of what she’d been saying, her brain suddenly addled, and her hands unsteady. It took every ounce of personal discipline to keep focused on her presentation.
Somehow she got through it, even managed to answer questions intelligently. Luke was silent throughout, but his eyes never left her. She knew he would remember and file away everything said. A man like Luke Buchanan didn’t get where he was by not paying attention.
Then finally, they were finished, and she shook hands with everyone. Howard Manning stood at her elbow like a well-bred guard dog, ushering everyone along. Luke still sat at the end of the table, watching quietly through hooded eyes. She busied herself packing everything back into her briefcase, feeling as if she were surrounded by his presence.
“I hope you’ll join me for dinner,” Howard told her when she was finished.
“Ms. Patterson will be having dinner with me, Howard. Thanks anyway.” Luke suddenly stood next to her, his hand at her elbow.
“Oh, you don’t need to—” she began, but he interrupted her.
“We still have business to discuss, don’t you think?”
He phrased it as a question, but Julia was positive he was telling her, not asking. Shocked at the electric jolt such a light touch sent buzzing through her system, she wondered if the man sensed how rattled she was. “Yes. Thank you. That would be nice.”
The nearness of the man swamped her. She felt as if she were being drawn into a vortex, powerless to pull herself out. Sex with Charles was always…perfunctory. A disappointing crash after what she guessed had been unrealistic expectations. But this man, with one casual touch of his fingers, set bells ringing inside her. She hoped she didn’t look and sound as dazed as she felt.
Still lightly touching her arm, he looked at Howard.
“Why don’t you carry Ms. Patterson’s things downstairs for her and I’ll pick her up in front.” He turned to Julia. “Five minutes. Howard will help you.”
The private elevator doors opened and he was gone before she even knew he’d left her side. The place where he’d touched her still tingled and his absence left her suddenly bereft.
“A good sign,” Howard told her. “He doesn’t usually do the wining and dining for the company.”
“Oh?” Julia raised an eyebrow.
He took her briefcase and computer and led her to the elevator. “If Lucas Buchanan wants to have dinner with you, I’d say you can consider this a done deal.”
“Thank you, Howard, but I’ve learned to keep my expectations under control. We’ll see how it goes.”
Once outside, Howard ushered her into a black Lincoln, shook her hand, and closed the car door after her.
Luke turned and looked at her. The heat simmering in his eyes, the unspoken message dancing in the air between them, stunned her.
His lips curved in a smile. “Here we go.” His deep warm voice was like a caress.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and Julia felt an unfamiliar flash of heat suffuse her.
Here we go, indeed.
Chapter 3
“I’d like to take a minute to freshen up, if you don’t mind.” Julia paused in the hotel lobby.
And take a few minutes to gather her wits about her.
“Take your time.” Luke smiled. “I’ll get us a table in the cocktail lounge while you run up to your room. I thought we’d have a drink before heading into the restaurant.”
“All right. Sounds good.”
In her room, she dropped her briefcase and portfolio, leaned against the closed door, and put her hands to her heated face. Her entire body felt flushed, her bones shook, and the oddest sensation coursed through her. What was the matter with her? She didn’t even know the man. This was crazy.
There was no mistaking the unspoken message in Luke’s dark eyes when he looked at her, no matter how circumspect his behavior. And even three floors away from him, she still felt his powerful presence surrounding her.
What she needed was a cold shower. Maybe the stinging spray would bring her to her senses. She glanced at her watch. Could she do it quickly? She stripped off her clothes, fully aware if she exchanged her business uniform for something more casual, she was acknowledging this was more than a business date. She was equally nervous and aroused. A dangerous combination. Why couldn’t she just get on with it? Allow herself to sample life a little?
She hurried through the shower, drying herself quickly, rubbing cream into her skin, spraying perfume on her pulse points, and pulling on the soft slacks and cashmere sweater she’d brought to travel home in. Gold hoops at her ears. She brushed her hair until it shown and swayed with a natural rhythm. And all the while the image of Luke Buchanan burned itself into her vision. Unexpectedly, she wondered what he looked like without any clothes on such a powerful body. Wondered what fantastic things he would do to her. With her.
Oh, my God! Crazy, crazy, crazy.
She sensed she was on the verge of doing the most daring thing she’d ever done in her life, but Luke Buchanan mesmerized her. She couldn’t help herself. Maybe it was her lack of experience with anyone but Charles. Maybe it was the need curling inside her to discover what real passion was. Maybe it was a response to having a man look at her as if she was a desirable woman. Whatever it was, it was blossoming inside her like a flower seed buried too long under snow.
When she entered the cocktail lounge, Luke rose from the booth he’d commandeered, his eyes taking in every inch of her body. When he took her arm as she slid onto the bench seat, the same instant shock of electricity she’d felt during the afternoon crackled through her.
“I’d have ordered for you but I neglected to ask what you drink.” His deep voice was like a liquid caress.
“Amaretto, please. On the rocks. Thank you.”
“Very nice.” His gaze took in every inch of her. “I like the outfit. The color brings out the blue in your eyes.”
“Thank you.” She searched for something else to say, but her tongue seemed immobilized. Compliments were rare in her life with Charles.
She was grateful when the waiter brought her drink, not for the alcohol but for something to do with her hands.
“You’re clutching your glass like a lifeline.” Amusement edged Luke’s tone and his eyes crinkled at the corners. “You aren’t an alcoholic by any chance, are you?”
“No. Not at all.” She picked up the drink and sipped at it, feeling the warmth slide through her system, praying her hands wouldn’t shake. “Just…winding down.” Or winding tighter.
Luke studied her face, hot gaze stroking her skin. “Tell me about yourself, Julia Patterson. I know everything there is to know about your agency and absolutely nothing about you.”
“You’ll find I’m a very boring person, Mr. Buchanan.”
“Luke,
