‘I’ll come up with a reason if he asks. I doubt he will. The important thing will be the proposal. Whatever it is going on with us, I think distance is the key solution.’
‘Or we give in to it.’
The words were blurted out without thought, spr
ing-boarded to her brain from her instincts.
His body stilled and then he shook his head. ‘No. Bad idea. We work together so that is not an option.’
‘I get that—and, hell, I’d normally agree. But in this case the business is done. You’ve already made a decision about the proposal. And I swear to you I will give it my all. I am excited about the opportunity to do this for Langley. But I’m not propositioning you out of gratitude or because I want anything else.’
‘So why are you propositioning me?’
‘Because I’ve never felt like this before. And once, Joe—just once in my life—I want to succumb to lust. To say sod the rules. Not to be sensible. For one night.’
Hell, it wasn’t too much to ask, was it? That for once she could ride the wave and not do the right thing? Sure, there was a part of her brain that was covering its eyes, unable to look, shocked by the sheer effrontery of this version of Imogen Lorrimer. But, damn it, she was going to ignore it.
‘That’s what you do, isn’t it? One-night stands?’
‘I thought they weren’t your thing.’ Joe picked his glass up and put it back down again, his eyes dark with desire.
Her lungs seemed to have forgotten how to function; breathing was problematic. ‘I’ve changed my mind.’
A moment’s pause during which his brown eyes bored into her expression. ‘You’re sure? One night? No strings? Because I can’t offer anything else, Imogen.’ He raised his hand before she could protest. ‘I don’t mean job-wise. I mean emotionally or time-wise. I don’t tick your boxes.’
‘One night is all I want as well, Joe. I’m not in the market for a relationship right now.’ She needed time to regroup, update her tick-list. ‘I’ve just come out of one. Plus—’ She broke off. There was no need to explain to Joe that she didn’t trust this whole insane attraction, that she would never risk letting it control her. That was the beauty of a one-night stand. ‘I promise you this is all about the sex.’
A long moment and then he gusted out a sigh, his expression unreadable, before he smiled—the toe-curling, hair-frizzing version. ‘Then let’s eat and get out of here.’
How was she supposed to eat? Her appetite for food had legged it over the horizon long ago. All she wanted to savour right now was Joe; her nerves stretched taut with need.
But somehow she made it through the exquisite combination of tastes: the bite and tang of roast lobster flavoured with lemon and ginger, the intensity of a seafood bisque complemented by seaweed bread. But all the time she was oh-so aware of the solid thickness of Joe’s thigh next to hers, the pressure of his knee under the table, the plane and angle of his strong jaw, the way the chandeliers glinted over the dark spikes of his hair.
The promise in his eyes made her tummy swirl in anticipation. Until finally—finally—they had eaten the last bite of a superbly light pistachio soufflé, had exchanged compliments with Marcel and could exit the restaurant.
Imogen welcomed the cool evening breeze on her face, though she couldn’t help a small shiver as it hit her sensitised skin. Without speaking Joe shrugged off his jacket and placed it round her shoulders. Warmth encased her inside and out.
‘Thank you.’
His hand clasped hers in a firm grip. ‘No problem. The apartment isn’t far.’
‘Good. I’m …’ Burning. Yearning. Desperate.
He looked down at her. ‘Me too,’ he said, with a sudden low chuckle that rippled into the breeze and tugged her lips into an answering smile.
Half-walking half-running, they wended their way along the pavement.
‘It should be just down this alley,’ he said, already digging in his pocket for the keys.
They reached a navy blue wooden door—he shoved the key into the lock and thrust the door open.
And came to an abrupt halt.
She could see why: the room they had stepped into was … sumptuous. Decadent. Luxurious. With warm red walls, rugs and throws that begged to be touched, deep crimson and gold curtains that would cocoon the room and its occupants against the outer world.
Then she saw the mural on the wall directly opposite the door.
A man and a woman entwined together, their naked bodies sinuous and beautiful. The pose intense, passionate, vivid.