by Lavada Dee
Anger rushed through Nadia, made worse by the obvious delight her grandmother was showing in having one up on her. How come she was just now learning Devon’s identity? Nadia tried for casual as she walked over to the mini bar. “I’m going to have a glass of wine. Would you like me to get one for you?”
“No, dear, and if you intend to have one, do it in your room or better yet, downstairs. I want to watch this movie. Besides, maybe you will run into the man himself.”
There wasn’t much she could do, so Nadia dutifully kissed her grandmother on the cheek and left. Out in the hall she held her hand over her chest to feel her heart beating like a trip-hammer. She had been going to tell her grandmother to be ready to leave in the morning but after the bombshell she had dropped, maybe that could wait a day. She needed to think.
Nadia’s stomach grumbled, letting her know she needed to feed it. She’d only had the salad this morning and then a cup of soup for lunch. She didn’t usually do this to herself. Disciplined, she ate on schedule and worked out in the gym daily. “Okay, first…dinner,” she mumbled to herself.
She wasn’t thinking when she got to the elevators. She pushed the button and waited. It was only a second until the bell dinged, the doors opened and she started to step in. The two men in swimming trunks with towels slung around their shoulders had her stepping back out.
Nadia swallowed, trying to find words. Instead, she stood and stared. Devon, if anything, was even more beautiful than when she had first seen him. His skin tone was golden in color and it emphasized his well-formed abs and narrow waist. With his perfect features he should have looked at least a little feminine, but his body compensated, giving him a strong masculine presence.
Her gaze strayed over to his brother and her legs threatened to fold. She had all but ignored him this morning, but barely clothed, there was no ignoring him now. She felt his gaze burn into her. Then, like something out of a movie, it felt like everything—the elevator, the hall, and Devon—disappeared, and she was left in an abyss with only the huge, bigger-than-life man in front of her.
Nadia couldn’t pull her eyes away from him. The wheelchair he sat in barely registered and in no way defined him. He lifted his head as if to catch a scent, then let his eyes slide up her body. When his gaze met hers, it was as if he was drawing her to him. The feeling was so intense, she was surprised when she felt herself take a step back.
Still she couldn’t take her eyes from his.
The voice that sounded in her head was a deep bass. “Later.”
Before she could question the exchange, she responded in kind. “No.”
A smiled played over his lips. Then she felt a release. The whole encounter couldn’t have taken more than a second or two, yet Nadia felt like time was suspended, and if she were to look, she would see that she had been with him for far longer. She forced herself to turn away and mumbled, “I’m sorry.”
Again the voice. “We are meant to be.”
Devon’s voice interrupted her thoughts and cleared the air. The hall and elevator slowly came back into a clear focus. “Nothing to be sorry about. Have a nice evening.”
They hadn’t invited her to join them for the ride down. Unusual for a public elevator, but maybe it was for the best. When the elevator doors closed on the two men, she felt a loss and her legs were shaking so hard she was afraid she would fall. She shook off the feeling. What just happened couldn’t be real. “I need to get something to eat.” Forcing thoughts of Tyrell and what had just happened out of her mind, she reminded herself that she needed to think about the fact that Devon wasn’t who or what she had thought he was.
* * * *
Nadia forked the last bite on her plate and pushed it back with a frown. Eating a full dinner wasn’t like her and especially not in the evening. At least, not without immediately purging it, as she did when forced to entertain clients at a restaurant with her father. She had opted for the coffee shop instead of the dining room, thinking she would have a cup of soup, then changed her mind and ordered a steak. I’ll pay for this tomorrow with a long jog.
The waitress picked up her plate and asked if she wanted the dessert menu. Nadia started to say no, then changed her mind. “Have you got Crème Brule?” The waitress confirmed they did and Nadia placed an order. “Oh, with coffee, please.” At least, she would forgo another glass of wine.
Waves of emotion still flooded Nadia. The incident at the elevator made it impossible to concentrate on plans for Devon. Or, for that matter, anything or anyone but…. Get a grip, it didn’t happen.
A few minutes passed, and Nadia had all but convinced herself that her imagination was running wild. So back to working out what to do about Devon. Would a direct approach work, or would it be better to seduce him? Not that she had a lot of faith in her powers of seduction. Her mother had died when she was ten, and her father had sent her to a girl’s school in France. Already introverted, Nadia became even more of a recluse. At least she had learned how to disguise it, so that by the time she returned home at twenty she looked like the sophisticated, poised, and experienced young woman her father had paid to make her into.
The waitress brought her order, and Nadia almost groaned at the first taste of the decadent dessert. What was wrong with her tonight? To make things worse, she wasn’t feeling her usual guilt.
She heard Devon and looked up. He was laughing at something the waitress said, then motioned toward Nadia’s table and a few seconds later was sliding into the seat opposite her. “Hope you don’t mind.”
Nadia swallowed the bite she had just taken and nodded. She wasn’t really ready for him, but she couldn’t afford to let the opportunity to talk to him get away. She was stopped from responding by the waitress that had followed Devon. Nadia hadn’t really paid much attention to her before, but now she noticed that she was pretty and around her own age, maybe twenty-eight or so. She also got a first-hand look at how women responded to Devon, and wasn’t surprised or disappointed. He would be absolutely perfect for not only the upcoming launch of the men’s cologne but for other marketing events in the future.
All of a sudden, Nadia could see a future, one that until this very minute was only a niggling annoyance. One she always thought was in big part brought on by her biological clock, until just now. Devon would make the perfect husband.
Devon waved a hand across the table. When the motion brought her back from her thoughts he said, “Wow, you were in another world.”
“I’m sorry.” Then, thinking she was apologizing way too much, Nadia smiled. “Guess I’m not doing so well tonight.”
“You’re doing fine.” Devon’s warm smile reached his eyes. The smile snapped Nadia’s professional self back into place and she assessed the devastatingly handsome man in front of her in more detail. His hair was dark brown with highlights that made it look lighter. His eyes were amazing, even standing out in his perfect physical beauty. Blue, with lashes that any female model would covet, they held warmth that had her wondering if the camera could pick them up. The idea of marriage to this man should be something that had her heart pounding, but it wasn’t her heart that was engaged, it was her brain. If she could bring Devon home she would finally make an impression on her father. Between the three of them, they could be the toast of New York. Beautiful people selling beauty and perfection. It couldn’t get better than that. They would put LaMar Marketing at the very top of the industry.
When she didn’t say anything, Devon continued to reassure her. “A good night’s sleep will set everything to rights. Tomorrow you’ll be at the top of your game again.”
If only. But what game? Did she dare try for seduction? And what about the time frame, two, three days. Would that be enough time to take that approach? If only she had more experience. How hard could it be to get a man sexually interested? She glanced at her watch. It wasn’t really all that late. Maybe if she just tried to be friendly, get to know him better tonight. Then tomorrow try for something more sensual. With a plan, she relaxed a
nd let her gaze meet Devon’s in what she hoped was an invitation.
* * * *
Devon watched Nadia with growing interest. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that something was going on in her mind. He wasn’t a stranger to women showing an interest in him, but this wasn’t like any flirting or posturing he’d seen before. He took a drink of his wine to help the dryness in his mouth and bemoaned the fact that his physical discomfort wasn’t from an attraction. That in itself was unusual with a woman so beautiful. His body had responded more when she first walked in the door than it was doing now. He willed himself to get into the moment. Her hair was honey-colored, with light sun streaks. It didn’t take much to guess it came from a salon and not nature, although he had to admit it was an outstanding job. She wore it long and it fell past her shoulders tonight. He liked long hair, but didn’t have the slightest urge to feel hers in his hands or across his naked chest. Damn, what was wrong with him? She looked open to taking the next step, so what was holding him back?
She wet her lower lip with the tip of her tongue. Still no answering response from his body. Devon took another drink of wine and decided to try for a light, friendly exchange. “So, have you decided how long you will be staying with us?”
“I wanted to leave in the morning, but Nona doesn’t seem ready, and now…” She stopped abruptly.
Devon leaned forward. “Has something come up? Your grandmother isn’t feeling sick or anything, is she?”
“No, she is fine.” Again she hesitated, and then must have decided to open up. “I’m realizing that I never really knew my grandmother. She was telling me that she grew up in the mountains.”
“Do you have a lot of family?”
“Just my father and grandmother. My mother passed away when I was ten.”
Devon was beginning to revise his impression of Nadia. Tonight, she was anything but uptight. “But your grandmother didn’t raise you? I would imagine it would be pretty daunting for a single father, but I know that many do it and do it well.”
Nadia fiddled with her napkin, not meeting his eyes. “Not mine. His father died five years before my mother, and he took over the company with grandmother. Neither of them had time for a child.” She seemed to collect herself and smiled over to him. “It worked out for the best, I have had an exceptional education. One that wouldn’t have been available to me in the States, and one that has allowed me to advance in the company earlier than I might have otherwise.”
Devon wasn’t sure how to respond. She certainly seemed to be where she wanted to be, but he still detected something missing in her life. And now, he was getting the reading that maybe she wanted more than just a model. He wasn’t sure what exactly, but it didn’t take much to know she wanted something. It was time to call it a night. He wouldn’t have even come downstairs if Tyrell hadn’t asked him to bring him up a sandwich, which he realized he had forgotten to order. Signaling the waitress he quickly rectified the error. He turned back to Nadia. “For my brother. Since he’s been home our schedules are all over the place. Believe it or not, I used to be organized.”
Nadia laughed. “I know what you mean. This trip is an experience in how to manage around impromptu happenings. Like we will be driving along and actually making time and all of a sudden, my grandmother decides she wants to stop. And, not for just a chance to stretch our legs, she wants to stop for the night even though it is sometimes barely noon. At the rate we are going, it will take a month to get to New York.”
Devon laughed with her. He didn’t travel much. Most of the time clients came to him via the internet. Face-to-face meetings were infrequent. He said as much. “I guess I never felt inclined to travel, there isn’t any place I really wanted to see. But I don’t know, lately I’ve been feeling restless and I have to say hearing how you’re driving across country makes my feet itch.”
Was he mistaken, or did what he said grab Nadia’s interest? He waited for her to say something. A something that seemed to be a struggle for her. She was again fidgeting with her napkin. He was about to say more himself when she said, “You think you might want a change? I am serious about that modeling job.” She hesitated, and if possible, looked even more uncertain than she had earlier. “Are you in a relationship?”
What the hell? That, he had been giving a relationship, even marriage, serious thought had Devon stumbling with his reply. “Uh, no.”
Her gaze locked with his. “After hearing who you are, I realize why you so adamantly refused to consider the job offer I made you. I can do better. My family owns a very successful marketing and modeling agency. As you can guess, perception is a big percentage of our success. We sell beauty.” She stopped, letting her words resonate in the silence.
Devon nodded that he understood. Or at least, that he was following what she said. For the life of him he couldn’t see where she was going. His mind flashed to Tyrell. He had been surprised when his brother asked him to get him something to eat instead of ordering room service like they so often did. But he sloughed it off as just something else out of norm for the day. Tyrell’s rapid recovery was proving to be anything but normal, and it made for “anything can happen” days. Like the episode at the elevator. Talk about a surreal moment.
Nadia’s voice ended his thoughts. “I think I will have a glass of wine, if you will have a second glass with me.”
Devon was ready to call it a night, but curiosity had him again waving the waitress over. “So, you were telling me about your business, LaMar Marketing?”
“Yes, and as you no doubt are very aware, you are a very handsome man…”
It wasn’t that he wasn’t aware of his looks. It was just that he was used to a more subtle approach. “I’m flattered, but I’m not a model. The camera might not agree with your assessment.”
The smiled she flashed told him she was in her element now. “Oh, I’m positive it will. I have cast some excellent models, both male and female. I would go so far as to offer you a generous advance to come to New York and see how the camera ‘sees’ you.” Their drinks arrived and Nadia took a minute to sample hers.
Devon shook his head. He hated to disappoint her, but going to New York, standing in front a camera, and smiling on cue just didn’t interest him. He was about to say so when, looking again uncertain and unbelievably, a little shy, she dropped a bombshell.
Chapter 8
Damn, what now? Devon felt as uncomfortable as Nadia looked. What was taking Tyrell’s sandwich so long? Now that he thought about it, he understood why his brother asked him to come down and get one for him instead of using room service. After the strange encounter at the elevator, he was a little concerned about Nadia himself.
As if by force of will, she finally raised her head, but instead of making eye contact, she focused on the seat behind him. “I’m not sure how to propose this. I…”
Devon leaned forward trying to help her. “Don’t worry, just say what you have on your mind. It won’t surprise me. I’ve no doubt heard worse.”
A pretty pink tinted her cheekbones. “I don’t think you have.” She hesitated, and it felt like he could hear time ticking. “But, on second thought, maybe you have heard what I’m about to say.”
Again Devon leaned forward.
Nadia took a deep breath. “Maybe I should explain before I ask you.”
Ask me what? And, where was that damn sandwich?
Nadia’s voice was soft and low. Devon had to lean forward to hear it. “Like I told you, LaMar’s is a family business, one my grandfather started. Marketing, especially in New York, is a hard business to break into. Being coupled with a modeling agency like ours adds more risk. But Grandfather had a vision, and with hard work and sacrifices, he and Grandmother built LaMar’s. They had one son, my father, and like me, he was raised to put the business ahead of everything.” Her voice lowered more. “Including mother, and then me.”
She stopped, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.”
Devon nodded. “Go ahead,
I’m getting the picture.”
“No. I’m afraid that last comment may have you thinking it was a bad thing, or have you feeling sorry for me.” She raised her eyes and said, “Don’t. I can assure you, I’m right where I want to be.”
Devon was beginning to seriously doubt that, but he didn’t say anything.
“Last year grandmother retired without notice. Then she gave us a scare with a heart attack but now, except for the eye problem, she is in excellent health. She said she wanted to see and do some things that working wouldn’t allow her to do. Thus retirement.”
Nadia made eye contact with him and held it. “So it is just father and me. He has been pressuring me to marry and not only bring my husband into the business, but to produce heirs for the future.”
Oh shit. He was going to kill Tyrell when he got upstairs. Devon wanted to ask how this was any of his business, but he was afraid he already knew. He swallowed, then breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the waitress coming with a covered dish. The sandwich, thank heavens. “Huh, here’s the sandwich. Guess I had better it get up to Tyrell before he thinks his throat has been cut.” Wow, that was a bit of babble. Devon felt like pulling at his collar, but how impossible would that be when he was wearing a t-shirt?
Nadia seemed oblivious to his discomfort. “I’ll walk up with you.”
Was she letting the subject drop? It certainly seemed so. Did she realize what she had even said? When they got to the elevator, Devon pushed the button for her floor, and then the one for the Penthouse. Silence filled the elevator. He felt like he was holding his breath, willing Nadia not to say more.
He got his wish.
She simply told him good night when she stepped out of the elevator. Then, at the last moment, she turned back.
He didn’t have it in him to let the doors shut in her face, and reached to keep them open. Now she did look uncomfortable. “I would like to continue our conversation. Like I’ve said, you are perfect, even more that I first thought.”