Helen’s chair, preferring that he do it himself, Helen suspected that she might be in trouble. He seated her, but as he walked around the table, his hand brushed her neck and shoulder, sending shivers of awareness throughout her whole body. She inhaled sharply and looked up at him as he sat down. She gritted her teeth against the sexual onslaught caused by his casual touch when she caught the look in his eye. He knew exactly what he was doing and was simply toying with her. Did he have any idea how inexperienced she was? Was she just an easy target for him? Damn the man! That wasn’t fair!
She leaned back in her chair and watched him select a wine with the wine steward. He was extremely knowledgeable and she was stunned when he chose a bottle of red wine, one of her favorites whenever she visited her father in Greece. She couldn’t afford it here in London but that was her choice. She could live with her father all year round, but that would hurt her mother’s feelings. The two had been separated for more than twenty years but never divorced. Her mother, Elaina Alexander had met her father more than thirty years ago. They’d met and married within one month, having fallen in love at first sight. Unfortunately, the two were complete opposites. Elaina was a free spirit, loving life and willing to flit from job to job just so she could experience more of whatever struck her fancy. She was a wonderful mother who had taught Helen that life was wonderful, showed her all the exciting things that nature could provide.