“Hi, Alex. Come in.” Becca moved out of his way so he could enter the apartment. The lights were low, but Alex’s eyes drank in the details, longing to know Angel better. The space had clean, elegant lines; classic furniture, more gleaming cherry wood on the floors, and dark marble in the kitchen greeted him. The artwork was tasteful but sparse; a large fireplace took up most of one wall in the living room, topped off with a large flat screen mounted over it. The vase of lilies he’d sent sat on the coffee table in the living room.

Becca followed him in. “Can I get you a drink? Angel usually keeps a nice assortment.”

Alex glanced at his watch. Five minutes past eight.

“Actually, I have reservations at TRU for 8:30.” He glanced around and Becca used the opportunity to check him out. Her eyebrows rose and her lips pursed. TRU was a classy French restaurant; extremely exclusive and pricey.

Just as he said it, the door down the hall opened and high-heeled shoes sounded on the floor. He turned toward the sound and froze in place, his breath catching in his chest.

Angel looked amazing. Her legs went on for miles in strappy platform heels accented by a bow around the ankles and a short, little black dress. It was simple and elegant, with a deep halter neckline leaving the inside swells of her breasts bare, but just barely; her shoulders and arms completely so. Hair piled up, accentuating the long line of her neck, with soft tendrils falling around her face; her only adornments were diamond and onyx drop earrings and a thick matching bracelet. Her make-up was subtle and her soft, pink lips glistened softly.

She stopped 10 feet in front of him, soft, alluring… so tempting. Her perfume softly surrounded him as he drew breath into his suddenly tight chest. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her, his heart racing. Add to it that, for once, she wasn’t busting his chops, and she was absolutely irresistible. His hand came to rest on his chest as he struggled for what to say, torn between looking at her, listening to her voice, getting into her head, or getting into her pretty little panties.

Angel was equally breathless. She’d steeled herself for this moment, but she was still left gasping. He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, his suit impeccable and perfectly tailored to his lean, but solid form.

“You’re… luminous, just… radiant, Angeline. I… have no words,” he said softly, his green eyes alight with desire.

Angel blushed. “Those are pretty good ones. You look very handsome, too. I didn’t know what your plans were so… I wasn’t sure what to wear.”

“You’re perfect. Shall we go?” He smiled softly. “The car is waiting.”

“I just need my bag.” She walked into the kitchen where Becca was watching silently and picked up her clutch from the counter. When she did, she passed Alex and he was presented with the rear view of her dress. It hung loosely on her small body and the back was completely bare down below the waist. He could just see the beginning of the little dimples at the top of her ass.

“Holy hell,” he said in surprise. Angel smiled softly, her eyes meeting Becca’s, who laughed out loud.

When Angel turned and came back to him, she smirked and glanced up into his eyes. “You didn’t expect me to play fair, did you?”

“You’re just…” he began.

“Half-naked?” she teased, her eyes challenging him. “Yeah, I know.”

Alex smiled and offered his arm. She took it and soon the two of them were in the elevator. “What do you think you’re doing to me? I promised to be good, but you make it impossible.” He leaned down closer to her ear. Her perfume was intoxicating, and he longed to press his lips to the soft throb of her pulse in her neck. “What do you have on under that dress?” he asked softly, his warm breath dancing on the top of her shoulder.

A slow smile spread out on her face as heat spread out in the pit of her stomach. This wasn’t going to be easy. “That’s for me to know,” Angel stated simply.

“Mmm, and for me to find out.” His voice felt like a warm caress on her skin. “I love a challenge.”

Angel laughed nervously, the electricity of his gaze and the implication of his words skittering across her skin. It could be that she wouldn’t be able to resist the undeniable sex appeal of this man. Fuck, the pull was strong.

“You can dream.” She bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud.

“A fact which has been proven in the past few months,” Alex admitted, both of them clearly enjoying themselves. A shiver ran down her spine at his words, skittering outward over the surface of her skin. The fact that he hadn’t forgotten their first almost-meeting was not lost on her.

Martin was waiting with the car door open, and Alex’s hand fell to the back of Angel’s bare waist as he helped her inside. This was the first time their skin touched and it rocked them both.

Alex’s eyes connected with Angel’s when he slid in beside her. She held his gaze. “What?” she asked.

He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. “Nothing. I’m glad you agreed to join me this evening. You look absolutely stunning.” His eyes roamed the bare skin of her shoulders, over her face, and down her cleavage to her crossed legs. “Thank you, for that.”

Unexpected pleasure surged through her. Surely such words meant more from this man than from any other. She expected to feel mad attraction and for Alex to launch a full frontal assault, prepared to resist at all costs, but instead, he was seducing her with nothing more than words and an innocent touch. She was in big trouble and she knew it, yet he excited her more than she’d ever been. Either Alex was a much-practiced predator or the mutual attraction was dangerous and tangible… with a life of its own.

Alex told himself that he’d be content to just look at her all evening, talk with her, and learn about her past through conversation and questions. He loved how her eyes lit up with amusement when he teased her and how much it thrilled him when she teased him in return. And, of course, his body was on fire.

“Is Becca your bodyguard tonight, Angel? Is that why she was at your apartment?”

“Will my body need guarding?” she quipped with a smirk. She looked at her lap, playing with the clasp on her purse.

“My intentions were the best of the best, but that dress… damned if I know now.”

The sexual tension vibrated in the air between them, and they were both bristling in the plush leather seats of the limousine. It was all Alex could do not to reach out and run his hand down the smooth skin of her arm. Angel felt his glances like a physical caress.

When Martin pulled up in front of the restaurant and walked around to open the door, it was Alex that offered his hand to Angel as she exited the car. She trembled slightly when his warm fingers closed around hers, and as she stepped from the car, he tucked it into the crook of his arm again.

Angel smiled coyly. The perfect gentleman. No one would know that he was an emotionless cad, she scoffed mentally. She knew of this restaurant but had never been. It was extremely upper class, and it was almost impossible to get a reservation. Kenneth tried several times but had never gotten the job done.

“I hope you like French cuisine, Angeline. If not, we can go somewhere else of your choosing,” Alex murmured softly as they walked through the large mahogany doors, manned on both sides by attendants.

“This is wonderful. Thank you, Alex.”

The black-haired hostess lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw Alex; her eyes scanned the woman beside him, darting over Angel from head to toe—the once-over not escaping Angel’s educated gaze. She smiled sweetly at the other woman, something like pride surging through her because she was the one on Alex’s arm. Angel shook herself mentally. Snap out of it, Hemming.

“Mr. Avery! When I saw your name on the reservations list, I made sure to reserve a table by the window. It’s such a clear night and the view is fabulous!” the hostess gushed.

“Thank you, Karen. May I introduce, Dr. Angeline Hemming.”

“So nice to meet you,” Angel said with a polite smile.

“Good Evening, Dr. Hemming. Right this way, please,” she said pleasantly.

She led them to a small table at the west edge of the dining room. The sunset through the windows was breathtaking, and Angel took it in along with the simple, open floor plan: white linen, crystal, flickering candles, mahogany floors, and a huge mixed floral arrangement on a table in the center. There were camellias floating in crystal bowls on each of the tables, surrounded by six votives. The whole effect was quite exquisite.

“This is a beautiful restaurant,” Angel said as Alex pulled out her chair, the scent of his cologne was a heady mix of musk and freshness. She couldn’t help but inhale deeply and was intoxicated. Angel shuddered slightly, hoping Alex would miss it.

“Angeline, are you cold?” His voice was concerned. “Would you like my jacket?”

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”

“I suppose it’s the whole half-naked thing you’ve got going on, hmm?” His face split into a crooked grin, and Angel’s heart flopped around in her chest.

“Yes. How’s that working out for you?”

Alex was seated and he leaned back in his chair, his head cocked ever so slightly as his eyes raked over her again. “So far, so good.”

She flashed him a smile. Damn if she could help herself. The waiter was there to take the elegantly folded napkin, unfurl it, and lay it across Angel’s lap.

“Good evening, Mr. Avery, Dr. Hemming. I am Dustin and I’ll be your server this evening,” said the young blond man in a white shirt, tuxedo vest, and bow tie. “Davis, our sommelier, will be with you shortly for your drink order, and I’ll return in a few minutes.” He opened a leather-bound menu and handed it to Angel and then one to Alex.

“I guess you come here a lot,” Angel stated. “Since the staff knows you.”

“Some. It’s an excellent restaurant. We use it for business lunches at times, too.”

“Mmm…” Angel’s mind was racing, wondering if he brought Whitney here and if that was the cause of the hostess’s curiosity. She wanted to ask, but decided not to speak about Whitney unless Alex brought her up.

Alex appeared calmer than she felt. “I want to apologize again for Darian’s misguided matchmaking ploy. It wasn’t fair to you. Angel, I didn’t know what he was up to, so I hope you’ll forgive me.”

She sighed. “Apology accepted.”

“I must admit, however, that at this moment, I’m damn glad he was so insistent. You… intrigue me.”

“You’re just not used to a woman with brains, I guess,” she said, amusement lacing her voice.

Alex’s lips lifted at one corner but he didn’t smile; his eyes serious. “Not one so beautiful,” he said honestly. Their eyes locked and the amusement left Angel’s expression.

Suddenly, another tuxedo-clad gentleman was standing at the table. He was older and distinguished; his full head of hair, stark white and perfectly in place. “Good evening, Mr. Avery.” He nodded in Alex’s direction.

“Good evening, Davis.”

“Who is this beautiful young lady with you tonight?”

Alex smiled. “Angel, this is Davis, the sommelier here at TRU. Davis, may I present, Dr. Angeline Hemming.”

Davis offered his hand and brought Angel’s to his mouth for a small kiss. “It’s my pleasure, Dr. Hemming.”

“The pleasure is mine, Davis. Please, call me Angel.” Angel was at ease with this man, and Alex was enjoying the exchange between the two. She was perfect, articulate, classy… comfortable in his environment.

“Angeline.” Davis repeated the name Alex had used. “What a beautiful name. It suits you.”

“Yes, it does,” Alex agreed, his green eyes narrowing and a smile playing on his full lips. Angel had a hard time taking her eyes off of him to speak to the other man. “Angel, would you like champagne or wine with dinner?”

“Wine would be nice, thank you.”

Alex was a conundrum. They had bantered back and forth, had very heated exchanges, teased and prodded each other with sexual innuendos, but this version of him was sophisticated and restrained.

Alex looked up at Davis. “We’ll be ordering our meal first, Davis.”

Over the next few minutes, they perused the menu, and when Dustin returned, Alex gave both his and Angel’s meal preferences. After they settled on seafood, he ordered a very expensive bottle of white wine from Davis.

“Montrachet 2002, please, Davis,” Alex said without consulting the wine menu that was offered.