As the chauffeur nodded in greeting and opened the door for her she smiled and murmured her thanks then bent her head to get into the vehicle. And that was when she saw him.
Rico Megalos sat lounging on the luxurious leather seat of the limousine looking very relaxed, very sexy and very much the billionaire. He fit perfectly in this environment. He was dressed in gray slacks and a shirt of soft white cotton that was open to reveal just a hint of his muscled chest. His clothing was casual enough but it was the way he wore it that threw her off. So confident, so blasé, no matter what the man was wearing he still looked like money.
“Aren’t you coming in?” There was an amused twist to Rico’s mouth as he watched her still peering in at the door.
To her chagrin a blush crept up Asia’s throat. She could feel it.
“H…hi, Rico,” she said quickly, trying to hide her confusing. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
“Oh?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Didn’t I tell you I’d come to get you at seven?”
“Yes, but…oh, never mind.” She got in and found herself a seat three or four spaces away from her host. As the chauffeur closed the door she looked around and the word that came to mind was ‘posh’. She’d been inside limousines before but none like this one. It came with a lighted bar which was well stocked with a variety of drinks and glasses of every shape and size. Light ran along the floor beneath her feet, up the walls and along the top. A huge TV screen covered the back wall and speakers lined the sides. The car looked like a ritzy party place.
Realizing she was staring she turned her eyes to Rico. “So,” she said, deliberately adopting a serene tone, “where are we going?” Her heart was racing like she’d just finished a run but Rico didn’t have to know that.
“You’ll see when we get there,” he said and gave her a satisfied grin.
She smiled demurely at him then looked away, pretending to admire the view outside the window. So he’d decided to be mysterious. No matter. She would know their destination soon enough. Right now her biggest worry was finding something to talk about. She was trapped in this car with a man to whom she was extremely attracted but who she had to keep at a distance. No matter that her mouth had gone dry at the sight of him, she had to remember that he was a client.
“Would you like a drink?” he asked as he watched her through half-closed eyes.
“Yes, thank you.” Her reply was quick, breathless, as she jumped at the chance for something to occupy her hands and her thoughts, anything to keep her from focusing on his closeness - the woodsy fragrance of his cologne, his strong and handsome profile when she viewed him from the side, the way the fine hairs on her forearm rose up each time he moved near. “White wine would be lovely.”
When he poured a glass and handed it to her she took it almost too eagerly. She had to force herself to wait before lifting the drink to her lips. She was a bundle of tingling nerves and she needed to regain control.
The first sip helped. She released the breath she’d been holding then took another sip. By her third sip her heart had begun to slow, moving back to normal pace. She glanced over at Rico and saw that he was checking something on his cell phone. He hadn’t been watching her, thank God. There was no way she wanted him to guess how scared she was to be alone with him.
After a minute he glanced over at her. “Sorry,” he said and gave her an apologetic smile. “Bad habit.” He stuffed the phone into his pocket. “I’ve got to learn to leave the office at the office.” Then he gave her a sly look. “Are you going to add that to your list of things to train me on?”
That made her laugh. “Of course not. My list is long enough already.” And with the laughter her tension eased and she was able to slide back into the plush seat, her body and mind beginning to relax.
Within twenty minutes Asia felt the car begin to slow until it came to a complete stop. She peered out the window and saw blue sky, blue water and a big, beautiful white yacht bobbing at the end of a dock.
Asia gasped then turned to Rico. “Where are we?”
“I wanted to take you somewhere where you can let your hair down.” He looked pointedly at the customary bun on top of her head. “We’re going to have dinner on my yacht.”
Asia’s heart lurched. Right then she couldn’t say whether it was from fear or pleasure. “Oh, that’s…nice.” Not knowing what else to say she forced a smile and waited for Rico to make the next move.
Her head snapped up as the door opened and she saw the chauffeur standing there, waiting for them to exit. Rico was holding out his hand to help her and, wary though she was, she placed her hand in his. When his fingers, so warm and strong, encircled hers she dropped her eyes and forced herself to breathe. No matter what, she had to act normal.
That was easier said than done. When she got out of the car she found herself standing directly in front of Rico, her face mere inches from the V of his shirt and that rippling chest she’d admired from afar. Now she found herself so close she could almost feel the warmth of his body and her nostrils were filled with the freshness of his cologne. She took a quick step back.
“Are you alright?” He reached out a hand as if to steady her.
She shook her head quickly. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”
He gave her a quizzical look then he shrugged. “Okay then. Lets go.”
He gave a nod to the driver then led the way down the pathway of wooden planks toward the yacht. In Asia’s eyes it was huge, probably almost fifty feet long she would guess. More than impressive.
They were greeted by a tall, somber man in a white uniform. Rico introduced him as Charles Parker, the captain who would be taking them out onto the water while they dined below.
After they’d helped her on board Rico took her on a tour of the yacht. With its TV room, bedroom suites and Jacuzzi it was like a magnificent mansion on water. Their last stop was the dining room. It was here that Asia got her biggest surprise. It was a luxurious room with a table set for two, on which sat six softly glowing candles. The setting seemed so intimate that Asia hesitated. Did Rico have special plans for tonight?