He passed through the hotel, a polite smile on his face, smiling at women as they called to him, but he never stopped moving until he reached the entrance to the garden. Once he pushed through the door, he stopped and scanned the quiet courtyard. As expected, Sunny was sitting on one of the wooden rocking chairs, moving slowly back and forth, her eyes closed and her expression not welcoming.
He approached, moving slowly, steadily, as if approaching a skittish colt and not a beautiful, successful woman. She did not seem to hear him, so he settled in the chair beside her without a word. It was obvious she needed a few minutes of peace and he did not want to disturb her.
“Hello, Geo,” she said softly. She had not opened her eyes, but sounded so certain of his identity.
“How did you know it was me?”
“I felt you. You have a very distinctive energy.” She finally opened her eyes and tilted her head to look in his direction.
“Oh? What do you mean?”
“Never mind. I’m hungry. Are you free for dinner?”
He nodded and glanced at his watch. “I have about two hours before I need to be back for the show.”
“The strip show?” she asked with a smirky smile.
“Male dance review,” he corrected. “The hotel would never allow us to have a strip show. That would be undignified.”
“Semantics,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Just like you are a cover model, and exotic dancer this weekend and not a stripper.”
Without telling her how wrong she was, Geo followed her out of the garden, through the lobby, and out the front door. There were a dozen restaurants within walking distance, but he had decided on a special little hole in the wall few people knew about that was three blocks away would be perfect for their first meal together. It had an outdoor patio and, even if the restaurant were busy, at least they would be alone and could talk.
He waited until they were out of sight of the hotel before taking her hand in his. Their hands fit together perfectly. For a moment, he felt like he had back in high school, finding discreet ways to touch his then girlfriend without anyone seeing them. “Actually I wasn’t supposed to work this event. I’m a last-minute fill-in for the guy whose wife decided to have her baby a month early.”
“So, how did you…oh never mind. Gigi wrangled you into being a host just like Shey convinced me I absolutely had to be here no matter how uncomfortable I’m feeling,” Sunny said.
“Blackmailed is more like it on my part. But now that I’m here and met you I’m glad I said yes. I just wish I could spend every moment with you. Maybe you’d be willing to stay on for a few days afterward?”
She began shaking her head before he finished speaking. “I can’t. My plane ticket is carved in stone. I have an appointment Monday morning I cannot miss. I have to go back Sunday afternoon. And who knows,” she said, tilting her head to look at him through a fall of bangs, “after you get to know me, you might decide you don’t like me as much as you think you do now.”
“I don’t think that’s possible. But that can wait until tonight after the festivities are over, and we’re alone in my bed, with nothing but a condom between us.”
Chapter Three
Sunny wanted to argue, but before she could get over her shock at Geo’s bold statement, a gaggle of authors she had met at other conferences surrounded their table, and their quiet dinner for two became a dinner party for eight. While she loved catching up with old friends, and making a couple new ones, she had hoped for a little more time to prepare herself. Not that she would have had it with Geo around. Something about him pulled at her in a way that made her want to climb into his lap and cuddle. She was beginning to feel like her body had taken on a mind of its own, and it wanted Geo.
After dinner, she managed to slip away from the group to take a different route back to the hotel. She hoped Geo had seen her but could not be sure as he had been talking with someone when she walked out. Not until his spicy, tangy cologne wrapped around her, and a warm arm dropped over her shoulders, pulling her into his side did she know for sure.
“Nice maneuver,” he said casually. “I don’t think I could have done better myself.”
“And how did you get away from your adoring fans?” she asked, surprised at the note of jealousy she heard in her tone.
“I told them I had to pick up a few things before heading back,” he replied easily.
When they reached the corner, he ushered her inside a tiny drugstore. She went without a fight, acting completely out of character, but curious as to where this attraction would lead.
Geo’s arm dropped from her shoulder, and he took her hand once again, this time lacing their fingers together. To Sunny, this had to be one of the sexiest, most intimate ways a man could touch a woman. Something about the slide of his fingers between hers had her * shivering with excitement. When he handed her a shopping basket she accepted it without question and followed him deeper into the store.