Max approached from what appeared to be the back of the restaurant, joining them and standing very close to Lucy. “I see you two have met.”
“Yes, and this is going to be an even more pleasurable experience than I anticipated,” Sebastian said.
“Let’s get to work,” Max muttered. “Over here.” He led them to a bridge table and chairs that had obviously been set up as a makeshift workstation.
For the next hour, Lucy took notes on their vision and discussed her thoughts on color scheme and layout based on what she’d seen when she’d walked in the door. Knowing she needed a base of operations, she’d spent the last couple of weeks meeting with major design and construction firms in Manhattan and had agreed to freelance for one of the bigger ones. She needed a company that had architects and contractors ready to go and lawyers who could get building permits quickly.
She also needed an office and equipment, and the firm of Mann and Mann had been happy to lease her space and allow her to share a secretary with another part-time employee. If she was going to live in Manhattan, she needed to settle in quickly. And she had.
Turning her focus back to Max and Sebastian, she noted that she needed to have someone come in and take measurements, and promised computerized 3-D renderings of her ideas as soon as possible.
While working, both Sebastian and Max dialed down the testosterone and focused on what was important, bringing the restaurant to life as soon as possible. The ideas flew between the three of them, and Lucy felt like she was part of a well-oiled team. Max was in his element, coolly and efficiently taking charge. Without realizing it, Sebastian was deferring to Max’s vision, but as Max had pointed out, he still had the sense that he was in charge too.
Lucy studied the men as they talked, Max pointing at kitchen sketches that they were currently discussing. He was brilliant, and she enjoyed watching him work, engaged in something that excited him… outside the bedroom, she thought wryly, shifting in her seat. Because as soon as she thought of Max and the bedroom, her thoughts turned to sex.
She’d certainly spent enough time reliving their time on Eden. Inevitably she’d recall her hands being bound, her body at his mercy. The sensual heat of his thick erection as he thrust inside her, and the hot slap of his palm against her ass. All those memories had her on edge, aroused, and doing the best she could to avoid writhing in her seat.
As if he could read her mind, he lifted his head and met her gaze, a knowing look in his amber eyes. And if her face hadn’t already been heated, she was sure it was now.
“I think we’ve covered everything for today,” Sebastian said.
Relieved and needing fresh air, Lucy nodded. “I agree, at least on my end.” She gathered her files together and shoved them into her briefcase.
Max’s phone rang and he glanced at it. “Be right back. I need to take this.” He stepped away to take the call, leaving her alone with Sebastian.
Sebastian turned to Lucy with a charming smile. “I’m looking forward to implementing your ideas. I think your idea of channeling the tapas bars in Barcelona is a smart one. An outdoor feel is exactly the right atmosphere.”
“I agree.”
“Let me walk you out,” Sebastian said.
Lucy glanced back at Max, who seemed engrossed in a conversation that wasn’t likely to end soon. As much as she wanted to stay… to spend more time with him, their business was finished for now, and the smarter thing would be to leave. She’d asked the driver to wait, so she could leave whenever she was ready.
She turned to Sebastian. “Okay… thank you.”
He placed a hand on her back and led her to the door. His touch felt unfamiliar and wrong, and she stepped out of reach as soon as they were outside. The sun beat down overhead, and Lucy was happy to breathe in the fresh air and see sunshine. There was no air conditioning running inside, the lighting was dim, and the stuffiness had given her a headache.
Sebastian turned toward her, and she was struck by the aqua blue in his eyes. “I was wondering if we could meet up later and talk about ideas I had for the bar area? I didn’t run them by Max yet. I wanted our designer’s opinion first.”
“Oh!” She didn’t mind giving her professional point of view. “We could meet at Mann and Mann during the week,” she suggested, not wanting to give him the wrong impression. He might be handsome and charming, but she wasn’t interested in anything more than a professional working relationship.
“We could do that. Or… I’m meeting friends for drinks tonight at Glam,” he said of the exclusive nightclub she’d been to before. “They’re from different parts of the celebrity world. Maybe you’d like to meet them? If we can fit in some business, great; if not, we’ll set up an appointment at your office.”
Lucy grasped her briefcase tighter. This offer included a group of people, no worries about putting herself in an awkward position with her newest client. And she was potentially
meeting new clients, she told herself.
“Why not? It sounds like fun.” And fun wasn’t something she’d had much of since leaving Eden.
Sebastian smiled, showing the dimples that had won over the world… or at least a great many females on TV while he was cooking.
“Great. You gave me your card, so I’ll text you later with the place and time. Sound good?”
Lucy smiled. “It does. Thank you.”
“I can’t wait.” He touched her back once more. “Is this your car?” He gestured to the idling sedan.
She nodded, and he stepped closer, opening the back door so she could climb inside.