Their Sweet Desire (Power Surge: The Billionaire Club 3)

But as he was about to go in there and see who the fuck they were, he spotted the one guy get up and leave. Now he was outside, grabbing a woman’s arm and pulling her away from the front of Bliss. Vince wondered what that was all about.

Their conversation seemed heated. The woman kept trying to pet the man’s arm and he was abruptly telling her off, but not too loudly. People passed them, hardly even taking notice, and then the woman stomped her high heel on the concrete, turned, and headed down the street. The man ran his hands through his hair then went back inside.

Vince had a feeling that the man was involved with the woman. She seemed angry. He decided to follow the woman. If the men were interested in Antoinette, then they would be back again, and he could find out exactly who they were.

* * * *

“So, what do you say? Dinner tonight? Your choice of venue of course. We want you to feel comfortable,” Emerson said, as Stone returned from walking outside. Before Stone walked outside, he asked her to place an order of mini cheesecakes to go. Those were one of her favorites.

Toni felt more than just comfortable with them. She felt incredibly attractive, and excited. Not a good combination when a woman was trying to act all calm and suave. She didn’t date. She didn’t even know what happened on the first date. A kiss would be nice. At the end. But what if there were two kisses, then what? Would they expect her to jump into bed with them?

“Hey, are you all right?” Stone asked then covered her hand with his much larger one. “You look a little pale all of a sudden.”

She jerked her head up toward him. He was a big man. So was Emerson. What if they tried something? “Uhm, uhm…I’m not sure it’s such a good idea.” She saw Stone’s eyes grow almost darker as he raised one eyebrow in response.

He squeezed her hand a little snuggly then smiled. “We’re not bad guys. We won’t hurt you or abduct you.”

“Well, I surely would hope not,” she replied sarcastically, and Stone gave her an expression she couldn’t quite read. Was he annoyed? Was he finding her response to him humorous? What game was he playing? Then she heard Emerson’s suggestion.

“Here. Hit number two on the keypad. Our secretary and personal assistant, Paula, will answer the phone. Ask her about us. Anything you like. She is in charge of the entire department, and since we work our butts off every day trying to get up the corporate ladder, she’ll give you the lowdown,” Emerson said. Stone released her hand and she took Emerson’s phone. She stared at him, wondering if he were for real, and then she hit the button.

She turned her back on them as she conversed with Paula.

“Yes, you heard me right. I want to know if they can be trusted? They asked me out for dinner and I don’t know them.”

She couldn’t believe that she was doing this, but as their personal assistant gave her way more information than Toni thought the guys expected her to, she started laughing. She told them that they hardly ever dated and that sometimes they picked the wrong women. Paula asked about Toni, and when she told her that she worked at Bliss, the woman nearly screamed in excitement. Feeling a bit better after about a ten-minute conversation, Toni ended the call. She turned around and handed Emerson his cell phone.

“Bring Paula a dozen of the éclairs and a lemon butter pound cake,” Toni told him then smiled.

“So, what is your answer?” Stone asked. She looked at them both and decided that she didn’t have anything to lose. She was twenty-five years old, and she never went out on dates.

“Okay. I accept the invite.”

“Yes!” Stone exclaimed, and Emerson smiled then took her hand again.

“What time should we pick you up?” he asked.

She pulled her hand slowly from his own, despite the fact that she loved the way it felt enclosed against his thick fingers.

“I will meet you. Is seven thirty okay? I can have Tina lock up for me here at the store?”

“Seven thirty is fin

e. How is Scalante’s?” Stone asked. “It’s an Italian restaurant about four blocks from here.”

“That will be fine. I’ll meet you then.”

As they said good-bye and left the store with a box for the company secretary in hand, Toni wondered if she were making the right decision here. She liked both men. Both men seemed to like her. But this wasn’t exactly a traditional kind of relationship. How would it work? What would her friends and family say?

My friends are all for it, and my family? They scarcely see me as is. These relationships are occurring all over the place these days. Would it really be such a shock? It may not even work out. Oh well, Antoinette, you got yourself into this. Let’s see what happens tonight.

Chapter 7

Toni stepped out of the cab, and immediately caught sight of Emerson and Stone. They took her breath away. Emerson wore a dark button-down shirt with dark dress pants and Stone wore a dark blue button-down shirt, with dress pants. They appeared as if they stepped out of a men’s casual designer magazine. She was glad she chose to wear the beige sleeveless slim-fitting Ann Taylor dress. With the white strappy heels, Tina thought she looked classy and sexy. She chuckled to herself. Tina had brought over a few dresses and even some kinky panties. Damn woman was out of her mind.

Emerson caught sight of her and hurried to greet her by the cab door. She had already paid the driver, but the fact that Stone headed to do so earned him some points. He was a gentleman, despite the bit of hardness around the edges.

“You look beautiful, Antoinette,” Emerson said, then leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Stone approached next, placed a hand at her waist and kissed her softly by her ear.