Everything within me went haywire. Yet a hint of panic crept around the fringes.
“Dinner?” Not a daytime meeting in his office? Or with Human Resources?
“Are you available?” A mischievous glint edged his beautiful irises.
For dinner, or…? I had no idea where this might be going.
“I promise it’ll be worth your while,” he assured me. The panic must have flashed in my eyes, because his tone changed to one that resonated no is not an option, Ari. “I’ll send a car for you. Seven o’clock. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
“I—”
“No point in driving yourself. The gate’s heavily guarded at present, while we’re still in construction phase.”
“I—”
“Don’t stay out here too long,” he said as his gaze darted to the clouds overhead. “You’ll end up soaked again.”
He stood, hefted his bag, and sauntered off.
Leaving me reeling. Once more.
And wondering if Dane Bax always got what he wanted.
I waited for a water refill and then promptly drained the glass. I stole a few glances toward the small walkway just outside the patio that led from the shops to the parking lot. Dane was texting on his phone. Moments later, a woman joined him.
Statuesque, slim, honey-blond hair. Perfectly sleek and highlighted shiny honey-blond hair, to be exact. She wore skinny jeans, six-inch heels, and a blouse that hung open to reveal the scalloped lace of her bra. Aviator sunglasses covered her eyes and she carried a Louis Vuitton bag on her forearm, said arm crooked, palm up in that society way with which I was all too familiar, because my mother possessed the same air of Scottsdale haughtiness and chic entitlement.
Dane’s companion held her phone in the other hand, as though missing a call would result in dire consequen
ces, and she waved her arm emphatically as she spoke with him. I watched with morbid curiosity as she gave him a sudden grave look, listened to something he said, smiled vibrantly, and then leaned in to give him double-cheek air kisses. Her breasts brushed his chest. I tore my gaze away. Paid the bill. Gathered my belongings and ducked into the ladies’ room.
When I emerged, Dane and the Heidi Klum lookalike were nowhere in sight. I sighed in relief, not wanting to have to skirt past them. Oddly, a tinge of envy over how cool and aloof the blonde had appeared crept in on me. I was a tangled mess of nervous energy and tingling body parts around him. She’d been collected, affectionate, alluring.
I forced myself to wave off the feeling of jealousy over their obviously close relationship. Accepted the reality that Dane Bax likely dated a half dozen women at any given time, all living in sophisticated places such as New York City, San Francisco, Milan, Paris …
With a shake of my head, I left the restaurant and went about my day.
chapter 3
That night, I started sifting through my closet for the perfect outfit. By Thursday afternoon, I’d torn through every article of clothing I owned, trying on each ensemble and discarding it into a wrinkled heap on the chair sitting next to the full-length mirror in my bedroom. Nothing I owned seemed worthy of 10,000 Lux. Or Dane Bax.
Friday morning, I made my apologies to my dad and bailed on a nine-hole round on the executive course in Flagstaff, in lieu of another trip to Tlaquepaque. There was a boutique that specialized in cocktail dresses I’d always admired; they were just typically way out of my price range. I wasn’t one to splurge, but desperate times and all that …
I scoured the racks, handing over possibilities to the salesclerk for her to add to the changing room she’d designated for me. I was three quarters of the way through the store, with only a few dresses selected, when I hit the back wall and stared up at the strapless mini on display.
A smile spread over my lips.
“That’s the one,” I said to the clerk.
“You’re in luck. It’s a one-off we received by mistake. I believe it’s your size.”
I’d never been into the whole cosmic-kismet-destiny stuff like some of the New Agers in town, but I knew a sign when I saw it.
The garment was a deep emerald, as close to Dane’s eyes as one could get, because nothing quite matched their dynamic magnetism. The dress was amazingly beautiful and I couldn’t resist it. I’d made my mind up before I’d even seen the price tag, which did make my heart stutter.
Luckily, the Delfinos had already paid me in full for my services, sending the last installment with a gorgeous thank you bouquet last week. Along with an invitation to the second reception they’d planned for the newlyweds in Scottsdale, upon their return from a honeymoon cruise and two weeks in Aruba.
I also needed a new pair of black shoes, since mine were more functional and less complementary of my purchase. So I added four-inch heels to my shopping spree and hoped like hell I wouldn’t hurt myself when I wore them.