Page 20 of Richard

Richard stood back to study his handiwork. He wasn’t sure what she would make of his effort, but he did not want to just spring his offer on her like that without a preamble or preliminary. He was going to invite her into his bed, but he would offer her a meal first.

He had no elevated notions about his ability to charm a woman, especially one like Collette Sutherland. He would throw it out there and hear what she has to say. He had ordered a full meal from the kitchen and the chef had outdone himself. The veal looked so tender; he imagined it would just dissolve in the mouth.

The chicken breasts were smothered in some sort of rich, creamy sauce, and the lettuce from the salad was fresh and green.A bottle of Costa Regal nestled inside the bucket of ice. He had thought fleetingly about using his own brand but decided against it.

The scene was set for seduction. He had wrestled with the decision about bedding someone working for him, but his desire had won out over common sense.

He wanted the woman naked in his arms, and he was going to act on that. He had no idea how she was going to take his offer. Would she be shy and bashful? Honored and flattered that a man like him wanted to sleep with her?

He was a very generous lover and would provide for her while she was with him. He was going to assure her that it would not affect their working relationship. Technically, she did not work directly for him, or he would have had to rethink the entire thing.

They would be discreet, of course, and since they were both adults in their forties, they did not have to beat around the bush. A frown touched his forehead as he reflected on her past. She would have hang ups about relationships, but then again, who doesn’t? But he had no intention of leading her on.

He would be honest with her from the beginning. He just needed her physically. His frown deepened as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his ash gray dress pants.

He had dispensed with the matching jacket, and the sleeves of his pearl pink sweater were rolled up to the elbows. It was not just a mere attraction if he was being honest to himself. It was more than that; how much more, he did not know.

Walking over to the liquor cabinet, he poured a finger of bourbon and took it with him over to the desk. He had instructed security to send her straight up.

The place was more or less empty by now, except the studio, which was occupied all hours of the day. No one needed his attention tonight. He had been planning on going to a private showing of Macbeth, but this was where he wanted to be.

He stood up behind his desk and watched the monitor as he viewed her arrival. Taking a deep breath, he sipped the rest of the drink and put the glass away just as she came into the office.

“Thanks for coming.”

“Of course.” She hesitated just inside the doorway before entering.

“Please close the doors.”

Juggling her tote and briefcase, she did just that and went to stand in front of one of the chairs.

“I was just about to have dinner and would love it if you joined me.”

If he had told her that she should hop up on his desk and dance naked, she would not have been more surprised.

“Pardon?”

A smile curved his lips. “You were expecting something else.”

“Well, yes.” She was staring at him with a dazed expression on her lovely face. “When you called, you sounded–”As if realizing what she had been about to say, her voice petered off.

Emerald eyes watched her closely.

“Go on.”

She shrugged uncomfortably. “You sounded as if you were on the verge of firing us.”

A frown touched his brow as he continued to stare at her.

“You know me well enough to deduce that from my voice?”

The discomfort increased, and she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her.

“No, and I apologize for jumping to conclusions.”

“If I was going to fire your company, you would have received a detailed email. Now, about dinner?”

“Oh. Where–”Her eyes swiveled to the table set by the window and took in the place settings.

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