“Uh,” he said, embarrassment coloring the words. “I came to give you our services package.” He held up an innocent brochure. “I thought it might help you make your decision.”
“Of course,” she said, struggling to slip back into her assistant guise when what she really wanted was to tell Sam to go anywhere else. “That is very thoughtful. Thank you for bringing it out to us.” She took the pamphlet and reached down to grab her bag.
“I think this place is a real contender,” Darian said.
She fished a card out of her wallet then held it out to Sam. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow to let you know what we’ve decided. Is that all right for your timeline?”
“Yes, I’ve no problem holding the space for a few days. I hope we’ll be able to help you have a wonderful wedding here.”
“I’m sure you will.” Not looking back at Darian, she started down the path, pulling Sam with her to ask him questions about the venue.
After their moment by the gazebo, she was nervous about getting back into the car for the journey home, but it turned out she shouldn’t have worried.
As soon as they pulled away from the vineyard, Darian took a newspaper out of his bag and read for the entire drive back.
Leaving Allison to stare out the window and wonder. Had it all been in her head?
Chapter Five
The air smelled of flowers.
Darian tightened his grip on the coffees in his hands as he headed for the entrance to the flower market. Strangers on the street smothered yawns as they passed him, and he had to agree it was an ungodly hour for a Saturday morning.
Sleeping in wasn’t a luxury he often had time for. Even on the weekends there were any number of issues he needed to deal with. But after the week he’d had, today might have been a good day to make an exception.
After visiting the tea house venue, he’d decided Sahra Vineyards was definitely the way to go. That had won a smile from Allison. One that had said without words he should always trust her to know what was best. He’d left her to negotiate the terms with Sam and focused on the daily operations of his company.
In fact, his assistant had been rather scarce in the past few days. That shouldn’t be surprising given the amount of work he’d dropped on her. He’d have to be sure to make it up to her with her Christmas bonus. She’d only popped into his office to deliver the odd file or get his approval on the invitations. It’d been a balancing act to construct a guest list that included Jenny’s friends, his business contacts who’d be expecting an invite, and the key society members that would ensure the wedding made it into the papers.
But when Friday rolled around they’d managed to get all the invitations sent. Hell, he’d even arranged for cake tasting samples to be dropped off later today so he could scratch one more item off his ever-growing to-do list.
And through it all, nothing the least bit untoward had happened with Allison.
He sighed, shaking his head. In the few instances he’d seen her these last few days she’d been her usual professional self. They discussed the wedding or the company.
But never had either of them mentioned what had almost happened in the gazebo.
It’s for the best.
If he’d had a hand free he would have run it through his hair. Another man might have wondered if he’d misread the situation, but there were two things in this world Darian King knew beyond a shadow of a doubt. Business and women.
And Allison hadn’t had innocent thoughts on her mind when she’d looked up at him with those big soulful eyes of hers.
He wasn’t a man who appreciated surprises, and yet, standing where Jenny would exchange her vows, staring down at Allison, he’d experienced just that.
He’d never expected to fall prey to the desire to kiss this particular woman. Hadn’t expected to see her pupils dilate with an answering need.
She was his employee for God’s sake. He was a walking cliché.
But that didn’t erase the memory of her staring up at him with such delicious expectation.
“Stop it,” he growled to himself, shaking his head. Of all the women in the world, she was the last one he should desire. Allison was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Professionally speaking, of course. He couldn’t lose her over something as trifling as lust.
She never said anything, an insidious inner voice pointed out. Obviously she doesn’t want you enough to ruin your working relationship.
Which meant today would be a day like any other. Just another task to accomplish between colleagues.
He may have actually convinced himself if Allison hadn’t chosen that moment to walk out of the market.
Darian slowed to a stop as he caught sight of her.
Gone was her perpetual rotation of suits. Instead she wore a pair of dark jeans that looked like they’d been painted on. Her short maroon jacket hung open, showing off a form fitting T-shirt. Unfortunately, her gauzy floral scarf hid any cleavage from view.
She obviously hadn’t spotted him yet, since she scanned the sidewalk around her. Her usual bun was missing and in its place was a simple hair tie pulling back her riotous brown curls. How had he never realized how long her hair was before?
It occurred to him that he’d never seen the person she was outside the office. The most disheveled she’d ever been with him was one late night when she’d left off the blazer and kicked away her heels.
But today wasn’t an office related task and she’d dressed accordingly.
It wasn’t her fault her change wreaked havoc on his equilibrium.
Not for you, his brain told him. They’d worked together for four years without the thought of her crossing his mind in anything but a professional capacity.
Well…mostly.
She turned and her eyes landed on him. A welcoming smile lit her face and caused something to squeeze within his chest.
Forcing himself back into motion, he closed the distance between them.
“Double double,” he said, holding out her coffee.
“My favorite,” she replied, pulling her hands out of her pockets to accept the drink.
He watched her take a sip then close her eyes as she released a blissful sigh. “Perfect. Thanks.”
“I’ve got you covered.” And he did. He knew her coffee order, her Thai food preferences, her favorite topping combinations on pizza. She liked to switch to herbal tea after six o’clock unless they had to pull an all-nighter, in which case she took her coffee black. He knew more about Allison’s likes and dislikes than the last ten women he’d dated combined.
“Are you all set for this?” she asked, opening her eyes, though she kept her cup cradled against her lower lip.
“As I’ll ever be.” His gaze lingered on her mouth. “Think we’ll have any luck?”
She let out a soft laugh. “We’d better. I’m not giving you another Saturday. It was nearly impossible to crawl out of my nice warm bed today.”
There was nothing salacious about the words, but his mind immediately conjured images of a sleepy Allison, beckoning him to climb under the covers with her. Was she a pajamas sort of woman or did she prefer satin and lace? Or better yet, nothing at all?
He hissed out a breath.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” he replied.