sorry you wasted your time coming all the way down here, but—”
“Maybe instead of writing a piece about your cousin and his new fiancée, I should feature you, alone,” she began, casually resting a hand on his forearm. Touching him was a mistake. Her heart did a triple back flip, and Azure suddenly felt so woozy she feared she’d collapse at his feet.
What’s wrong with me? Azure wondered, taking a deep breath. She’d interviewed scores of attractive men over the years, and not once did she have butterflies in her stomach or sweaty palms. But in Harper’s presence she became a bumbling, stumbling fool who couldn’t think straight. What’s up with that?
Seconds passed before she felt composed enough to speak. Once her head cleared, she continued her pitch. “I’d love to discuss my idea further with you, and if you could spare an hour of your time to meet with me tonight I’d really appreciate it.”
“Just tell me when and where.” His smile was back, and his dark, penetrating gaze moved over her like the fierce autumn breeze blowing leaves outside the downtown streets. Azure didn’t have the presence of mind to think, let alone speak. Harper Hamilton had it all. Dashing good looks, keen intelligence and a physique that would make an action hero jealous. And he did it for her in a big way. “Let’s meet at Table 13,” she said, breaking free of her sinful thoughts and reuniting with her voice. “Is seven o’clock okay?”
“It’s perfect.”
“Great. I’ll see you then.”
“I look forward to it.”
Azure’s legs were shaking, but she turned around and walked across the racquetball court without wiping out. How the hell am I going to make it through cocktail hour with Harper when I could barely handle a five-minute conversation? she thought, hustling back through the lobby of Premier Fitness and out the front door. Azure had a date to get ready for, and no time to waste. She only hoped that between now and the time she met Harper for cocktails at Table 13, she had a new plan because her first one had just been shot to hell.
Chapter 2
At six o’clock, Azure sailed into Table 13 and after a brief chat with the curvy, blue-eyed hostess, strode through the packed-out waiting area. The word swank came to mind every time Azure entered Philly’s newest hot spot, but after attending last month’s grand opening, she quickly realized that all that glittered wasn’t gold. Table 13 was a place to see and be seen in. That was it. The ceilings were high, and the décor flashy, but the overpriced entrées were smaller than a McDonald’s Happy Meal and the service was painfully slow. But the scathing reviews by local critics didn’t deter the crowds. In the lounge, dozens of young, fabulously dressed patrons with money to burn and not a care in the world sipped champagne and smoked cigars.
Azure was an hour early for her meeting with Harper, but she planned to use the time to develop her new plan. She hoped that once she had a couple of cocktails, and her nerves settled, the ideas would flow freely, because right now she had nothing. Mr. Watson’s words circled her mind, and although it had been hours since her boss had marched into her office and reamed her out, she could still hear his harsh voice in her ears. “Shape up or ship out, Ellison. And for goodness’ sake, quit writing boring fluff pieces that your own mother wouldn’t read!”
Sliding onto the swivel stool in her slim-fitting Gucci dress took more skill than winning Jeopardy’s Tournament of Champions, but once Azure was seated at the bright, circular bar, she felt herself start to relax. The bartender smiled at her, and as he approached, Azure decided she had nothing to worry about. She looked good, felt even better and had a feeling Harper would open up to her. Or at least that’s my hope, she thought, reaching for one of the drink lists displayed beside the decorative napkin holder.
“Funny seeing you here....”
Azure glanced to her right. When she saw Harper, sitting two seats over, her eyes widened. Her heart fluttered like a butterfly, and when his gaze moved over her with deliberate slowness, her lips parted wordlessly. Realizing how utterly ridiculous she must look, Azure closed her mouth and wiped the dreamy, love-struck expression off her face. “You’re early.”
“So are you.”
Harper gestured to his iPad. “I thought I’d get some work done while I watched the Sixers game. What’s your excuse?”
“I was planning to work, too,” she lied, nervously combing a lock of hair behind her ears. “I have a deadline fast approaching, and as usual I’m hopelessly behind.”
“Let me buy you a drink.”
The deep timbre of his voice, and the way he was staring at her, made it impossible for Azure to speak. Not in complete sentences, anyway.
“What would you like?”
To kiss you. Desire singed her flesh. Azure shook the outrageous thought from her mind. Clearly, being in close proximity to this gorgeous corporate attorney was wreaking havoc on her good sense. But smart, intelligent guys with perfect teeth and great bodies had always been her weakness, and Harper Hamilton was the prototype of her dream guy. Only he wasn’t a dream. He was a living, breathing hunk of a man who smelled divine. “I’ll have a Coke,” she told the pierced bartender, when he sidled up to her. “No, on second thought, make that a dry martini.”
“Good choice.” Harper raised his glass. “That’s what I’m having.”
Azure nodded, watched as he packed up his leather briefcase and set it on the floor. His rich, wonderful fragrance wrapped itself around her in a sweet, sensual hug, and, oh, did he ever look good, too! Azure loved his casual, polished style and had a hell of a time keeping her eyes off his body and on her menu. Harper was off the clock, but he still looked like an acclaimed attorney at the top of his game. His white dress shirt and eye-catching burgundy tie warmed his flawless, smooth complexion, his dark slacks were tailored to perfection and his diamond wristwatch outshone the chandelier hanging above the bar.
Anxious to get down to business, she gestured to the dining area with her hand. “We should probably go grab a table. It’s starting to fill up in here.”
“I’m fine here at the bar, if you are. There’s a line down the block to get in, and I’m not interested in waiting outside.” Harper glanced at the floor-to-ceiling windows. “I used to deliver flyers when I was a teenager, and to this day, every time I have to walk more than a block or two I moan and grumble!”
“You had a part-time job in high school?”
“You mean jobs,” he corrected, chuckling good-naturedly. “My parents wanted me to understand the value of a dollar, so once I was old enough they encouraged me to work. Or rather, forced me to! I shoveled snow, mowed lawns, walked dogs. I did it all, and hated every minute of it.”
“Now I don’t feel so bad about working at Fat Burger. At least I wasn’t outside!”
“You used to work at Fat Burger? Wow, back in the day that place was my second home.” He wore a wistful expression, but his tone was filled with humor. “There was one across the street from my prep school, and my friends and I would head over there whenever we had a spare. I had the same thing every day. A—”
“Triple King Meal, ten-piece chicken nuggets and a chocolate milkshake.”
“Yeah,” he said, raising a thick, perfectly groomed eyebrow.
