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He needed to know before he asked her to come back to the firm. Before it became a moot point. Again.
He checked his watch. If she didn’t show up within the next three minutes, it meant she was still hanging out at the bar with her new friend, and David would be wise to think about taking the next flight back to New York.
AS SOON AS JEFF LEFT, Mia drained her drink, and headed through the lobby toward the elevators. The first thing she was going to do was find out if David was registered at the hotel. If not, she’d call Suzie, an admin assistant who’d started with Pearson and Stern about the same time as Mia, and find out what the woman knew about why David was here. She was older and married with two children, and unlike most of the associates and admin staff at the firm, she had a life. Mia could trust Suzie to be discreet.
She didn’t make it to the elevators.
“Mia.” Suddenly David was right in front of her, a couple of feet away. If she’d turned left instead of right…
“David.” Her breath caught at the wedge of exposed chest hair where his tennis shirt came to a V. She’d never seen him without a tie. Not once. He was always impeccably dressed in his tailored suits, with his black hair perfect, his eyes so serious. “What are you doing here?”
“Vacation.”
“You never take vacations.”
“Not true.”
“Four-day weekends occasionally.”
He shrugged. “I needed some time off.”
“You’re right. This is good.” She cleared her throat as she looked away. Of course she felt discombobulated. That didn’t mean she had to show it. “Are you here with someone?”
“No, alone.” He smiled, faint lines fanning out at the corners of his brown eyes. “Not counting you.”
She tried to hide her unsteady hands in her pockets, fumbling with the folds of material until she remembered she had no pockets, not in the short halter dress she wore. So instead of disguising her nervousness, she’d drawn his attention to her legs. Her very pale legs.
“How about you?” he asked, lifting his gaze to hers. “Are you here with that guy in the bar?”
“Him? No.” She laughed dismissively. “With Lindsey and Shelby. I don’t think you know them.”
His mouth curved into another smile, and it stunned her how much it changed his face. The man had incredible dimples. His eyebrows lifted along with his grin, and he looked ten years younger.
“No, I don’t think you ever mentioned them,” he said.
She didn’t roll her eyes, although she wanted to. Of course he didn’t know them. Had they ever once discussed anything personal? Not for one hot second.
“Have you ever been here before?” he asked.
“A long time ago. For spring break.”
“Ah.” His slight frown confused her. “So you’d know some of the good restaurants? Hot spots?”
Mia pressed her lips together, wondering what strait-laced David Pearson considered a hot spot.
He was still smiling, and she was still trying to get used to it. “Assuming you were in any condition to remember.”
At that, she laughed. “Me?”
“Come on. Anyone who took off on spring break wasn’t there to crack the books.”
“Not even you?”
“Let’s say I have a few stories I won’t be telling my grandchildren.”
“Well, well, Mr. Pearson, I see you in a whole new light.”
He paused. “Good.” The slow sensual curve of his lips made her heart trip. And his eyes, good God, the way he looked at her, as if she were the only person in the lobby. She couldn’t speak. Could barely think. He was here alone…could that mean…this wasn’t real…she was making stuff up…
“Hey! I thought I’d find you in the bar.”
Coming from behind, Mia barely registered Shelby’s voice.
“Mia? Oh, I’m interrupting. Sorry.”
Mia blinked, glanced blearily at her friend. “Shelby. Hi.”
Shelby smiled. “Hi.” She swung a look at David, her eyes full of amused curiosity as she sized him up. “I’m Shelby.”
“David.” He politely offered his hand as if he were meeting a new client for the first time.
The moment was gone. What was left was the same David she had known for three years.
“You’re not interrupting. I was on my way up to the room,” Mia said with a small shrug.
“Yeah, um…” Her gaze skittered briefly toward David then back to Mia. “Someone left you a message.”
“Who?”
“It’s about dinner.”
“Already?” The word slipped out as she was unable to contain her surprise. Refusing to look at David, Mia’s eyes met Shelby’s. “This couldn’t have waited?”
“Lindsey’s out shopping and just texted.” Shelby’s mouth lifted in a sly smile. “She may be having company.”
“Oh.” Mia frowned, paused. “Oh,” she repeated with enthusiasm. Lindsey had been certain her guy wouldn’t show up. “Good.” She sent an apologetic glance at David, and then a more probing one at Shelby, who gave a small sad shake of her head.
“Look, I’m the one who’s interrupting,” David said, taking a step back. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”
“No, wait.” Great. Now what? They both faced Mia, waiting expectantly. “Let’s all have dinner,” she said, shocked at what had just come out of her mouth. Yet she’d feel awful deserting Shelby on their first night here. “David, Shelby, join Jeff and me. I’m sure he won’t mind.”
3
“ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?” Shelby asked when she and Mia approached the designated restaurant two minutes early and saw that David was waiting outside. “He’s absolutely gorgeous.”
“If you ask me one more time, I swear I’ll…” Mia finished with an exasperated grunt. The closer they got, the yummier he looked in crisp khakis and a white button-down shirt open at the neck. She hoped tonight wasn’t a mistake, but she couldn’t stand to think of Shelby being left alone, especially knowing that her guy wasn’t coming, and that he was married with his first child on the way.
Shelby hadn’t seemed particularly disappointed; of course, the girl always landed on her feet. She’d undoubtedly have men lining up in no time. Besides, David wasn’t her type. But Mia had opened her big mouth, so too late. End of story.
“Still, I know you used to have a thing for him.”
“Used to. Now shut up,” Mia murmured as they got within hearing distance.
They both pasted on smiles, and the moment he spotted them his smile came so easily that Mia had trouble believing this was the same guy she’d worked with for three years.
She’d always considered him attractive, with his dark hair and intense brown eyes. The first day they’d met he’d sent her pulse skittering, but his rare smiles and overall serious nature had bothered her. She’d understood to some degree why he’d kept up the barrier. He was a supersmart guy and one hell of a lawyer, but his high-ranking position with the firm at only thirty could have easily been interpreted as nepotism. He was thirty-three now. Time to relax. He’d proven himself many times over.
“You ladies look lovely,” he said, giving them equal attention as he took in their new sundresses. “Would you like to be seated at our table, or wait out here for Jeff?”
“Let’s sit down,” Mia said, never having had trouble being decisive. “We should be able to see him when he gets here.”
“Good.” David gave the host a slight nod, and the man gathered menus and indicated they should follow him.
Shelby went first, and then David lightly touched the small of Mia’s back for her to proceed. A triangular cutout at her waist exposed bare skin, allowing his fingertips to graze the sensitive area. Her entire body reacted. The tingling started at her nape and slithered down her spine. Goose bumps surfaced on her arms and back.
She picked up the pace so that contact was quickly broken, but he’d have to be blind not to see what his touch had done. The restaurant was outdoors, and even though it was twilight, strings of white lights were woven through the surrounding palm trees to illuminate the walkway—and reactions Mia preferred weren’t so obvious.
They arrived at the table, an excellent one, private yet affording a breathtaking view of the water. She’d bet an expensive bottle of wine that David had greased the host’s palm to get this baby.
The host pulled out a chair, and so did David. Shelby and Mia exchanged secret smiles as they settled in. David’s manners didn’t surprise Mia. Not once had she seen him sit or enter an elevator before a woman. He probably opened car doors, too, but she’d never had the opportunity to see him in action.
“Your server will be Cole. He’ll be here shortly to offer you cocktails.” The host passed out the menus, leaving the wine list with David. “In the meantime, is there anything else I can do for you?” he asked as he shook out Shelby’s white linen napkin and draped it across her lap.
Shelby smiled and shook her head. Mia didn’t bother. She knew the question was mainly addressed to David, who said, “I think we’re fine for now. Thank you, Ryan.”
“Oh.” Mia stopped the man. “If you could be on the lookout for the fourth person who’s joining us—”
“Of course.” The glance at David told her he’d already taken care of that, too.
The situation was kind of weird for her. When she and her friends were out, she was usually the one in charge, or at least they automatically deferred to her.
“I could get used to this,” Shelby said, surveying the other diners, mostly dressed in subdued aloha shirts and lightweight floral dresses. “Houston can be casual, especially in the summer when it’s so hot, but this rocks.”
David followed her gaze. “I’m practically over-dressed.”
Shelby grinned. “Feel free to take your shirt off.”
Mia chuckled when David blinked, his normally expressionless face slightly startled. Nothing that came out of Shelby’s mouth surprised her, but she doubted David was used to being teased. That’s why she didn’t feel threatened by Shelby, who looked too damn cute in her strapless yellow dress. She simply wasn’t his type.
There. She’d acknowledged the evil little thought that had consoled her after she’d foolishly suggested David and Shelby come to dinner.
“Think I could get away with it?” David asked, his eyes filling with warm amusement.
Shelby laughed. “What’s the worst that can happen?” She shrugged her bare bronzed shoulders. “They’ll ask you to put it back on.”
“I think I’ll let a braver soul than me test the boundaries of their dress code.” His gaze met Mia’s.
She forced a smile. How could she have underestimated Shelby? It wasn’t that she blamed her for being so charming and irresistible.
“So, Shelby—” David set the wine list aside “—I understand you went to school with Mia. Are you also an attorney?”
“No,” she said with a startled laugh, as if that was a joke. “No offense. Nothing wrong with being a lawyer. I’m in PR. As soon as we get the business off the ground I’ll be handling the publicity, advertising, networking, that sort of thing.”
His brows went up, and Mia cringed inside. She hadn’t told him about Anything Goes. It wasn’t as if it were a big secret. But David would never understand how she could walk away from the law to start a business like that.
He didn’t ask the expected question, but rather stared past Mia. “I believe your date is here.”
She swung a gaze toward the entrance, and there was Jeff headed toward them. He’d cleaned up nicely, having changed into white jeans and a blue Hawaiian shirt. He waved, acknowledging them, and then stopped to talk to a waitress carrying a full tray of food. With her chin, she gestured to a passing waiter, and after Jeff had a word with the guy, he finally joined them at the table.
“I’m not late, am I?” he asked, kissing Mia on the cheek before taking his seat beside her.
She immediately smelled the booze on his breath. Great. “We’ve only been here a few minutes.”
Frowning and totally ignoring David, who’d gotten to his feet, Jeff’s gaze skimmed the table. “They haven’t served drinks yet.”
“Our server is coming,” Mia said tightly. “I don’t know if you remember Shelby, and this is David.”
“Jeff.” David extended his hand. “Thanks for allowing us to join you.”
Jeff half rose and accepted the handshake. “No problem. I should’ve brought my friends, too.”
Mia tried not to shudder. She tried even harder not to look at David, who’d reclaimed his seat. Though maybe she was the only one who knew Jeff was slightly off.
“How did the surfing go?” she asked.
“Shit. I nearly broke my neck. Check this out.” He yanked up the hem of his shirt to show where the skin across his ribs was beginning to bruise. “I banged up my back, too.”
Oh, God. They didn’t need to see that. “Bummer,” Mia said, and picked up the leather-bound menu. “We should look at the menus.”
Jeff dropped his shirt in place and craned his neck. “Where’s our waiter? I gave him my drink order.”
Mia glanced at Shelby and David. They both had taken her suggestion and were studying their menus. Neither of them seemed put off by Jeff, but they were probably just being polite.
The waiter arrived with Jeff’s Scotch and an apologetic look for the rest of them, then he took everyone else’s drink order. While they waited, Mia quickly decided on an entrée and urged Shelby with a pointed look to do the same. David diplomatically handled the selection of the wine, something Mia gladly would have skipped altogether.
Other than Jeff reaching under the table to squeeze her thigh, an attempt that was immediately rejected, the rest of the meal went smoothly enough. David and Shelby got along fabulously, chatting away as if they’d known each other for ages. Mia should’ve been grateful they were distracted, but their rapport only helped to darken her mood. She was jealous, and she had no one to blame but herself. And Jeff. Rational or not, she totally blamed him. Why did he have to turn out to be such an ass?
When the bill came, there was a brief struggle between David and Jeff. No surprise to her, David won. Any other time, Mia might have offered to pick it up herself since she’d invited Shelby and David, but all she wanted was to get back to her room. No way was she spending another minute with Jeff, who’d had a glass in his hand throughout dinner. Only one thing could make the night worse—if Shelby stayed out with David.
“Well,” Mia said, after giving Jeff a firm send-off, and he’d started weaving his way toward the lobby. Or more likely, the next bar. “I’m beat.”
Neither Shelby or David responded, and a lump swelled in Mia’s throat. They’d gotten along much better than she’d anticipated. Who knew David could be that social and charming, damn him. She wouldn’t be surprised if they wanted to spend more time together.
She swallowed hard. “Guess I’ll catch up with you two tomorrow.” Mia’s gaze involuntarily flicked to David. He’d been watching her intently. She blinked at the sudden awkwardness. “Thanks for dinner. I should’ve foot the bill. I owe you one.”
His warm chocolate-brown eyes stayed level with hers. “I’ll remind you,” he said, his voice a seductive murmur in the semidarkness.
Shivering with awareness, she rubbed her bare arm. She couldn’t seem to look away. With a jolt of regret, she remembered Shelby was standing there watching.
