getaway. Or I could just collect them on my way up to Caleb’s room, if that was how things panned out.
Control. I always felt better when I had things under control.
Then I made my way to the hotel bar, where we’d agreed to meet at seven. I took a deep breath as I glanced at myself in the mirror behind the bar, hoping that I looked okay. I hadn't got my glasses on as I found the stupid things really annoying, the way they slipped down my nose all the time, so I only wore them at work or for driving. Now it meant that I couldn’t see too much detail thanks to myopic blurriness, but I didn't seem to look too bad. There are some things to be said for poor eyesight.
“Punctual. I like that in a woman. And wow, you scrub up pretty darn good, Faith.”
Caleb had come up behind me, so now I turned to look at him. His voice was already deep and throaty and sexy, and his American accent just heightened that sexiness. He was wearing a black shirt, no tie, and black jeans. He looked different out of the expensive kind of suits I’d seen him in at work, but in a good way. As he leaned down to kiss me, his freshly shaved yet still bristly cheek brushed against mine. God, how I’d missed that ultra masculine touch . And he smelt clean and manly, nothing overpowering, just nice. Very nice, actually.
Caleb seemed to turn on some kind of special charm as those amber eyes of his looked into mine, and I instantly felt myself falling under his spell, as they were the kind of eyes you could easily get lost in. As he put his hand on my waist, I couldn’t help shivering in anticipation of what this evening promised.
No doubt about it, I was in the hands of an expert in this whole subtle seduction business. But that was the whole point, that’s what I'd signed up for, so I might as well just let myself be swept along by him.
He smiled his glorious smile at me, and as he let his eyes wander over my body, it gave me some satisfaction to note his spark of interest.
“I’m so glad you agreed to come on this date, Faith, otherwise I'd never have known what I was missing. You look amazing.”
“Thanks. You don’t scrub up too bad yourself,” I smiled back, flattered by his reaction, but aware that it was all part of an act.
“Would you like a drink here at the bar, or shall we head straight to our table?” Caleb enquired politely.
“Let’s go to the table,” I suggested, as I glanced round at the red Valentine-themed venue. In the corner of the room, there was a smallish dance floor, with a DJ in the process of setting things up.
Great, that would mean we’d have to put up with all the cheesy romantic bilge he’d no doubt be playing this evening. The last thing I wanted was someone droning on about everlasting love and me getting upset. That’s why I’d taken to listening to Gregorian chants these days to help me relax.
Romance was not on the menu tonight as far as I was concerned, and I just had to hope my nerve was going to hold, as I was feeling ridiculously nervous at the thought of actually getting naked with Caleb. Part of me was really tempted to give into the urge to run out of the door in a blind panic, and pretend this whole thing had been nothing more than a stupid dream. But I somehow managed to resist the urge by reminding myself that Caleb had promised he’d be totally fine about me changing my mind at any time.
As we were seated, I was presented with a single red rose by the waiter, before he busied himself with lighting the candle on the table.
“Part of the whole Valentine evening experience,” Caleb whispered as he winked at me. “Might as well just go along with it.”
I rolled my eyes, but held my tongue. After all, it’d been me who’d suggested a Valentine’s date, hadn't it?
The waiter hovered impatiently as he waited to take our order. Luckily it was a set menu, so the limited choice made the selection easier for me. I never had a great appetite at the best of times,
Control. I always felt better when I had things under control.
Then I made my way to the hotel bar, where we’d agreed to meet at seven. I took a deep breath as I glanced at myself in the mirror behind the bar, hoping that I looked okay. I hadn't got my glasses on as I found the stupid things really annoying, the way they slipped down my nose all the time, so I only wore them at work or for driving. Now it meant that I couldn’t see too much detail thanks to myopic blurriness, but I didn't seem to look too bad. There are some things to be said for poor eyesight.
“Punctual. I like that in a woman. And wow, you scrub up pretty darn good, Faith.”
Caleb had come up behind me, so now I turned to look at him. His voice was already deep and throaty and sexy, and his American accent just heightened that sexiness. He was wearing a black shirt, no tie, and black jeans. He looked different out of the expensive kind of suits I’d seen him in at work, but in a good way. As he leaned down to kiss me, his freshly shaved yet still bristly cheek brushed against mine. God, how I’d missed that ultra masculine touch . And he smelt clean and manly, nothing overpowering, just nice. Very nice, actually.
Caleb seemed to turn on some kind of special charm as those amber eyes of his looked into mine, and I instantly felt myself falling under his spell, as they were the kind of eyes you could easily get lost in. As he put his hand on my waist, I couldn’t help shivering in anticipation of what this evening promised.
No doubt about it, I was in the hands of an expert in this whole subtle seduction business. But that was the whole point, that’s what I'd signed up for, so I might as well just let myself be swept along by him.
He smiled his glorious smile at me, and as he let his eyes wander over my body, it gave me some satisfaction to note his spark of interest.
“I’m so glad you agreed to come on this date, Faith, otherwise I'd never have known what I was missing. You look amazing.”
“Thanks. You don’t scrub up too bad yourself,” I smiled back, flattered by his reaction, but aware that it was all part of an act.
“Would you like a drink here at the bar, or shall we head straight to our table?” Caleb enquired politely.
“Let’s go to the table,” I suggested, as I glanced round at the red Valentine-themed venue. In the corner of the room, there was a smallish dance floor, with a DJ in the process of setting things up.
Great, that would mean we’d have to put up with all the cheesy romantic bilge he’d no doubt be playing this evening. The last thing I wanted was someone droning on about everlasting love and me getting upset. That’s why I’d taken to listening to Gregorian chants these days to help me relax.
Romance was not on the menu tonight as far as I was concerned, and I just had to hope my nerve was going to hold, as I was feeling ridiculously nervous at the thought of actually getting naked with Caleb. Part of me was really tempted to give into the urge to run out of the door in a blind panic, and pretend this whole thing had been nothing more than a stupid dream. But I somehow managed to resist the urge by reminding myself that Caleb had promised he’d be totally fine about me changing my mind at any time.
As we were seated, I was presented with a single red rose by the waiter, before he busied himself with lighting the candle on the table.
“Part of the whole Valentine evening experience,” Caleb whispered as he winked at me. “Might as well just go along with it.”
I rolled my eyes, but held my tongue. After all, it’d been me who’d suggested a Valentine’s date, hadn't it?
The waiter hovered impatiently as he waited to take our order. Luckily it was a set menu, so the limited choice made the selection easier for me. I never had a great appetite at the best of times,
Similar Books
