Page 28 of About Last Night
She took a small step back and narrowed her eyes; giving him such a taunting look he felt the power of it deep in his chest. Desire rushed more heat down his spine, but he swept away his urge to push her up against the wall and kiss that look right off her face.
He needed to stay focused and remember they had business to take care of first.
Clenching his hands into fists for strength against the tempting urges, he gestured back out into the hallway of the apartments. ‘So, are you ready?’
‘Yes,’ she said, turning to grab her bag and coat from a hook on the wall.
‘Then let’s go.’
Tristan had called in a favour from a friend and snagged a table at his new restaurant, which was currently the hippest – and most eye-wateringly expensive – joint in town, wanting to ram home to Tallulah that he wasn’t messing about here.
After the taxi dropped them off outside, he guided her in through the large dark-tinted glass doors and gave his name to the maître d’.
They were ushered through the dining room, which appeared to be styled like some kind of 1970s diner – all dark wooden panels, squared off chrome fixtures and boxy orange leather booths – to an octagonal, glass-topped table at the back.
Their waiter brought over complimentary glasses of Appletini and a small bowl of spiced nuts while they perused the menu.
Neither of them said anything to the other until they’d given their food and drink orders, but the tension hummed between them like a stripped livewire.
Lula was the first to break the silence as she watched their waiter walk away.
‘So…’ She crossed her arms in front of her, which automatically drew his eyes to her impressive chest.
He flicked his gaze back up quickly, not wanting to be caught ogling her. Damn, if this wasn’t doing his head in. It wouldn’t have been so bad if he didn’t already know how amazing she felt pressed against him and how sweet she’d tasted. How moreish.
Shifting in his seat, he tried not to give away how turned on he was just from sitting opposite her with those incredible memories dancing through his head. ‘So, thank you for coming back to Flash.’
She smiled down at the table. ‘I haven’t agreed to it yet.’
‘Ah, but you will.’
Her gaze snagged with his. ‘You’re very sure of yourself.’
He shrugged. ‘We both know Flash has the potential to be an outstanding radio station – which means accolades and upward career moves for anyone working there – and that you’re the best DJ there by a mile. Everyone I’ve spoken to says so.’
She was looking at him with a concentrated frown on her face now, which she forced into a sad little smile when he raised a questioning eyebrow at her.
‘It’s really nice to hear that,’ she said. ‘No one’s ever told me that before. Jez wasn’t particularly good at boosting staff morale.’
‘So I’ve heard.’
‘I guess I should thank you for taking my concerns seriously. In the end.’
He leant forwards, splaying his hands onto the table in front of him in a gesture of total openness. ‘Look, I apologise for that. I wasn’t as focussed as I should have been during that session. Meeting you and doing what we did,’ he shifted in his seat as his body responded to the memories again, ‘wasn’t the norm for me. I’ve just come out of a four-year relationship and wasn’t looking for that to happen. It caught me by surprise, and I’m not good with surprises.’
He took a sip of his drink to cover his discomfort. It was harder than he’d anticipated, talking about how he’d reacted to what had happened. It was bringing back the rumblings of unease he’d been supressing since Marcy had left him.
He shook it off and focussed his attention back on her.
She was giving him a speculating look. Was she wondering about how they moved forwards from here too?
‘I hope it won’t affect our working relationship because once you come back,’ he gave her a meaningful look, ‘you’re going to have to put up with having me as your boss until I can find a new station manager to take over.’
She stared at him for a moment, her eyes wide, then nodded slowly. ‘I guess I should thank you for all the gifts and notes you sent today. I’m very impressed that you remembered all that about me.’ She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear and he noticed her fingers were shaking.
‘I bet no woman has ever resisted your wooing,’ she continued, smiling now. ‘If the way you handle your relationships is anything like the way you handle business affairs, they wouldn’t stand a chance. I bet they’re putty in your hands!’
From the colour of her cheeks, it was clear she thought she’d said too much and he experienced an unnerving urge to help her out of her babble loop.
