by Pamela Yaye
“Listen to me very, very carefully,” he ordered, cupping her chin in his hands. When he spoke his voice washed over her, bathing her with a tenderness she had never known. “You’re beautiful inside and out and one of the most intriguing women I’ve ever met. Got it?”
Brianna wanted to laugh, but he looked serious, and his gaze was as intoxicating as the finest French wine. Her body trembled and shook with need, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Brianna hoped Collin didn’t sense how anxious she was. Tense didn’t begin to describe how she felt, but crazed-with-desire did.
Collin brushed his lips ever so gently against the slope of her ear. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my hands off of you tonight.”
Then don’t. Touch me. Kiss me. Lick me. Stroke me everywhere.
The bold, shocking plea stunned her, but before Brianna could scold herself, Collin opened the back door of the BMW and ushered her inside.
Seconds later, they were off. The streets were filled with couples, smartly dressed professionals and families streaming in and out of cafés, restaurants and department stores. The wind whistled through the trees and whipped autumn leaves up in the air.
“Where are we going?” Brianna asked, giving her date a sideways glance.
“It’s a surprise.” Collin took her hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “You’re okay with surprises, aren’t you, Brianna?”
Lust zigzagged down her spine. Brianna craved more of Collin’s touch, so much more of him. She longed to feel his hands in her hair, on her face, along her arms and between her legs. To prevent herself from doing something crazy, she clasped her hands together and placed them in her lap.
Brianna wanted Collin, more than she’d ever wanted anyone, but she wouldn’t throw herself at him, wouldn’t ever do anything to make herself look desperate. She was a Hamilton, a member of one of the most celebrated families in all of New York, and it was imperative she act accordingly at all times. Even when her body turned against her.
A horn blared, drawing Brianna out of her thoughts. The BMW came to a sudden and abrupt stop, and when she looked out the window, a smile curled her lips. “We’re going to the Met, aren’t we?”
Collin flashed an innocent smile. “Have you seen the new exhibit, Fashion through the Ages?”
“It doesn’t open for another week.”
“I think you should be the first one to see it,” he announced, leaning over and giving her a peck on the cheek. “That’s why I arranged for us to have a private viewing tonight.”
Brianna cupped a hand over her mouth, but a gasp still escaped her lips. He did what? A cool breeze flooded the car. Surfacing from her haze, she blinked and glanced at the open door. Collin smiled down at her, looking all kinds of sexy, and Brianna’s heart soared to the heavens. He offered his arm, and she gladly took it.
At the front entrance of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a pair of dark-haired security guards in crisp blue uniforms led them inside. Brianna had been to the museum countless times and had once spent hours wandering from one spectacular exhibit to the next, but as Collin led her through the Great Hall, she marveled at the sheer size of the building. And how eerily quiet it was. Their footsteps sounded on the tiled floor, and each step they took through the gleaming, moon-drenched lobby increased Brianna’s excitement about being alone with Collin in one of the most fascinating places in the world.
The exhibit was stunning, filled with accessories, period pieces and life-size black-and-white photographs. As Brianna and Collin strode through the rooms, they discussed their favorite pieces and fashion’s place in celebrity culture these days. Collin spoke with such passion, Brianna could listen to him all night.
“Have you always wanted to be a fashion designer?” he asked.
Brianna glanced from the glass case filled with accessories from the eighteenth century to Collin. “Don’t laugh, but when I was a kid I wanted to be a dancer.”
“I’m not surprised. You have the grace and the poise of a prima ballerina.”
“I wanted to be a Fly Girl, Collin, not a ballerina.”
“A Fly Girl!” He gave a hearty laugh. “I never would have guessed it.”
“I was good, real good,” she insisted, propping a hand on her hip and donning a proud smile. “In the ninth grade, I won my school talent show!”
“I’m not surprised, Ms. Hamilton. You have some amazing moves.”
Brianna saw his reflection in the glass case and marveled at just how handsome he was, how incredibly suave and debonair. Their eyes met and held for a beat. Slowly, a wicked grin claimed his mouth, one that lit his deep-brown eyes with mischief, and Brianna knew he was thinking about the night they partied at Nouveau.
You did a lot more than just party, quipped her inner voice.
“Did you ever study dance, or are you just naturally gifted?”
“I studied ballet for nine dreadful years.” Brianna tried to conceal her disgust but she heard the bitterness in her tone loud and clear. “I begged my parents to let me take something fun like Latin dance or hip-hop but they refused. My dad said I was a Hamilton and that Hamiltons didn’t shake their asses to music that glorified crime, drugs and promiscuity.”
“Your father would not like my taste in music, then, that’s for sure.”
“He wouldn’t like mine, either,” she said, pressing a finger to her lips. “But don’t tell anyone.”
Collin put a hand on Brianna’s shoulders and turned her around to face him. When he spoke, his voice was filled with concern and marked with defiance. “Life is too short and far too precious to stress over what people say about you. Do what makes you happy, always, and ignore the haters.”
“You come from a distinguished family. Didn’t you ever feel pressured to conform?”
“No, never.” The muscles in his face looked taut and stiff. “Growing up, my parents were never around, and when they were home, they were too busy to pay me or my brother any mind.”
“Did you live with your grandparents?”
“No, Cameron and I were raised by nannies, some good, most bad, so at a very young age I learned to fend for myself.”
Collin smiled, but it failed to reach his eyes. Brianna could see the hurt, could hear it in his voice, and wondered how his parents—or any parent—could neglect their child, their own flesh and blood. If I had a son he’d be my number-one priority, Brianna thought, feeling that familiar pang in her heart, that dull, aching throb. He’d be everything to me.
“Do you want to check out the Temple of Dendur?” he asked, sliding his hand down to her waist and resting it there comfortably, as if that was its rightful place. “It’s my favorite exhibit in the museum and I’ve heard it’s even more beautiful at night.”
Strolling back down the hall, side by side, Brianna felt a strong, powerful charge flowing between them. Being with Collin was as natural as breathing, and she couldn’t get enough of his charming wit. She enjoyed his candor, admired how he carried himself. He was always cool, never in a rush and moved in a relaxed, smooth manner, one that was damn sexy to watch.
Brianna heard the distant sound of music, and the farther they walked through the north wing of the museum, the louder the music became. Recognizing the song playing, she stared up at Collin as memories of their first date flashed in her mind. “Do you hear that?” Brianna asked, touching a hand to his forearm. “Someone, maybe a cleaner, is listening to Rashad J....”
The rest of her sentence died on her lips when they entered the Temple of Dendur.
Moonlight shone through the windows, creating a brilliant glow around the soaring sandstone fortress. A young man was standing beside the Egyptian temple strumming an acoustic guitar. He had his head down, and sang with deep, heartfelt emotion.
An oversize picnic basket and a wine bucket sat on the white fluffy blanket i
n front of the fortress. “I thought we could have a bite to eat,” Collin said, his hands stroking her hips. “Is that okay with you?”
Too stunned to speak, Brianna nodded. Collin unloaded the picnic basket and poured the wine. As Brianna admired the impressive spread of foods, she couldn’t contain her smile. Collin had thought of everything, and the mood couldn’t be more romantic. The slanted windows offered a breathtaking view of the city, and the stars twinkling in the night sky looked close enough to touch.
As they sat together on the blanket, eating, drinking and laughing, Brianna felt like a princess in a fairy tale. It was, without a doubt, the most romantic date she had ever been on and by far the most fun. No one had ever gone to this much trouble to impress her, and Brianna was deeply touched by everything Collin had done to make her feel special.
“Thanks for bringing me here tonight,” Brianna said, cleaning her hands with her silk napkin. “This is a very peaceful place and one of my favorite museums in the whole world.”
“The first time I came to the Met was anything but peaceful.” Collin wore a wry smile. “When I was eight, I got lost here on a class field trip.”
“Oh, no, that’s terrible. You must have been terrified.”
“Terrified? No way. I was on cloud nine!”
“Really? But you were separated from your class.”
“I got lost on purpose,” he said with a wink. “I wanted to see the arms and armor room, but I knew my teacher would never go for it, so I got ‘lost’ and spent forty-five minutes alone, admiring the impressive collection of ancient European armor.”
“I could never have done that. I would have been scared of getting in trouble.”
“Even as a kid, I was never content to just follow the pack. I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve been successful in business. I refuse to let people pigeonhole me or tell me what I can and cannot do.
“I wish I didn’t care so much what people think,” Brianna confessed. “It might have saved me a lot of heartache and pain.”
“Don’t let the gossip bloggers get to you. They attack everyone.”
Brianna wanted to tell Collin she was referring to her ill-fated marriage, not the media, but she couldn’t get the words out. A year should have been enough time to heal, to get over the agonizing loss she’d suffered last year, but Brianna was still deeply ashamed about her failed marriage and the day she...
Giving her head a hard shake she wiped the thought from her mind. Reliving the worst day of her life was only going to cause her pain, and she didn’t want to ruin her dream date with Collin. She was having the time of her life, and when he picked up a chocolate rose from the dessert tray and offered it to her, she smiled.
“Try this. It’s delicious.”
Leaning forward, she parted her lips to receive the sweet, bite-size candy.
Gazing at her, his eyes scorching with red-hot heat, he slid the chocolate into her mouth and flashed a wicked grin. “What do you think?”
Brianna savored each scrumptious bite, and as the chocolate melted in her mouth she realized it was from Pierre Hermé—her favorite chocolatier in the world. “Where did you get this?” she asked. “Pierre Hermé isn’t in New York.”
“That’s what I’ve heard.”
“So how did you get a box of my favorite chocolates?”
Collin raised an eyebrow. “You ask a lot of questions.”
“And you have a lot of secrets,” she tossed back, her smile coy and teasing.
“I like surprising you. Is that a crime?”
“No, I’m just not used to it—”
“Then get used to it because I’m not going anywhere.”
His eyes glowed with heat and mischief.
Brianna didn’t know if Collin was serious or joking, but she convinced herself it was the latter. It had to be. In New York, they were friends—without benefits—and even though Brianna craved his touch, she wouldn’t cross the line. There was too much at stake, too much at risk, and she had no intention of getting burned again. And guys like Collin—flirtatious, filthy-rich types—were never satisfied with just one woman, and she wasn’t interested in being in an open relationship. Or any relationship, for that matter.
“We should get going.” Collin stood and slipped on his wool coat. “We have eight o’clock reservations at Masa, and if we’re late they’ll give our table away.”
Brianna frowned, convinced she’d misheard him. “But we just ate.”
“That was just an appetizer.”
Capturing her around the waist, he pulled her to his chest and gazed deep into her eyes. Brianna felt the room spin around her at a hundred miles an hour.
“I’m ready for the main course. Aren’t you?”
Goose bumps exploded across her skin, and the muscles in her stomach clenched. Collin’s raspy tone aroused her, and when he licked his lips, Brianna knew they weren’t talking about food. Or anything else served on a plate. Their connection was intense, as strong as ever, and the only thing on her mind was kissing him with everything she had.
The spell was broken when Collin led her down the steps. At the foot of the temple, he paused and stared out over the clear, still water that surrounded the fortress inside the museum. He reached into his pocket, took out a penny and held it up in the air. “Here, make a wish.”
To humor him, Brianna took the coin from his outstretched palm and closed her eyes. She felt a little foolish, like an adult playing Frisbee with an imaginary friend, but she stepped forward and tossed the penny into the water.
As she made her wish, her throat tightened and she couldn’t swallow. Brianna wanted to put the past behind her, wanted to live the life she’d always dreamed of, but as she watched the coin sink to the bottom of the pool, she knew deep in her heart that the wish she’d just made would never come true.
Chapter 12
“I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on me all this time!”
Brianna had been awake for hours, working diligently in her home office like she did every Saturday morning, but when she saw Azure standing on her doorstep wearing a ridiculously cheeky smirk and an adorable baby doll dress, she gave the expectant mom a blank stare. Brianna was feeling out of sorts and knew her capricious mood had everything to do with Collin Childs.
In the past week, Collin had taken her to expensive restaurants, movie premieres and an art gallery opening in Tribeca. Each date was better than the last, and it didn’t matter where they went or what they did, Brianna always had a great time with Collin.
But thoughts of Paris, of the nights they’d spent tangled up in each other’s arms, plagued her mind. It was all Brianna could think about, all she could see when she closed her eyes. Last night, after arriving home from their date, she’d had a hell of a time falling asleep, and when she did, Collin was the star of her erotic, pulse-pounding dreams.
“Are you going to invite me in or are we going to gossip out in the hallway?”
Before Brianna could respond, Azure was inside the foyer, shrugging off her burgundy jacket and suede boots. “Wow, this is some apartment,” she gushed, her gaze moving around the gourmet kitchen and spacious living room. “I’ve been so busy the last week, I haven’t had time to come by, but after our talk, I want a tour of your chic bachelorette pad.”
“Azure, what are you doing here?” Brianna asked, closing the front door. “You and Harper were supposed to leave for Philly on Thursday.”
“Harper wanted to stay a few more days, and I—” Azure shook her head and pointed a finger at Brianna’s face. “Quit trying to change the subject. I didn’t come over here to discuss my travel plans. I came here to discuss your hot new romance.”
Confused, she said, “What hot new romance?”
“Don’t play coy with me. You know exactly what I’m talking about
, and more importantly, who I’m talking about.”
“No, I don’t.”
Her face fell, and for a moment Brianna feared the expectant mom was going to burst into tears.
“I thought we were friends,” Azure said in a small, injured voice. “I confide in you about my life, and I thought you trusted me enough to do the same.”
“I do,” Brianna insisted. “You’re more than just a friend, Azure. You’re my family.”
“Then, why didn’t you tell me you were dating Collin ‘Sexy As Sin’ Childs?”
At the mention of his name, Brianna’s body flushed with a delicious, mind-numbing heat. She thought of playing dumb, of pretending she didn’t know what her friend was talking about, but she knew Azure would see right through her. She was a magazine reporter, one of the best in the business and a pro at sniffing out the truth. “We’re not dating. We’re getting to know each other. You know, hanging out.”
“Hanging out?” she repeated, wiggling her eyebrows. “Are you sure about that?”
“Yes.” It was a lie, but Brianna didn’t know what to tell Azure. Hell, she didn’t know what to tell herself. Things had been so much easier in Paris. There was no stress, no confusion, no fretting and worrying about the future. They had been lovers, and nothing more. But from the moment Brianna walked into Childs International Hotel and saw Collin, she’d lost her bearings, and days later she still couldn’t make sense of what was happening between them.
Why is Collin taking me out on lavish dates every night? Does he care about me, or is he just trying to lure me back into bed? And if he is just trying to lure me back into bed, why hasn’t he made any moves on me since Paris?
The questions had haunted Brianna’s thoughts day and night all week. She didn’t know what to think, what to believe. Collin was a gentleman who put her needs above his own, and the more time they spent together, the harder it was for Brianna to keep her emotions in check. Her body yearned for him, craved him like an ice-cold drink on a hot summer day, but her mind warned her of the risks of getting close, of jumping back into bed with him.