Page 17 of Torrid Passion
“It’s good to see you too, Loki.”
I quickly scour the room before focusing on her again. “Are you here alone?”
“I am.”
“I don’t believe it.”
She knits her eyebrows together. “Why not? A girl can’t step out unaccompanied?”
“Sweetheart, in that outfit,” I look her up and down, “you’re anything but a girl. You’re all woman.”
“Oh.”
Maybe that was too much.
I blame the massive hard-on trying to break free from my boxer briefs, dying to say,How you doin’?”
Have some manners, will you?
“I’m sorry. I guess it’s my awkward way of saying I’ve never seen you like this before.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“It is in my book. Is it okay if I say so?”
She bites against her lower lip and looks at me from under her lashes. “It’s more than okay.”
We smile at each other.
“Seriously,” I say, “you’re here alone?”
“Is it so hard to believe?”
“It is. There’s anything wrong with it, but a beauty like you sitting at a bar alone? Seems wrong to me. You’re not meeting a girlfriend or a guy? You’re surely dressed for the part.”
“I… I… Err…” Her face contorts in a grimace. It’s not enough to dull her striking features.
I lean into her. “I didn’t catch that.”
“I was supposed to meet someone from the industry who was going to help me work out a little problem I’ve had for a while.” She pauses. “He was double booked so he can’t make it.”
“I see. And your dad couldn’t help?” Kyla’s cheeks flame up so fast, you’d think she was about to combust. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Oh, no. No, no, no.”
“Good.”
“I’d never dream of involving Daddy in this.”
“I can understand. I’m know I’m in the music industry, but maybe I can help you with your little problem?”
Suddenly, Kyla turns redder than a tomato and starts coughing uncontrollably.
“Are you okay? Did you swallow down the wrong pipe?”
She nods vehemently.
I pat her back a few times. Slowly, she finds her composure.
