a dancer, yet none of those women held his attention for more than a few weeks at a time. Miranda on the other hand wasn’t looking at how many zeros were in his bank account because she had plenty of her own. And for once, Vaughn could be at ease and let his guard down. “You do find me attractive, don’t you?”
“Fishing for compliments?” Miranda inquired, sipping on her wine. “I would think a man as active as you wouldn’t need them.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m not blind,” she responded. “I saw the articles about your dating conquests. You have quite the active social life and the reputation to go along with it.”
The waitress returned and took their dinner orders so Vaughn didn’t comment until after she’d left. “I do, but none of them have intrigued me as much as you do.”
“Do you always speak so frankly?”
He smiled. “Yes, I do. And I want to know more about you. What about your family?”
“My parents, Tucker and Leigh, live in Chicago. My father is the CEO of the Jensen Financial Group and my mother is content to stay at home and be a socialite.” Her voice raised a fraction. “We’re pretty boring and nothing much to tell.”
“I doubt that. Brothers or sisters?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Just me. I’m an only child.”
A grin spread across his sinful lips. “Were you spoiled rotten?”
“Surprisingly, no, my parents never deigned to give me my heart’s desire. Instead, they taught me about hard work and dedication to achieve one’s goals.”
“Sounds like my family,” Vaughn concurred. “My father, the Commander, didn’t believe in handing anything to us. We had to work for it. And in my case join the Navy as he did and his father before him.”
“And your sisters? What do they do?”
“My sisters Emily and Brianne are both married with children and live here in San Diego. Until recently, my baby sister, Eliza, owned a fashion boutique in New York, but she’s since opened a boutique here in her hometown. I’m very proud of her.”
“You’re close to your family?”
“Yes, I am. I find they keep me grounded and never let all the wealth and prestige get to my head.”
They continued leisurely talking over a three-course meal of Maine lobster strudel with Cognac lobster sauce; duck confit with huckleberry sauce and orange reduction followed by a decadent dessert of salted caramel and chocolate bar with a peanut praline crisp which they shared. Vaughn was enjoying the night so much he didn’t want it to end. He suggested coffee on the outdoor terrace and that was where they stayed until late when he drove Miranda to her hotel.
Vaughn was reluctant for the evening to end. Miranda was a gorgeous woman and throughout the evening his gaze would fix on her silky brown skin that he’d love to touch, or drift to her lush pink-tinted lips. She’d dressed for him tonight, of that he was sure. The dress with its ruffled sleeves accentuated her shapely figure without showing too much. It stopped at her knee, revealing a tantalizing amount of leg, and the neckline gave a tempting view of her full cleavage.
He was desperate to take her upstairs to her room, yet was afraid of coming on too strong, but damn if he couldn’t picture the two of them making passionate sweet love all night long. Miranda wanted it too. She hadn’t shied away when his hand had covered hers on the restaurant terrace. In fact, he’d felt her breath hitch at his touch. Or complained when he’d come behind her and slid his arms on either side of her as he’d pointed out several points of interest. In fact, he could have sworn she’d sniffed him, inhaling his scent much as he’d done hers. Miranda’s sweet yet subtle perfume had oozed over his senses, filling his nostrils and seducing his mind into wanting to do all kinds of things to her body.
Miranda was taking him to new dimensions, but she was reluctant to speed up their relationship to the next level. Vaughn was accustomed to women who were a lot more confident and went after what they wanted. Women who gave him hungry stares so he knew what was offered. But Miranda seemed innocent, fragile even. He would have to handle her with care.
When the Rolls-Royce came to a stop in front of the hotel, Vaughn flew out the car, eager to open Miranda’s door since the valet was preoccupied with another customer. He lent her his hand and she slid out from the vehicle.
“Thank you.”
The valet came toward him. “What room?” he inquired, peering at Vaughn.
Vaughn was silent. He would take his cue from Miranda. If she gave him her room number, it meant he’d be staying the night and finally capitalizing on the lust that had been coursing through him since he’d laid eyes on her at the beach.
She glanced up, her eyes scanning his dark ones. He wanted her, but it had to be her choice. “Room eleven zero eight.”
The valet nodded and Vaughn watched as he hopped inside the vehicle and pulled away from the curb. Grasping Miranda’s hand, they walked through the lobby to the elevator bank. Once inside, awareness exploded between them and Vaughn nearly stopped breathing. Miranda was standing opposite him and he was mesmerized by the shape of her face and her delicately carved lips. So much so that it didn’t escape his attention when her tongue nervously darted out to moisten her lips. His whole body tightened in male response because he wanted to take her tongue in his mouth and suck on it voraciously. And he would, once he was inside her room.
When her eyes fastened on his, he noticed her pupils were dilated as if she too were acknowledging the palpable tension in the air. If he wasn’t mistaken, he saw her tremble just as the door chime indicated they’d reached her floor. They walked hand-in-hand to her hotel room and once they reached her door, Miranda pulled out her card and handed it to him.
He accepted it and used it to open the door. Miranda walked inside and he followed, for the first time unsure if this was the right thing. As much as his libido was raging, Vaughn wanted Miranda to be comfortable taking their relationship further. But instead of pulling away, she surprised him when she walked forward and pushed him backward, shutting the door. Her arms curved around his neck and he could see a tiny pulse beating in her throat as his entire body came alive at having her delicious body against his.
Then all Vaughn could feel was fire as Miranda bent her head and touched her lips to his. Her mouth was warm and sweet and his senses exploded, making him take control of the kiss. He claimed her lips, filling himself with her as he’d wanted to do the last two days, but had been unable to. Blood pounded in his veins as pure unadulterated lust slithered through him. Vaughn couldn’t recall a time when the passion he’d felt for a woman had been this raging hot, threatening to scorch him.
From a distance, he heard her whimper of desire and then her fingers curled around his neck.
* * *
Miranda forgot everything and anything in the moment but Vaughn. She didn’t know what had possessed her to give the valet her room number, but in that single action she’d made it clear to Vaughn that he was welcome to stay for the evening. Even more unusual was her handing him her hotel room card and kissing him first.
But she was glad she had.
Otherwise she would never know what it was like to be properly
