Lovers In The Afternoon

‘I’ll be fine,’ she dismissed his concern. ‘Although the way today is going so far it could break down on us again,’ she said ruefully.

Adam smiled down at her as they were confined in the lift together. ‘I can’t think of anyone I would rather be stuck in the lift with,’ he said throatily.

Leonie gave him a sharp look, expecting sarcasm but finding only warm invitation in the dark grey eyes. He was flirting with her, actually flirting with her!

‘Pity,’ he drawled as they arrived safely on the ground floor, stepping into the carpeted reception area, nodding to the man on night security, guiding Leonie to the parking area, opening the passenger door of the sporty BMW for her, the top to the pale blue car back in the heat of the day. He took her briefcase from her and threw it in the back with his own before climbing in next to her, starting the engine with a roar. ‘Would you like the top up or down?’ he enquired politely.

She touched her hair ruefully. ‘I think it’s beyond redemption, so down, please.’

Adam glanced at her as he drove the car towards the exit. ‘You have beautiful hair.’

Leonie tensed at the unexpected compliment, her breath held in her throat.

‘The style suits you,’ he added softly.

The tension left her in a relieved sigh. ‘Thank you.’

Conversation was virtually impossible as they drove to the restaurant, although the fresh air did clear Leonie’s head somewhat, giving her time to wonder what she was doing on her way to dinner with this man. She should have been more assertive in her refusal, shouldn’t have allowed herself to be manoeuvred in this way. And yet she knew she was curious, couldn’t think what possible reason Adam had for wanting to take her out to dinner. And his tolerance with the mishaps that just seemed to happen to her was too good to last!

She had been to the restaurant before that he took her to, but it had been a year ago, and hopefully no one would remember that she was the woman who had tripped on her way back from powdering her nose and pushed some poor unfortunate diner’s face into his dinner!

‘Good evening, Mr Faulkner,’ the maitre d’ greeted warmly, his eyes widening warily as he saw his companion. ‘Madam,’ he greeted stiffly.

He remembered her! It had been over a year ago now, and this man still remembered her. He probably didn’t have many people who came here and assaulted another diner for no reason!

‘Do we have to eat here?’ she demanded of Adam in desperation as they followed the other man to their table.

His brows rose. ‘You don’t like the restaurant? Or perhaps the French cuisine isn’t to your liking?’

‘I love it,’ she sighed. I just don’t feel—comfortable here, that’s all,’ she mumbled.

‘Thanks, Henri,’ Adam dismissed the other man, pulling out her chair for her himself. ‘Just relax, Leonie.’ His hands were warm on her shoulders as he leant forward to speak softly in her ear, his breath gently ruffling her hair.

She felt strangely bereft when he removed his hands and went to sit opposite her, their table in a quietly intimate part of the restaurant. As the waiter poured the wine that had been waiting for them, she could feel the tingling of danger along her spine, wary of this romantic setting, wary of this game Adam was playing with her.

‘Adam——’

‘Try the wine,’ he urged huskily.

‘When are we going to discuss the work on your office suite?’ she asked determinedly.

‘Tomorrow. Before lunch.’

‘About lunch——’

‘Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll like the restaurant I’ve chosen for us,’ he sipped his own wine. ‘Please try it,’ he encouraged throatily.

She sighed her impatience, ignoring the glass of wine. ‘Why are you doing this?’

‘This?’ he prompted softly.

She shrugged. ‘The charm, the restaurant, dinner, the wine. Why, Adam? And don’t say to atone for the lift breaking down with me in it because I won’t believe you.’

‘You’re right,’ he nodded, perfectly relaxed as he leant back in his chair, dismissing the waiter as he arrived to take their order. ‘I had this table booked for us tonight before I even realised you were stuck in the lift.’

‘Why?’

‘Don’t you usually go out for business meals with your prospective clients?’

‘Of course,’ she sighed. ‘But it’s usually lunch, and so far we haven’t discussed any business.’

‘We will,’ he promised. ‘Tomorrow.’

‘Why not now?’

He shrugged at the determination in her face. ‘Maybe after we’ve eaten,’ he compromised.

This time he didn’t wave the waiter away when he came to take their order, and with the arrival of their first and consequent courses there wasn’t a lot of time for conversation. And by the time they got to the coffee stage of their meal Leonie had to admit that she didn’t give a damn if they ever discussed business, feeling numb from the head down, the wine one of her favourites, her glass constantly refilled as soon as she had taken a few sips, the food as delicious as she remembered, forgetting her diet for this one night.

‘You look like a well-fed cat,’ Adam eyed her appreciatively.

‘I feel like a very relaxed one, if you know what I mean,’ she smiled happily.

He grinned. ‘I know exactly what you mean.’

He was so handsome, so ruggedly good looking, that he made her senses spin. Or was that the wine? No, she was sure it was him. And he had been so patient with her when she knocked a glass of wine all over the table, had dismissed the anxious waiter to mop up the surplus liquid himself, had got down on the floor and helped her pick up the contents of her handbag when she accidentally opened it up the wrong way and it all fell out, had even chuckled a little when she knocked the waiter’s arm and ended up with a potato in her lap. Yes, he had been very charming.

‘Shall we go?’ he suggested throatily as she smiled dreamily at him.

‘Why not?’ She stood up, narrowly avoiding another table as she turned too suddenly. ‘I never go back to the same place twice if I can avoid it,’ she assured him happily.

‘It must be difficult finding new restaurants,’ he smiled, a smile that oozed sensuality.

‘I rarely eat out,’ she dismissed. ‘It’s safer that way, for other diners, I mean,’ she explained as they went outside, surprised to see it was already dark, a glance at her watch telling her it was almost ten o’clock. They had been in the restaurant hours!

His mouth quirked. ‘I noticed you have a tendency to—well, to——’

‘Drop things, knock things, bump into things,’ she finished obligingly. ‘My husband found it very irritating,’ she added challengingly.

‘Really?’ Adam sounded non-committal.

‘Yes. He—Where are we going?’ she frowned as she realised they were in a part of London she didn’t know very well, the exclusive residential area.

‘My apartment.’

Leonie blinked as they entered the underground car-park. ‘You live here?’ she frowned.

‘Since my separation,’ he nodded, coming round to open her door for her.