Since her announcement that shed started dating Happy, David had dated plenty, too. Hed had a good time, but hed yet to reexperience the explosive chemistry hed shared with Serena. He supposed theyd never know what would have happened if she hadnt been too busy to see him when hed returned to Georgia for the holidays.
Now, hed be returning permanently. David grinned at the possibilities. Yes, Serena was strong-willed and in a quasi-relationship. But David was a Savannah Grant, and judging by this mornings signs, he had to conclude the universe was on his side.
Had she reconsidered the platonic guidelines in the months since hed last seen her? Did she think of their night together? How would the sexual innuendo that had crept back into their e-mails translate to a face-to-face meeting?
Only one way to find out.
SERENA DONAVANS computer screen displayed the spreadsheets for this months income and expenses, but the information there was depressing enough that she was mostly staring out through the reception areas picture window into the tiled hallway. For a Friday, today had pretty much sucked. Shouldve worn my lucky earrings.
The two-room office suite with its eclectic furniture might not be posh, but the near-Buckhead address for her self-owned business wasnt cheap. She needed more lucrative offers than the earlier fraternity request, asking if shed exchange her party-organizing services for beeror, even less likely, for the amorous attentions of a post-grad who claimed he could ruin her for other men.
On the bright side, the slow business day meant her assistants absence wasnt a strain, but it also meant reduced chances of a profit this month. Or electricity next month. Since Serena had to shell out money for caterers and deejays ahead of time, she was the one in a crunch if clients missed a payment or, in the case of this mornings thrilling news, bounced a check.
When the phone rang, Serena mentally crossed her fingers. She settled the headset behind her ear, summoning her optimism as she pressed the call-intercept button. Even another dead-end inquiry was better than her bank informing her that her account was being charged for someone elses insufficient funds. Shed have to ask her father, the southeast regional manager of a bank chain, about the logic behind that penalty.
Inventive Events, she said with a smile, trying to infuse her words with the right blend of bold creativity and competitive pricing. We party professionally.
Hi. There was a pause before the warm male voice asked, Serena?
David.
Speaking of ruining a girl for other men
Hey. She blinked. Long time, no hear. In the technical sense, anyway.
They kept up with each other, but not usually by phone. E-mail allowed her to write if she happened to be thinking of him at two in the morning, and helped him stay in touch despite his executive workload with a voice technology corporation. Or his ever-so-slightly less hectic schedule squiring around socialites.
Maybe she was just feeling grouchy about his dating because her most recent relationship had fizzled.
It suddenly occurred to Serena that the pause in their barely begun conversation bordered on awkward. David?
Sorry, he said. Hearing your voice threw me for a loop. I was expecting your assistant to answer, so when I got you, it caught me off guard.
I gave Natalie the day off to nurse a broken heart, Serena explained.
Softie.
The slight warble of cellular static didnt mask the grin in his voice. When shed made the uncharacteristic decision to major in businessone of the few her father had ever approved ofno one had doubted she was smart enough to handle the coursework. But plenty had questioned whether or not she had the personality and killer instincts for it.
Her good-boss gesture, however, had been a purely selfish act of sanity preservation. Natalie saw her breakup, coming so soon after Serenas, as a huge potential for bonding. She refused to believe that Serena wasnt upset about being abandoned by Patrickwhich she still hadnt mentioned to David. Hed teased her enough during her relationship with the celebrated sculptor who was wandering the country in a quixotic quest for inspiration.
Ill tell David about the breakup some other time, Serena rationalized, when were not on his dime. Yeah, because a Savannah Grant ever worried about dimes. So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?
Oh, the usual. Just wanted to ask what youre wearing.
She laughed, echoing his teasing tone and glib reply. The usual. Leather pants and black bustier.
His appreciative wolf-whistle made her wonder where he was and if there were people in earshot speculating on his conversation. Clearly, David had ducked out a little early and wasnt stuck inside his office on a gorgeous spring day. Assuming it was gorgeous in Boston.
She spared a wistful sigh for the afternoon she could have had if shed been irresponsible enough to play hooky. Tricia, the mother who had raised her in a modern-day art commune after the divorce, would have blown off work to spend the day nurturing herself, but Serena had been influenced just enough by her father to keep her in the office today. Hed been so dedicated to work that his wife and daughter had seen him less and less each year.
Dismissing thoughts of her parents, she asked, So, where are you calling from?
Youre going to have to give me a minute. Im still working on this visual, David drawled in a send-shivers-up-her-spine tone. In the sterile, black-and-white, Arial 12 e-mail format, their flirting was mostly benign, but when rendered in that husky voice
Okay, he said. The real reason I called is to find out what youre up to this weekend.
Th-this weekend? Her pulse stuttered.
Yeah. Too busy to see an old friend?
If hed been thrown for a loop when the expected receptionist hadnt answered, then Serena was now hurtling through the upside-down-and-back-again-lightning-curves equivalent of a new coaster at the nearby Six Flags.
Tell him youre working, dating, painting your apartment. Something, anything, lie! The problem was, she didnt have pressing plans, and while she had many faultsjust ask her soon-to-be stepmotherdishonesty had never been one of them.
She pinched the bridge of her nose. I dont have anything urgent on my schedule.
Great! I thought we might get together.
A dozen vivid images burst to life behind her closed eyes, most of them featuring David in various states of undress. It had been months since theyd been together, but on that last visit, theyd really been together. In at least four different positions, come to think of itwhich she tried valiantly not to do.
When hed been in town during December, shed used the event-filled season as an excuse not to see him, although they both knew she could have fit in a quick coffee if shed wanted. The problem was, shed wanted that entirely too much. She cared enough about David that an affair between them had the potential to really hurt her. Though shed had her share of boyfriends, none of the eventual goodbyes had caused her any lasting emotional distress. But none of those boyfriends had been David.
When they first met, shed considered him the attractive, if vaguely arrogant, guy one of her roommates dated. Later hed gone on to become a fellow student in some crossover courses available to both under- and post-grads, to a study buddy it was fun to debate with, to the eventual friend she could e-mail on any topic from a commercial that had amused her to a painfully awkward reconciliation attempt by her father. David was now important enough to her to pose an actual threat to her heart. Especially if she lost him.
But how long could she brush him off without that becoming a threat to their friendship? Unless her brilliant plan was to avoid him forever, she had to get the first reunion out of the way.
She just wished hed given her more time to prepare. Torn, she spun her padded green office chair in slow circles behind the receptionists desk and debated. She and David were both experienced adults who had dated other people in the meantime. How potent could the chemistry between them still be?
His sigh ended the heavy silence. You dont want to see me.
For a nonsensical second, she thought the crackling she heard was actually the tension between them. Then she realized he must be going through an area where reception was choppy.
Does this have anything to do with your being with Happy now? he asked. Or is it because?
This one time, she didnt chide him over the nickname he persisted on using for Patrick, or the derisive note that crept into his voice whenever he mentioned her boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend. Actually, theres something I wanted to tell you about Hhim. We arent seeing each other anymore. Not that shed seen much of him when they were. A lot of Serenas relationships seemed to work that way.
Davids pause was difficult to read, and it stretched on long enough for her to wonder if hed even heard her. Maybe the cell phone reception had given out all together.
But then he asked, So youre single?
Although his words went up at the end in a way that should have indicated a question, his self-assured tone made it sound as if hed just proclaimed her available for the taking. When her tummy fluttered, caution warned this was exactly why she should avoid him again.
On the other hand, caution wasnt Serenas predominant trait. Besides, her pride balked at the thought of doing another ostrich impression like the one shed performed in December. On the other other hand, at least he couldnt kiss her if her head was in the sand.
The man needed an answer, and shed definitely run out of hands.
She took a deep breath. I have a few things that need to be done this weekend, but if youre swinging through town, Id love to get together for lunchor coffee. Something midday and public and impervious to rain.
Terrific. His next words distorted and faded completely before she heard, Afraid youtoo busy.
Only if she were smarter.
Footsteps sounded out in the hallway, and even though shed probably see someone headed upstairs to the pricey orthodontist when she turned around, she seized the excuse to disconnect and regroup. Ive got a client coming in, so I need to run. Call me later with your itinerary.
As she spoke, the door behind her opened. Shocked to discover the footsteps really had signaled a business interruption, she whipped her chair around. And sucked in her breath at the sight of the dark-haired man smiling at her from the entryway.
Or we could just talk about it now. David folded his cell phone, leaving her with the drone of the dial tone and a sudden absence of oxygen. His blue eyes, lighter and more intense than she remembered, slid over her still-seated body in unabashed appreciation, and he flashed a wickedly sexy grin. Its good to see you, Serena, but damn, I was really hoping you were serious about the bustier and leather pants.
2
WORDLESS SHOCK immobilized Serena. How the devil had he become even better looking?
In retrospect, her earlier wondering about how potent the chemistry between them could still be was laughable. His voice on the phone had been enough to generate liquid heat inside her. Now she was faced with a mischievous expression as suggestive as the voice. His sensual lipsthe bottom one just full enough for her to want to sink her teeth into itwere curved in a smile that crinkled his pale eyes at the corners. His body was tight, and hed rolled back the cuffs of his midnight-blue shirt to reveal corded forearms. She had an image of those muscles straining as he held himself above her.
Losing the breath shed finally managed to catch, she decided it wasnt such a hot idea to stare at his arms. Or his broad shoulders or his very nice hands.
David! She yanked off the phone headset and wondered absurdly what her short mop of hair looked like. There was no way she matched his flawlessly put-together appearance, not that something like that would have bothered her when theyd first met.
Back then, his dark-brown hair had been shaggiernot long, by any stretch of the imagination, but more tousled. Each time shed seen him since hed earned his MBA, his hair had been trimmed a bit shorter. Now it was cut so close, you couldnt help but notice the strength of his rectangular face, the hard, smooth jaw and blunt, masculine features. His hair was just long enough for a slight upswept curve above his forehead and the barest hint of neat sideburns stopping at his ears.
Surprised? He shut the door behind him, still grinning that wouldnt-you-like-to-remove-my-clothes-with-your-teeth smile. Or maybe she was projecting.
You rat. She stood, relieved she was able to, and pressed a palm to her racing heart. Im shocked. Why didnt you tell me you were here?
His lithe easy stride as he came toward her made her feel melodramatically tense in contrast. It was more fun this way. Besides, the Serena I know likes surprises. You arent happy to see me?
It was difficult to imagine anyone with Davids self-assurance, heritage or bone-melting appeal worrying about the reception hed get.
Of course I am. Forcing her feet to walk around the soothing haven of Natalies desk, Serena bobbed her head in what was supposed to be an affirming nod. Somehow she forgot to stop and ended up feeling like one of those ugly little dogs people stuck to their dashboards. Its, um, been a while.
He said nothing, merely hitched an eyebrow in a knowing expression. The gap between visits had only been so long due to her sprouting a beak and feathers last time hed been in town.
Im not a chicken. Or an ostrich. Or anything else ornithological. She could hold her own against the waves of testosterone and sexual confidence he exuded. To prove just that, she stepped in his direction, stopping only when she was close enough for a quick, welcoming hug.
She wrapped one arm across his shoulders and leaned toward him. Its great to see you.
His familiar cologne wafted over her, immediately calling to mind other earthy fragrances, like rain in the air and sex on her sheets. The memory was so strong that she froze for a second. David looped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him for a full-frontal hug, and her muscles went liquid with both recognition and anticipation.
Forget it, she instructed her body. There had been extenuating circumstances behind the one time theyd made love. Rather, the one night theyd made love many times. For starters, thered been that whole wet clothing issue.
Still, while she had no intentions of repeating past mistakes, no matter how orgasmic, the man felt good.
Patrick had been long and leanall right, ganglyand had towered over her in a way shed tried to tell herself made her feel feminine. But David, just tall enough to grin down at her, was the perfect height. Their bodies fit together in all the right throbbing places.
Despite the fabric barriers of clothing, heat sprang from each point of contact as if the two of them were pressed skin to skin. Her breasts brushed against him, and her nipples tightened the same way they would have if theyd encountered the soft friction of the crisp hair that dusted his chest. His hips bumped hers, and a giddy, tingly sensation shot from head to toe as warmth pooled between her thighs.