A Vow Of Seduction: Hot Night in the Hamptons / Seduced Before Sunrise

Elina winced. “He owns the freaking yacht? That’s just fantastic. I may or may not have sneaked out on him.”

Reece laughed out loud. That kind of full belly laugh that only her best friend was capable of. “You know what, I’m sure that this is some kind of karmic payback for something he’s done in the past. Don’t worry about it.”

Elina leaned forward and gave the taxi driver the address for her hotel. “Yeah, but I do feel terrible.”

Reece stopped laughing. “Oh my God, was he bad?”

Bad? No. Hell no. The man was made for sex. But it had felt like more than just sex. They’d been so connected. And then she’d run out. Like a freaking coward. Elina scrubbed a hand over her face. “No, he is very well practiced.”

“I knew it. He’s just one of those guys that looks like he moves well, you know?”

Did she ever know. “Look, Reece, this goes into the vault and we don’t talk about it. With any luck I won’t see him again for a very long time and I can just forget the whole thing ever happened.”

“Why do you want to forget if it was good? Especially if he wants to see you again?”

“Reece, have you forgotten who you’re talking to?”

Reece sighed. “You’re really going to let him slip out of your fingers?”

“He’s not mine, Reece. And I’ve got a different focus now. Someone like him is just going to distract me.”

“I know you. You wouldn’t have slept with him if you didn’t feel a genuine connection. Are you sure this is the best move?”

No, she wasn’t sure. And right about now her body was certain it was the wrong plan. But her brain would eventually wake up and realize she’d done the right thing. She was not her mother. Good sex didn’t equal love.

* * *

Gabe nestled in closer to Elina’s scent. When he reached over to her side of the bed to pull her close, it was cold. He blinked awake rapidly, then called out for her, “Elina, are you here?”

But there was no answer. Oh hell. She’d left? He sat up in bed and ran his hands through his hair. After last night, she’d actually run away?

His first instinct was to call Adam and Reece and get her number. Not that he was desperate; he was just making sure she was okay... Okay, yeah, that sounded desperate. What is wrong with you? It’s just a girl. And he’d slept with plenty of girls.

But he never made love to one before. He might’ve only just met her, but that’s what it felt like. At the very least, it was one hell of a connection.

He showered quickly before checking in with the captain. He usually split his time between New York and Los Angeles, but his father liked to keep the yacht in the marina here in the Hamptons.

Quickly checking his watch, he hopped in his BMW i8 and made the short drive to Reece and Adam’s hotel. The two of them didn’t leave for another hour, and he hoped he might be able to catch Elina. Sneak-outs happened to everyone. He may have run out of dozens of beds, but he’d never been left behind before.

He eventually found Adam drinking coffee by the pool and helped himself to a seat and a croissant. “Hey, where’s your new wife?”

Adam grinned. “That has a nice flow, doesn’t it?”

“Please, spare me from your sappy, lovey-dovey stuff this morning. I need to find Reece.”

Adam frowned. “Why, what’s up? What do you need?”

Gabe hesitated, but then spit it out. “I’m looking for Elina’s number.”

Adams smile spread slowly from cheek to cheek, quickly replaced by a frown. “I knew it! Once I saw you guys dancing, I knew the old Gabe Alexander would make an appearance. I thought I warned you against that.”

He didn’t have time for this. “You did. And it’s not like that. I like her.”

Adam pinned him with a narrow-eyed glare. “You’ve liked plenty of girls.”

Okay. But Elina was different. “Yeah, but I actually like talking to this one.”

Adam sat back, crossed his arms and studied him shrewdly. “Holy shit, did you get bitten by the bug?”

A tingle of awareness hopped up Gabe’s spine. “I don’t know what you mean by bug. I just thought she was cool. So I’m trying to follow up.”

“Uh-huh. Sure you are. Dude, I thought you were working on funding and focused on that. Not chasing tail.”

“Adam, she’s not tail.”

“I know that, but do you? You have had this habit of being into a girl, then fizzling.”

Gabe clenched his jaw. Maybe Adam had a point. Why was he here, really? Because it sucked to be left. She was great, but he did have stuff to focus on. And at the top of the list wasn’t Elina Sinclair.

It was a night he wouldn’t soon forget, but he was going to have to let her go. He had to. Everything inside him fought against that instinct, but he couldn’t be pulled in two directions. Not now. “She’s special.” He sat back and slouched. “But you’re right, I can’t focus on her right now.”

For now, he’d just have to chalk it up as one of those things and try to put it in the back of his mind.

Chapter 6 (#ulink_3e47bbed-747a-54e6-a04d-5f2920a4ac9f)

On Monday morning, Gabe paced the foyer of D. Donovan Image Consultants as he tried to shake off the residual effect of Elina Sinclair. He’d managed okay the rest of yesterday in the Hamptons, and even this morning. But as soon as he hit the city and parked, he would have sworn he saw Elina somewhere near Soho, walking uptown. Just what he needed right before he had to beg Delilah Donovan to take him on as a client.

“Hiya,” said a pretty redhead. “You must be Gabe. I’m Willow. Come on back. I’ll take you to Delilah.”

He shook hands with the slim woman, and followed her down the hall toward the bank of offices. “It’s nice to meet you. This is a great space.”

“Thanks. It took us about a year and a half to get it just right. But we love it.”

Willow didn’t look like any fixer he’d ever met before. She wore leather pants and plenty of eyeliner, and her tattoos were on full display with her sleeveless top. “How long have you guys been here now?”

“Gosh, it’s been almost two years now. We were at Park & Associates before.” She shrugged. “But it’s better being on our own.”

“How big is the team?”

“We’re a boutique agency, so just three of us. Delilah and I are partners. We also have a junior associate. I know you’re wondering if a small agency can handle your needs, but I promise you, we know what we’re doing.”

“I’m not worried. I was told that Delilah was the best. And I believe it.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Mr. Alexander, because I plan on making you work.”

He turned to find Delilah Donovan in the doorway. She was maybe five feet four inches, but it was hard to tell in her stacked boots. The sunlight behind her made her skin look like a mix of cinnamon and honey. She wore her hair in a sleek bun on top of her head, but her clothing was casual leggings and some kind of tunic. Not fussy.

He shook her hand. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I appreciate you fitting me in.”