He waved goodbye and as he walked away Indie stood in the doorway, staring after him, a soft smile on her face. Lady Luck was definitely on her side today. She couldn’t have wanted a better turn of events.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Stone splashed water on his face and stared into the bathroom mirror. What was it about Indiana Lane that had him sweating like a damn teenager every time he was in her presence? For God’s sake, he was a thirty-three year old man, way past the sweating and trembling stage. Was he regressing? That made him smile at his own reflection. That was a laugh. It must be the setting, all the way out here in this wilderness as Indie had called it. He couldn’t remember reacting this strongly to a woman. Not since high school, anyway.
But now here he was, totally captivated by the woman with the emerald green eyes. And that was why, when he’d seen that opening, he hadn’t been able to resist asking her over. At her place he’d acted nonchalant, like he’d already ordered dinner and everything was arranged. No such thing. He’d had to send a message to Cook real fast to fix a special dinner for two. Luckily, he already had wine chilling in the fridge.
He grabbed a towel and dried his face then headed for the living room. He hadn’t been kidding when he said he needed to tidy up before Indie got there. He wasn’t the neatest of souls and his mind immediately went to his mother. She’d been at him since he’d been able to understand the words 'pick up your clothes'. Where that was concerned, he was still a failure. Sorry, Mom.
At twenty minutes before six Cook’s packages of food arrived. Stone slipped them into the oven to keep them warm then he went and got dressed in dark slacks and a creamy silk shirt. At three minutes before the hour of six there was another knock at the door and the long-awaited lady stood there looking elegant in gray slacks and a peach-colored top that showed off her bare shoulders.
“Welcome.” He held the door open for her and as she stepped past, her perfume brought back memories of that first night they’d dined together. That night she’d looked exquisite, like a perfectly painted porcelain doll. Tonight was different. Tonight she looked relaxed, natural and so inviting. He wanted to bend down and press his lips to the smooth skin of her shoulder then to her collarbone, her neck, then her lips.
He began to grow hard again and he had to step back and take a deep breath. What was with him tonight? Just the sight of her, her fragrance, had him thinking crazy thoughts. She fit so well into this earthy, untamed setting that his thoughts ran to things hot and wild – like her, straddling his h*ps and making mad love to him.
Stone shook his head. If he didn’t slow down he was going to get himself in a whole lot of trouble.
“So,” he said, shoving his hands deep into his pockets, “welcome to my home.”
“You already said that.” She gave him a look of amusement then her eyes scanned the room. “You were right. It looks just like my place.”
He spread his arms wide. “See? We’re all equals in this place. No need to bash the rich guy.”
“I wasn’t going to.” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Not unless he gives me reason to."
“I won’t.” He put his hands up and backed away. “Trust me, I know when I’m in the presence of a warrior woman.”
He’d meant that as a joke but at his words she looked a little hurt. “I mean, you look like you can defend yourself,” he said quickly, trying to do damage control.
“It’s okay,” she said, her voice punctuated with a sigh. “Part of the territory, being taller than most other women. People see you as a whole lot tougher than you actually are.”
“I didn’t mean that-”
“It’s okay,” she said again, her voice insistent. “Let’s just eat.”
That shut Stone up for a while. This was something she was obviously sensitive about and pressing her further would only make things worse. As much as he found every inch of her to be a tantalizing treat now was not the time to tell her that. She would think he was just trying to make her feel better. Great going, Stone, you just put your size twelve foot in it. Wanting to melt her frosty mood, Stone turned on the CD player and the sounds of Shania Twain's 'From This Moment' filled the room. The soothing sounds should calm her down. As he went to pull out her chair he saw that her mouth was just a little less tight and the furrow between her brows gone. Whew.
He lifted the white wine from its bed of ice and poured her a glass. Then he got the meal from the oven – salmon in a light lemon sauce with wild rice and a vegetable medley. Indie’s eyes widened at the sight of the elegantly prepared trays. “Cook did this?”
“Yep. A man of many talents. He can serve the Queen of England, if called on.”
Indie nodded. “I have no doubt.”
After that, it was as if that awkward moment had never happened. They fell into easy conversation, with Indie plying him with questions about his family back in Canada. He told her about his older sister who lived in Vancouver and was a professor of Medieval History at the university there, and his younger brother, also a businessman, who had moved to Australia with his young wife and infant son. And then there were his mom and dad, stalwarts in the Toronto community, members of the Chamber of Commerce and philanthropists in their own right.
“The Hudson wing at the Toronto City Hospital is named after them."
“So that’s where you get it from, this philanthropy thing."
He shrugged. “I do my own thing.”
“Yes, you do,” she said, her voice a sultry whisper that made Stone wonder if they were still talking about philanthropy. Somehow, it didn’t sound like it.
Indie had leaned forward, her elbows on the table, her hands folded in front of her, her chin resting on those folded hands. And she was looking at him with half closed eyes, her lips slightly parted.
And if she kept that up she was going to get a whole lot more than dinner tonight.
Stone clenched and unclenched his hands under the table. If Indie only knew what he wanted to do right now. Then again, maybe she already did, and that was why she was playing temptress tonight. And he wanted to make a move, no doubt about that. But he had to be sure.