counter-attack clearly flustered her. ‘Yes, but you know why.’
‘Are you saying you only find me attractive because I remind you of your husband?’
She blinked her surprise at his directness. ‘Who said I find you attractive?’
‘Your eyes told me. The same way my eyes are telling you I find you attractive.’
Her cheeks went pink. ‘Please don’t flirt with me, Adrian.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because I…I can’t handle it.’
‘Are you saying I’m the first man to pay you this kind of attention since your husband died?’
‘I haven’t been with another man since Ray, if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t go out. And I don’t date.’
Her admission stunned Adrian. Five years of living by herself. Five years without male company, or sex of any kind. It wasn’t natural. Or healthy.
‘I find that terribly sad, Sharni.’
‘Life is sad,’ she said, and took another sip of wine.
‘You are coming out with me tonight,’ he stated firmly.
Her eyes widened before meeting his over the rim of her glass.
‘Am I?’
There was enough wavering in those two words, and in her eyes, to satisfy Adrian.
‘Absolutely,’ he said, just as their meals arrived.
CHAPTER FOUR
‘COFFEE or tea?’ Adrian asked.
Sharni looked up from where she’d been devouring the last bite of the simply delicious almond and plum tart.
Roland was standing by their table, patiently waiting for her decision.
‘Coffee, please,’ she said after dabbing her mouth with the white linen serviette. ‘Cappuccino.’
‘I’ll have a short black,’ Adrian told the waiter who swiftly departed to do their bidding.
Sharni could see why Adrian came here often. Not only was the food great, but the service was very quick.
‘So where would you like me to take you tonight?’ he asked.
Sharni sighed. She should have known he’d come back to that sooner or later. He’d very cleverly lulled her into a false sense of security over their meal by stopping the flirtatious talk and steering any conversation onto more impersonal topics such as food, politics and the weather.
Now, his eyes were back on hers again, their focus disturbingly intense. But oh-so-flattering.
He was right. She did find him attractive. How could she not? But Adrian’s charm for her was not just physical. It was the way he made her feel, as if he found her the most fascinating female in the world.
There was no use pretending she didn’t want to go out with him tonight. But the prospect was accompanied by a measure of fear. What if he tried to seduce her? What if he succeeded?
For the last five years Sharni had lived a sexless existence, that part of her body having totally shut down. She hadn’t had a period since she’d lost her baby, various doctors suggesting her lack of hormonal activity was caused by shock and grief. To be honest, she hadn’t given sex a second thought in ages.
Now, suddenly, she was very definitely thinking about it.
Was the wine over lunch to blame, or this man’s amazing resemblance to Ray?
She’d been sexually attracted to Ray from the moment. But they’d dated for several weeks before they’d slept together. Even then, it had been left up to her to make the first move, Ray having been chronically shy in the bedroom department.
Not so this man, she thought as she glanced across the table. He would know all the right moves.
If only he didn’t look so much like Ray…
‘We could have an early dinner then go to a show afterwards,’ he said, breaking into her ongoing silence. ‘Or a show first and supper afterwards, if you’d prefer. Have you seen The Phantom of the Opera? The musical, not the movie. They say this latest revival is better than all previous productions.’
Sharni had always loved the story of the phantom. She thought it highly romantic. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music was marvellous too, echoing the uncontrollable passions that consumed the main character.
‘No, I haven’t,’ she admitted. ‘But—’
‘No buts, Sharni,’ he broke in. ‘Your sister gave you this weekend in Sydney so that you could enjoy yourself. It’s not much fun sitting in a hotel room by yourself, especially on a Saturday night. If you’re still worried about my being a stranger, then I’ll ring Jordan right now so that she can vouch for me.’ To show he meant it, Adrian pulled a silver mobile phone from his jacket pocket and flipped it open.
‘No, no, you don’t have to do that,’ she said hurriedly. ‘I can see you’re not some kind of creep.’
His handsome face showed shock. ‘I should hope not.’
‘I suppose it wouldn’t be much fun sitting in the hotel room tonight all by myself.’
‘So you’ll come?’
‘You’ve talked me into it.’
‘Fantastic,’ he said, smiling.
Her heart fluttered. So did her stomach. He really was utterly gorgeous when he smiled like that.
‘What about The Phantom?’ he asked. ‘Is that a goer, or would you prefer a different show? A play, perhaps.’
‘No, no, I love musicals.’
‘Would you like me to book dinner before or supper afterwards?’
‘I think supper afterwards.’
‘That’s great,’ he said with a satisfied glint in his bright blue eyes. ‘Now, after we finish our coffee, I’m going to take you across the street to a spot where you can have a proper look at my pride and joy. Then, after you’ve been suitably impressed with my brilliance at designing the outsides of the building, I’ll give you a quick tour of the inside.’
‘It’ll have to be very quick,’ she told him. ‘I’ll need some time before the shops close to buy a suitable outfit to wear tonight. I only bought casual clothes this morning.’
‘I could come shopping with you, if you like?’
Sharni could see he was very much a takeover type of person. ‘Don’t you have something else you should be doing this afternoon?’
‘Not
