Lex’s eyes narrowed.He’d been receiving dinner invitations from his siblings more than usual.“Has she been talking to my mother?”
Eddie’s eyebrows slammed down.“I don’t know.I think so.Why?”
“Is Amy inviting a friend?”
“Her friend from Idaho is visiting.”Eddie made a face.“She talks nonstop.”
Lex groaned.“I’ve been getting dinner invitations from everyone.Ashley, Jade, Faith, even Kara insisted, but Baron warned me to stay away because Mom was behind it.The dinners have one thing in common.”
“A girlfriend who just happens to be visiting the same evening and is single.I’ll tell her you’re busy,” Eddie said, heading out the door.“Let me know what Hujimura decides.If that doesn’t work out, we could always go with Brembo in Italy.They have a solid reputation for their brakes.HD uses their components.”
Lex nodded.He could hint at Brembo during his talks with Hujimura, but he wanted them for distribution too, which was more important.“That might prove to be useful.”
As soon as Eddie left, Lex pressed a button and a screen lowered.He dialed Tokyo.
~*~
Three hours later, Jillian entered the restaurant and Lex’s breath stalled in his lungs.She wore a bold red dress that hugged every curve on her body.From her glossy hair tumbling down her back to the black heels, she owned the room.Glazed eyes followed her, confirming he wasn’t the only man wishing they owned her.
She was his.She just didn’t know it yet.
Lex stood when the hostess nodded in his direction, and Jillian’s eyes found him.Her eyes widened ever so slightly, and even from afar, he noticed the tinge of color creep into her cheeks.She was a contradiction, a spitfire siren, yet she could switch in a heartbeat and show vulnerability.He liked that.
Eros’ cocktail lounge was packed with guests waiting to be seated, but Lex had claimed a corner couch after chatting with the chef, the hostess making sure no one shared his table.For the past fifteen minutes, he’d cooled his heels and ignored the glances from other patrons.Some women were worth breaking a few rules, he’d decided.
He started across the lounge.A little closer and her warmth and feminine scent sent heat straight to his groin.His cock responded.
“Hey,” she said, eyes meeting his squarely.The pulse at the base of her neck beat furiously, indicating she wasn’t as calm as she looked.
He wanted to lean down and press his lip on that pulse, but he settled for a kiss on the back of her hand.“I’m happy you made it.You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.You cleaned up well, too.”She looked down at his custom-made shoes.“But I miss the scruffy boots.”
He chuckled.“Why?”
“They made you more approachable,” she said bluntly.
He liked her honesty.“They’re in the back of the car.I can go put them on if they’ll make you feel more comfortable.”
She glanced around the room and wrinkled her nose, the simple reaction adorable.Her eyes came back to him.“No, I’m good.All this can grow on me.”
He wasn’t sure whether she meant the opulence of the restaurant with its clientele or his dinner attire.A nod from the hostess and he cupped Jillian’s elbow.“Our table is ready.”He steered her toward the stairs.“Did Douglas find your home okay?”
“Yes.When you said you’d send a car, I’d expected a limo.”She met his gaze, her turquois eyes luminous with laughter.
“I’ll try to be accommodating next time,” he said.
She laughed, the pure joy in the sound drawing the attention of the customers.It didn’t help that they’d started up the stairs and the entire room, from the lounge to the eating area, could see them.He wanted to capture her laugh with a kiss.
“Limos are so Hollywood, and I have a thing about Phantoms.”She chuckled as though enjoying a private joke.“What kind of engine do they have?What’s the power delivery?The engine was so quiet, the acceleration seamless.Uh, what?”she asked, and Lex realized he was staring.
Once again, his toy was getting more attention.This time, it was his latest acquisition, a Rolls Royce Phantom, courtesy of a British friend and a supplier of luxury cars.“Would you like to go outside and take a look under the hood before we eat?”
Her eyes lit up.“Really?Can I?”
“Sure.”
She opened her mouth, and he was sure she meant to say yes, but then she closed it and studied the people waiting in the lounge below before meeting his eyes.“Later.I don’t want to hold up a table when people are waiting to be seated.”
