by Karen Booth
Emma turned to him and it was impossible not to notice the gentle swell of her breasts as her robe gaped slightly. He glimpsed just enough to make him wish he’d been unable to get tickets to tonight’s performance. “Can I make you a drink?”
He held up his hand. He needed to stay on top of things this evening. “I’m fine, thank you.”
“Okay. I just need a few minutes. Make yourself at home.” With that, Emma ambled down the hall and disappeared.
Daniel took the opportunity to explore her apartment. It was beautifully decorated in a neutral color scheme of snow white and creamy gray, with the occasional pop of pale pink and gold metal accents. Either Emma had a very refined sense of personal style or she’d paid a king’s ransom to an interior designer. The apartment looked like a jewel box, straight out of a magazine.
He knew very little about Emma, and this trip through her abode wasn’t providing many clues. There were no family photos, no real personal effects. He’d done a quick internet search since their visit to the park, but hadn’t learned much, other than that Emma’s place in the Eden lineage had been kept a secret for years. She’d been shipped off to France, apparently, to study in quiet, probably because of her father’s affair. It was as if Victoria Eden had been hiding her granddaughter in an ivory tower. All the more reason not to trust Emma, however beguiling and gorgeous she was. But Daniel was certain he had everything in hand. He wouldn’t let Emma get too close. He certainly wouldn’t let her within the vicinity of his heart.
“I’m ready.” Her voice was right behind him. Apparently she was light on her feet, like a cat.
Daniel turned and decided he couldn’t care less about attending the opera. Emma was a vision in a sparkling black dress with skinny straps and a neckline that flaunted the same maddening view as her robe. Her skin shimmered as it had for Empire State, the light dancing off the enticing contours of her collarbone and cleavage. He didn’t want to go anywhere. He wanted to stay here and kiss her again, let his lips roam everywhere. “You look beautiful. Like a princess.”
“Thank you. Like retail royalty? If you believe what the tabloids say.” She smiled and stepped closer, brushing the shoulder of his tux jacket. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
“No need to worry about the tabloids this evening. I’ve made arrangements for us to duck into the theater through a back entrance without detection.”
Disappointment crossed Emma’s face. “Back entrance? That doesn’t sound like much fun.”
“It’s the one a president or dignitary would use. I’m certain it’s quite nice.”
“I was hoping we’d end up in the papers again. Just like the other night, I’m wearing a Nora Bradford. She’s one of Eden’s exclusive designers. I’ll earn big bonus points with my sisters if I can create another run on the store.”
“Surely you realize it’s not in my best interest to help Eden’s.” Nor was it in Daniel’s best interest to help Eden’s as pertained to Nora Bradford. He’d been unable to reach her, and his mother still didn’t know about it.
“Of course not. But you can help me. The store and I are not synonymous.”
She not only had an excellent point, Daniel felt the same way. His family was important, but he and the business were not the same thing. Still, his stomach churned at the prospect of going through the main entrance of the theater. He’d purposely avoided the red carpet at Empire State, although that had been for naught since he still ended up in the tabloids. “I’m sorry. I’m just not a fan of photographers or the media. They’ve treated me and my family badly in England.” They’d been especially brutal once they figured out his brother and fiancée had been having an affair. It was too juicy for them to let it rest, so they’d kept the love triangle of his deceased brother, himself and the woman who’d betrayed him in the headlines for months.
“I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to. I just...” Her voice trailed off.
“What is it?”
“My sisters. I’m trying to prove to them that I’m a real member of the team. That I can contribute.”
Again, she was hitting all the right notes. It was exactly the way he felt about needing to prove himself to his parents. “You seem more than capable.”
Emma shook her head, her eyes filled with a worry that tugged at his heart. “It doesn’t matter. Mindy and Sophie are thick as thieves and they treat me like I’m an idiot sometimes. They see me as the outsider.”
“But you’re a blood relative.”
She arched her eyebrows at him. “You’ve done your research.”
“I have.” He could admit that much. Didn’t everyone do a Google search on anyone they might take on a date?
“Then you should know that Mindy and Sophie didn’t know I was inheriting part of Eden’s until the day our grandmother’s will was read. I’m still earning their trust. They’re still earning mine, for that matter.”
“It really means that much to you? Going through the main entrance of the theater?”
“Unless you’re worried that people will think we’re dating. I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.” Her leading inflection did nothing but put him on the spot.
“The tabloids don’t care about facts. They’ll say whatever they want.”
“As someone who’s spent her entire life invisible to the public eye, I’m enjoying my moment in the spotlight. But if you’d prefer we hide, I’m okay with it.”
Indeed, the Edens had hidden Emma away. It wasn’t fair to her. She couldn’t help that she’d been the product of an extramarital affair. He drew in a deep breath, realizing he wanted only to please her. He could stomach a few moments standing before the paparazzi and whatever headlines resulted from it. Just this once.
“We’ll go in through the main entrance and see what happens.”
“Really?” Emma’s excitement was its own reward. Her cheeks colored in radiant pink. “Thank you so much.”
“Of course.” He’d forgotten how wonderful it was to make a woman happy. Would he have the chance to please Emma in other ways? He hoped so.
Daniel’s driver was waiting for them downstairs in the parking garage.
“Why don’t you ever have him pick you up out front?” Emma asked.
“Same reason I wanted to take the side door at the theater. It’s a habit now. I do anything to retain my privacy.”
“I see.”
His driver had them to the theater quickly. It seemed like New York traffic was conspiring against him—whenever he had somewhere to be, it was nothing but gridlock. And when he was in no rush to confront what was awaiting him, like the chance of photographers, it was smooth sailing. They waited their turn in the line of limousines and town cars, but he could already see camera flashes going off. Opening night was always a big affair.
As soon as Daniel climbed out of the car, his pulse picked up and he waited for his stomach to sour. But then he reached for Emma’s hand, her fingers slid against his palm, and a pleasant wave of warmth overtook him. He could do this. He had an extraordinary woman on his arm.
One photographer spotted them and the flashes started. Daniel and Emma weren’t even on the red carpet yet and they were already a focus. Emma squeezed his hand. He wasn’t sure if she sensed his trepidation or was expressing her own excitement. It didn’t matter. He only knew that he wanted more. When they took center stage, the questions began.
Are you officially dating?
How did you meet?
Emma, what are you wearing?
Emma took a single step toward them and let go of Daniel’s hand. “It’s Nora Bradford, of course. We love her at Eden’s.” She turned to let them photograph the back of the dress while she peeked over her shoulder like a veteran of the red carpet. If he were inclined to enjoy this sort of thing, he’d be loving it right now. Watching Emma was the most fun he’d had in weeks. It was the
photographers he disliked so greatly. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
Daniel, is Stone’s opening in New York?
How will the stores compete?
What do your families think?
Daniel had to admit that last question was an excellent one. He wasn’t about to answer it. His mother had expressed more than enough concern. He was sure her sisters felt the same way. Emma snugged herself tighter against his arm, smiling for the cameras and smartly ignoring the latest batch of questions. The photographers moved on to the couple behind them, a Hollywood actress and her husband, and Daniel tugged Emma into the theater.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it? I think it’s exciting.” Indeed, she looked nothing short of exhilarated, her cheeks flushed with color and her eyes bright. “Thank you for putting up with that. I appreciate it.”
“I’m just glad it’s over.” He didn’t want to think about how what Emma had just done might end up dashing his hopes of signing Nora Bradford to Stone’s. Forget damage control with his mother. She was going to hit the roof. For tonight, he wouldn’t worry about it. He would instead enjoy his time with Emma.
They took their seats in the theater, the front row of one of the side boxes with an excellent view of the stage. Emma was perfectly at home here, among the women in evening gowns and men in tuxedos. However hidden away she’d been for much of her life, she’d surely been exposed to the finer things.
“These seats are amazing,” Emma said. “I can’t wait for the performance to start.” Once again, he was taken aback by her enthusiasm. She enjoyed life, no matter how routine the moment. He could learn quite a lot from her.
The house lights went down. The orchestra began to play, exquisite music filling the theater. Emma turned her sights to the stage expectantly, practically sitting on the edge of her seat. When the curtains opened, she reached for Daniel’s hand and squeezed hard.
He’d seen La Bohème many times, but never like this. Not with someone like Emma who so plainly appreciated it on a different level. Just like at Empire State, she openly displayed her enjoyment of the spectacle before her. Daniel had a difficult time keeping his eyes on the stage. It was much more beautiful and enchanting to watch it reflected in Emma’s face, her eyes darting from side to side as she followed the performers, her luscious lips parted as she got caught up in the music.
And she wept, softly and sweetly, squeezing his hand tighter and letting the tears fall. Emma Stewart was a singular woman. She appreciated beauty in all its forms. She seemed to have nothing but the warmest of hearts and the most generous nature. If he wasn’t careful, it wasn’t a question of whether he would fall for her, but rather, how fast.
* * *
Daniel was intensely quiet on the ride back to their building. Emma was still composing herself after the performance. She hadn’t wanted to embarrass him with her tears, but there was no holding any of it back, especially not at the end, when the music was so achingly beautiful and Rodolfo realized that Mimi had died. Though tragic, the story of poverty, sacrifice and love was wrapped up in such a spectacle, she couldn’t have held back her emotion if she’d tried.
“I’m sorry about the tears. It was my first time seeing La Bohème. I guess I just got caught up in it.” She didn’t want to make an admission of her naivety, but she wanted to be honest with him. She didn’t like always pretending to be something she wasn’t.
He nodded, but she could see that look of surprise on his face. “That explains a lot. But there’s no need to apologize. A lot of people cry.”
Deep inside her was a desire to tell him more. She didn’t like pretending to be something she wasn’t, even when she knew her money and pedigree were part of what made him want to spend any time with her.
His driver dropped them in the parking garage. As they walked inside, she prepared herself for the awkward moment to come, when Daniel thanked her for accompanying him for the evening and then found a way to absolve himself of more time together. Perhaps this was the natural progression between a man like him and a woman like her. They were from different worlds. Warring families. But the fighter in her was unwilling to give up hope. She liked Daniel. She liked being with him—he had a way of making her feel like she was the only woman in the world. His focus was always on her. She’d never experienced that before. With anyone.
“Thank you for a lovely evening,” she said, as the elevator opened.
Daniel waited for her to board first. She nearly choked on the quiet as the doors slid shut. He pressed the button for her floor—confirmation that there would be no invitation to join him upstairs. She was about to crumple in defeat when he turned to her with a gaze so intense it nearly knocked her over.
“It’s you I have to thank, Emma. Tonight was extraordinary. I felt like I was seeing the performance for the first time, too. It’s amazing to see the world through your eyes.”
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. She had only seconds to act. She took his hand. “Don’t go upstairs.”
Daniel didn’t take his eyes off her, but he thrust out his arm to keep the elevator open. “Are you sure?” His voice was soft and low. Intoxicating. “If I come over, I’ll just want to kiss you again.”
Her heart fluttered in her chest. “Good.” Without a second to waste, she tugged him down the hall to her door. She felt like it was okay to breathe again until his eyes narrowed on her face. He set his hand on the side of her neck and ran a thumb across one cheek. That one innocent touch sent zaps of electricity through her. “You have freckles. How did I not notice that before?”
Her makeup had failed her. “I shouldn’t have cried at the opera. It washed away my foundation. I must look horrible.”
He shook his head. “You’re stunning. It’s okay to cry. It’s beautiful. It’s real. And moving.”
Now her heart was thundering so much harder. He’d asked her the other night where she’d been hiding, but she was inclined to ask the same of him. He gathered her into his arms, pulling her close. She rose up onto her tiptoes. His kiss was soft and patient. A spark started a slow burn, his lips parting slightly, his tongue teasing when it touched hers. The anticipation might kill her. Not only had she never wanted a man the way she wanted Daniel, she hadn’t known until that very moment what it was like to be desperate for someone and be in his arms at the same time. She was starving for more of him. All of him.
Emma fumbled with her keys, dropping them on the floor. Daniel bent over to pick them up, and she smoothed her hand across his broad shoulders, dying to know what his skin felt like, wanting nothing more than to touch him.
He opened the door and handed her the keys. She cast them aside on the foyer table, along with her clutch. Then she found his arms wrapping around her waist, and she clasped the sides of his face, his light facial scruff tickling her palms. He kissed her—sensuous and slow, a pace that was pure Daniel. Emma was already on fire, consumed with desire. She wanted him out of his tailored tux. She wanted him to tear off her dress. She threaded her hands inside his jacket and urged it from his shoulders. He loosened his tie with one hand, but didn’t let go of her with the other, his hot fingers curled into the bare skin of her back.
“I need to know if you want this, Emma.”
Yes was waiting on her lips, but she was struck with a terrible case of nerves. Like everything else in her life, she was searching for a way to belong where she was, right now in the arms of the sexiest man she’d ever met. She absolutely wanted this. She wanted him more than anything, but she was scared of how he’d see her. She didn’t want to be shy and inexperienced Emma. She wanted to be a woman who could rock his world. “I do want this. I want you. Let me take off your suit. I want you to take off my dress.”
“I sense hesitation.”
Blue light from the city filtered through the living room windows and pooled on the foyer floor. She looked deeply into his eyes. Even that much felt bold
. It wasn’t daylight, but she wasn’t shying away. If she did nothing else right, let her confront him with this. Let her be honest and trust that he wouldn’t think less of her. “I have to tell you something.”
“Please.” His voice rumbled with concern.
“I’m worried I might disappoint you.”
He unleashed his off-kilter smile. He shook his head, tugging her closer and kissing her tenderly. First her lips, then her jaw, and finally—blissfully—her neck. “Nothing about you is disappointing.”
Emma swallowed hard. Did he really feel that way? Was it the truth? Or had she merely done a good job of convincing him she was something she wasn’t? His roving lips on her neck weren’t helping her sort any of this out. “I’ve only been with one man, Daniel. Ever.”
He reared back his head, vision narrowed. “Did your family actually lock you up in a tower somewhere? I don’t see how dozens of men haven’t at least tried to seduce you.”
It was both surprising and oddly reassuring to know that Daniel saw her that way. “Not a tower. A small apartment. And my mother was especially good at keeping tabs on me.”
“I know the feeling.”
She sensed that he did. “I’ve never enjoyed myself with a man. I never reached my ultimate destination, if you get what I mean.”
“Never?”
This conversation had already gone so much further than she’d intended. She should be feeling humiliated right now, but she wasn’t. Something about Daniel made her want to be an open book. He made her want to bare her soul and her body. “Not with him.”
He slid his hand down the back of her left arm, then locked his fingers with hers. “You’ve never had an orgasm?”
Heat flushed her face, but she refused to be embarrassed. “I have. Many times. By myself.”
A knowing look crossed his face. “So you know what you like?”
“I think so. I’m sure there’s a lot I’ve been missing out on, though.”
He got serious again, the crease between his eyes deepening. “Emma, you couldn’t disappoint me if you tried. Tonight has been incredible.”