Scattered Thoughts (Betrayed by Love Book 1)

by Kelley, HD

  “Sure,” I answered, my voice barely above a whisper. I pulled a business card out of my jacket pocket and handed it to him. “You can call me if you think of any more questions.” He took the card slowly from my hand, brushing my fingers once again. My insides were on fire. I looked down and zipped my bag, doing my best to hide my crimson cheeks.

  “I can think of a few questions already.”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Payne, I thought I’d answered all the questions.” I took a deep breath and said a silent prayer that my color had returned to normal before looking up at him again. “Where would you like to start?”

  Alec’s head tilted to one side, a smile spread across his face. “What time is your flight?”

  “It’s not until ten o’clock, so I have plenty of time to go over your questions now.”

  His smile broadened. “Soon,” he said looking right into my eyes. He reached up and pressed the button on the Bluetooth earpiece I hadn’t noticed before. “Five minutes,” he said before pressing the button again.

  Bringing his attention back to me, he continued. “I’ll meet you in the lobby in five minutes, Isabella.” With that he sauntered out of the room, leaving me standing alone and confused, by both my reaction to him and what he had planned. I’d made plans to meet up with another client for drinks while I was in town and now I was left hoping this wouldn’t take too long.

  Preston appeared out of nowhere and grabbed my bags. “This way, Ms. James,” he said.

  I followed him down the hall and back to the lobby where Miss Jet Black was waiting. “You can wait over there,” she said motioning to the only seating area in the room.

  Not bothering to respond, I walked over to the white leather loveseat and sat down. Preston put my bags down next to me before disappearing once again.

  I fished my phone out of my bag and typed out a quick text to my client, letting her know my meeting was running late, and then did a quick check of voicemail. Tim had already called looking for an update on the meeting I’d just finished. I laughed quietly at his impatience and deleted the message.

  Spencer had left a message too. He called to tell me he wouldn’t be home tonight after all. Something about an emergency he had to deal with in Chicago, but he hadn’t elaborated on the details, not that he needed to. I was just relieved I wouldn’t have to deal with him tonight.

  “Ready, Isabella?”

  The sound of Alec’s voice made me jump and I almost dropped my phone. “Yeah,” I said quickly, disconnecting from voicemail before tossing my phone inside my bag.

  I hopped up off the couch and reached for my bags, only Alec beat me to them. “Allow me,” he said, motioning toward the elevator where Preston was already waiting.

  Deciding not to battle over who carried my bags, I headed toward Preston. “Where are we going?” I asked when the elevator started its descent.

  “Do you like sushi?”

  I nodded cautiously, unsure where he was going with his question.

  Alec flashed a broad smile. “I thought we’d eat before we go over my questions,” he said. I opened my mouth to object but my stomach stopped me with a loud rumble, a reminder that I hadn’t eaten all day. “I really don’t think I could concentrate over the rumbling in your stomach.”

  “Sorry, I… um, I skipped lunch today,” I offered as an explanation, embarrassed by the sound my stomach was making.

  “Good thing Oishi is close then,” Alec said with a raised eyebrow that gave the distinct impression he was scolding me somehow. “Especially since you can’t seem to remember to feed yourself,” he added.

  I gritted my teeth to still the snarky comment that desperately wanted to escape. When I eat, or don’t eat for that matter, was none of his business.

  We inched along in silence through the heavy downtown traffic before finally coming to a stop outside the Channelside Bay Plaza. “We’re here,” Alec said before hoping out of the car.

  Distracted by the enormous ship anchored a few yards away, I didn’t move, not until Alec opened my door. I accepted his outstretched hand and climbed out, my eyes moving to the ship’s logo. It was one of Ultimate’s.

  “That’s the Ultimate Fantasy, the newest in our fleet,” Alec said, following my gaze to the massive vessel. “Her maiden voyage is Friday.”

  “She’s beautiful.”

  Alec leaned closer. “Yes, she is,” he whispered. His warm breath on my ear sent goosebumps down my side and I had to bite my lip to keep from moaning. It’d been months since a man had been that close to me and my body wanted more. Only Alec Payne wasn’t just any man. He was a client. I pulled my hand back, but he tightened his grip.

  “This way,” he said, tugging me gently toward the courtyard of the Plaza.

  We walked past the fountain and the palm trees in the middle of the outdoor shopping center then up a steep staircase to the second floor where there were noticeably fewer people. Many of the storefront windows were empty and everywhere I looked I saw signs that read “space available.”

  “Where are all the stores?”

  “Some closed, some relocated.”

  “Why? This place seems pretty cool.”

  “It was.” Alec closed his eyes and smiled. “It will be again,” he said when he reopened them.

  “You sound certain.”

  “That’s because I am, Isabella.”

  Controlling and clandestine! My inner self chimed in and I rolled my eyes at them both.

  “Did you roll your eyes at me?”

  My face turned bright red as I realized I’d been caught. I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again, not sure what to say at the moment.

  “Well?”

  Something about the way Alec asked made me squirm. My breathing increased and a nervous grin crossed my face. I broke away from his stare before my heart beat out of my chest. “Yes!” I said, much louder than I’d expected.

  Alec squeezed my hand tighter and pulled me inside the restaurant without saying another word. He led me through the large dining room, past the Hibachi stations, finally stopping at a quaint booth in the far corner. I slid around the table far enough to ensure a clear look at the inside of the dining room full of tropical plants, Japanese antiques, and the most beautiful hand carved wooden tables I’d ever seen. The deep rich colors of the décor and soft lighting offered a romantic feel that made me wonder why he brought me here.

  “Can I bring you a drink, Mr. Payne?” our waitress asked.

  “Bring us a bottle of the 2009 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese and two glasses of water,” he ordered without so much as consulting me. She nodded and walked away.

  “It’s a Riesling,” he said, finally looking in my direction.

  “What if I don’t like Riesling?”

  “Do you?”

  “Well, yes,” I answered honestly. “But that wasn’t my question.”

  “You’re the issues manager, Isabella. I’m sure you’d figure something out.”

  I shook my head, my level of annoyance climbing another notch.

  The waitress was back in no time with our drinks. She opened the wine and poured us each a glass before placing the bottle in the center of the table. I picked up my glass and eagerly took a sip. “Oh, this is amazing,” I admitted after I tasted it.

  “I’m glad you like it. It’s one of my favorites.” Alec picked up his glass and took a slow drink, his eyes never leaving mine.

  The intensity of his stare made my heart race again and I had to look away. “Do you know what you’re having?” I asked, reaching for the menu.

  “I do.”

  Alec motioned for the waitress before I’d even gotten the menu open, and she quickly returned. I looked up, ready to tell her I still needed a minute, but Alec spoke first. “We’ll have the Sex on the Moon and a Pink Lady,” he said, flashing me that wicked grin of his.

  A rush of heat coursed through me and I felt compelled to tell Alec about Spencer. “It’s probably just the wine,” I said silently, trying t
o convince myself he had no effect on me. But the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. “Alec, I’m married,” I blurted out.

  He titled his head. “You’re not wearing a ring.”

  “We’re um… we’re getting divorced.”

  Damn it Izzy! my inner voice admonished. I hadn’t told anyone but Dr. Leonard and my attorney about my failed marriage. And this was hardly the time or place to start, either. I took another drink of the wine to strengthen my resolve. When I looked up again Alec was staring at me. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure why I brought that up. Can we just change the subject?” This was not a conversation I should be having with a client, especially one that made me wet just by looking at me. I took a long drink, then another, not stopping until the glass was empty this time.

  Alec lifted the bottle and poured me a second glass. I took the opportunity to steer the subject of the conversation back to him. “Do you always order for your dinner guests?”

  “I want what I want, Isabella.” He lifted his glass of wine, his eyes still fixed on mine. “And right now I want to talk more about this issue you couldn’t manage.”

  “I am managing the issue!” I snapped, my brain-to-mouth filter temporarily rendered useless by the effects of the alcohol. “You know, Mr. Payne, not all solutions include a happily ever after.”

  “Or maybe you just haven’t found the right solution.”

  My mouth dropped open. Was he seriously going to try and tell me I hadn’t worked hard enough to save my marriage? Oh, he wasn’t just a control freak. No, he was an arrogant ass! He didn’t know me, and he certainly didn’t know the circumstances that led to my divorce.

  Right when I was prepared to tell him what I thought of his assumptions and his opinions, the waitress returned with our food.

  Seemingly unaware of my pending rage, Alec placed a couple pieces of each sushi roll on my plate. “I hope you like spicy,” he said.

  He lifted a piece from his plate in the air with his chopsticks. “To your new found freedom, Isabella.” When I realized he was going to hold the food in the air until I said something, I lifted one of the pieces he put on my plate but immediately dropped it. We both laughed as I struggled to pick it up again with the chopsticks.

  “You can use a fork, you know.”

  “No. I’ll get it.”

  “Stubborn, I see.”

  “I’m not stubborn,” I snapped. Alec raised his eyebrows. “Well, maybe a little.”

  “A little?” he laughed.

  “Well, what about you?”

  “What about me? I know how to use chopsticks.”

  I rolled my eyes and exhaled loudly, completely exasperated by this man.

  “Didn’t your parents ever teach you it’s rude to roll your eyes at people?” he asked.

  I rolled them again in an exaggerated fashion then took a long drink from my wine glass, strengthening my nerve even more. “Apparently not.”

  “It’s never too late to be taught, Isabella.” Alec pressed his lips in a thin, hard line making me squirm. I tried to ignore his stare and the tingling between my legs but failed miserably. My insides were on fire.

  Surprised by my reaction, I looked down at my plate and did my best to focus on the food before I said something I might regret tomorrow. I jabbed the chopsticks into the piece of sushi and somehow managed to get it into my mouth without dropping it this time. Alec poured us each another glass of wine and we sat in silence while we ate.

  “How long have you worked at Dimarco?” Alec asked when I finally looked up from my plate.

  “Long enough…” I lifted my wine glass and took a long drink. “You have nothing to worry about, Mr. Payne. We’re the most requested team in Issues Management because we’re good at what we do.”

  “I’m sure you are, Isabella.” With a raised eyebrow Alec took the wine glass from my hand, replacing it with the glass of water he’d ordered me. His fingers brushed against mine and it was all I could do to sit still. “Drink this,” he ordered. My sex tingled and I bit my bottom lip to suppress a moan. “Drink,” he said again.

  Without a word, I lifted the glass to my lips and took a long, slow drink, my eyes fixed on his now.

  Stop this, Izzy! I shouted silently, willing myself to look away. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, hoping to regain some resemblance of professionalism.

  “Do you have any other questions, Mr. Payne?”

  “Several,” he said, that wicked grin returning. “How long ago did you file for divorce?”

  “Four months.” I quickly set the glass of water down on the table. “Alec, I haven’t told anyone about the divorce yet. And I know I’m the one who brought it up, but could we please not talk about it?” I dropped my head, praying he’d let it go.

  “How about a tour of the ship before your flight?” Alec asked after a long and uncomfortable silence.

  “I’d love that,” I answered honestly. I knew it probably wasn’t a great idea, given all the wine I’d had to drink, but I didn’t care. I was just thankful we were moving on.

  Chapter Three

  The sun had already set by the time we left the restaurant, and the air had begun to cool. Luckily it was a short walk to the ship anchored just behind the plaza. I grabbed hold of the rail and stepped onto the gangway, doing my best not to look down. The heel of my shoe caught on the metal surface of the passageway, and I stumbled. Alec reached down and grabbed my arm a mere second before my knee hit the ground. He pulled me into him, his arm gripped tightly around my waist. The warmth of our bodies touching had my insides tingling once again. This was so wrong. He was my client, and I was still married.

  “Thanks. I’ve got it now,” I said trying to pull away. Alec held on to me tight as he stared deep into my eyes. At that moment I wanted nothing more than to reach up and kiss him, to taste the saltiness on his lips. It took every ounce of strength I had not to. I knew I had to break the connection between us before it was too late.

  With both hands on his chest, I pushed away from him. Alec let go of my arm, but wrapped his hand around my wrist and continued up the ramp.

  “Welcome aboard, Mr. Payne,” the security guard called out as we boarded. Alec nodded but kept walking, not stopping until we reached the ship’s main lobby.

  An enormous stained glass chandelier with rich gold tones caught my eye. The dim lighting reflected of the marble floors, the deep red, blue, and green accents highlighted by the lighting two floors up. I could’ve stood there longer and watched the lights move, but Alec tugged on my arm.

  Alec led me under the chandelier, past the grand staircase, toward a glass elevator in the atrium lobby. My eyes followed the lights on the elevator shaft, toward the ceiling some seven floors up. “Stunning,” I said breathlessly.

  “Isn’t she?” Alec whispered, pausing momentarily to take a look around.

  “Come with me. There’s something I want to show you.” Alec stepped inside the elevator, taking me with him. He pressed the number eighteen on the operating panel and the doors quickly closed.

  The glass walls of the elevator offered an incredible view of the atrium as we ascended to the top deck. I moved closer for a better look but stopped when I felt my knees starting to buckle. Before Alec could notice, I stepped back to a safe distance so I could enjoy the view without the fear of falling or fighting the tingles that ran through me every time Alec touched me.

  When the elevator stopped Alec led me out onto the open deck. My eyes darted from left to right, trying to soak it all in. “This way,” he said as he gently tugged on my hand.

  “Is that a track?” I asked when I spotted the smooth surface circling the deck.

  “It is. Would you like to try it out?”

  I did love to run but I wasn’t so sure about running that close to the edge, especially this high up. “Aren’t you afraid someone will fall overboard?”

  “No,” Alec laughed. “That’s what the guardrail is for.”

  “Yeah, well, I tripp
ed walking up the gangway, remember?”

  Alec laughed harder. “Another good point, Isabella. Maybe you should stick to the track inside the fitness center.”

  I crossed my arms, feigning injury to my ego. Alec pulled me into his chest, my back to his front, and wrapped his arms tightly around me. “Pouting makes me crazy, Isabella,” he whispered into my hair.

  The energy between us was dangerously electric. I wanted to give in but I couldn’t. I took a deep breath and wriggled free.

  “Feisty,” Alec breathed with a huskiness in his voice that had my insides tingling all over again. “Oh, I like feisty.”

  “Then you’re gonna love me,” I blurted out without thinking.

  “Are you trying to tempt me?”

  I tilted my head to one side. “Whatever do you mean, Mr. Payne?”

  Alec shook his head. “Isabella, you’re playing a dangerous game.” I nervously bit my thumbnail to hide the guilty look on my face. He was right; flirting with a client was very dangerous, but certainly not a game.

  “Wasn’t there something you wanted to show me?” I asked, quickly changing the subject, my distraction technique hard at work.

  “I know what you’re doing, Isabella.” Narrowing his eyes, he continued. “Luckily for you there is something I want to show you.” He took my hand once more and moved gracefully toward the stern.

  Alec pointed over the guardrail. “Down there,” he said.

  I took a step closer, willing myself to look. My legs began to tremble, but I grabbed on to the guardrail and peeked over the edge anyway. Big mistake. My knees buckled and I lost my balance.

  “Whoa!” Alec reached out and grabbed me around the waist with both hands to steady me. His touch was like a jolt of electricity straight through my body and I quickly pulled away. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, um… thanks. I’m fine,” I muttered as I stepped farther away from the edge and out of Alec’s reach where I could regain my balance, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by Alec.

  He inched toward me until I could feel the heat radiating off his body. “Is it heights you’re afraid of? Or is it me?” I heard the question but for the life of me I couldn’t make sense of the words. My mind was spinning. My legs were giving out. I reached out and grabbed Alec’s arm. The corners of his mouth curled into a smile. Damn it. He was enjoying this. “So I guess its heights then.”