In this case, this man wasn’t hearing her well placed put-downs because, unfortunately, he didn’t give her a chance to come up with one. He was just moving forward as if she had completely agreed to his plans.
When they were standing beside a very powerful, very elegant looking black sedan, he opened the door for her but she finally got her wits about her. “Mr. Harrison…”
He interrupted her and shifted slightly, their new positions more intimate somehow since his broad shoulders and impressive height blocked out the overhead lights in the parking garage. “Call me Drake. And I’ll call you Sierra.”
He was standing too close, she thought. She had to tilt her head way back just to look into his eyes and that didn’t help her convey the look that would have him back off. “I don’t want to call you anything,” she said, but her voice sounded more breathless than she’d wanted. She was going for firm, commanding and intimidating. Why was it coming out as if she was wondering what it would be like to be kissed by those firm, sexy lips?
She shook her head. “I really need to…”
“Get in the car, Sierra.”
She blinked once again. The look in his eyes was telling her that he wasn’t going to ask again. She thought about arguing, of just taking her keys out of her purse and walking directly to her own car, ignoring the commanding tone in his voice and leaving him here.
But something in his eyes dared her, challenged her. Was he daring her to walk away? Or to get into the car? She wasn’t sure what it was, and even if she could define it, she wasn’t sure if she could dismiss it. The heat emanating from his body warmed her, the warmth radiating out from her stomach and spreading outwards, creating an excitement that she didn’t quite understand.
“What if I don’t?” she questioned, not sure if she really had the confidence to challenge him.
He moved closer, his body almost pressing her against the car. “If you don’t want to get in the car, I can only assume you want to kiss me as much as I want to kiss you. We’re standing here, no one else is around, why not give in to what we both want? I’m going to kiss by the end of the evening anyway so you’ve now been forewarned, Sierra.”
A part of her, a very large part of her mind and her body, wanted him to bend down low and follow through on that threat. But the smaller, more sensible, part of her mind, the part that seemed to have at least a modicum of sense still functioning, didn’t have the courage to call his bluff. Because she didn’t think he was bluffing. The look in those blue eyes told her that he wanted her to dare him, wanted her to keep on standing there against his car so he could kiss her.
She was already sitting in the plush leather seats by the time she realized what she was doing. She watched with fascination as he walked around the front of the car, his long, muscular legs taking him around quickly. Before she had time to take a breath, or more specifically, before her mind realized that she had a small break from him, he was sliding into the seat next to her. She watched with interest as he folded his long, incredible length into the leather seat beside her. His body seemed to take up all the available space but that was crazy since the car more than accommodated his long legs and deliciously broad shoulders.
She tore her eyes away from his muscular thigh, staring out into the darkness in front of her. “You said that all the others who missed the lunch would also be attending. Why aren’t you driving them to wherever we’re going?”
She almost gasped when he put his arm around the back of her seat, leaning forward slightly. She thought he was about to make a move on her and her heartbeat went into overdrive. But he was only shifting slightly so he could see out the rear view window.
But as soon as he was turned slightly, making his broad shoulders almost come into contact with hers and invading her personal space once again, he said, “You’re the only one who missed the lunch. The others were all eager to meet me, to talk to me about their expertise and explain why they were essential to the firm’s success.”
Her mouth dropped open slightly. She knew it wasn’t because of his words or the surprise at his cynicism at her co-worker’s eagerness to maintain their jobs. It was simply because he was so close, his heat almost a physical force in the confines of the luxurious car.
He drove the powerful car with confidence, almost arrogance as he asked her questions about her current projects. As she answered his questions, relieved that they were work-related, she realized that she never felt unsure of his driving abilities as he easily moved between the slower traffic. When he pulled into an underground parking garage, she was relieved to be able to step out of the vehicle and breathe in air that wasn’t saturated with his spicy, male scent.
Unfortunately, he came around the car too quickly for her. She hadn’t had time to clear her mind, refuel her thoughts and get her equilibrium back in balance. Then his hand touched the small of her back again and she almost resented how quickly he could make her feel protected and secure. Which was a contradiction actually since the man made her quiver with strange feelings that she didn’t think she liked. So how could she feel safe and secure while at the same time, worried and….trembly? Was that even a word? Her mind really had turned to mush.
“What’s the name of the restaurant?” she asked as they both stepped into the elevator. Something deep in her stomach tightened when she noticed him put a key into the control panel and pressed a button.
“I’m cooking for you,” he said as he pulled the key out and let it slip into the pocket of his slacks. “I hope you like Italian.”
Sierra swallowed past the lump in her throat and unconsciously moved to the back corner of the elevator. Leaning against the rich paneling, she stared up at the numbers indicating that the elevator was quickly ascending. All the way to the top.
“You live in the penthouse,” she stated. A split second later, the elevator doors opened and she gasped in surprise at the beauty in front of her. She forgot her fears as she stepped out, walking slowly towards the floor to ceiling windows that showed the most magnificent view of the Rocky Mountains she’d ever seen in her life. “This is incredible,” she sighed with awe.
“Thanks. It certainly is relaxing. And a huge change from my place in Chicago.” He moved away slightly but Sierra couldn’t pull her eyes away from the view. “Would you like a glass of wine?” he asked almost softly so as not to disturb her.