Banking On Love

by Anna James

  “I promised you dinner. Remember?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “I thought we’d eat in the city since we’re both already here. I found a small, quiet little bistro in the Village. They have private dining, and we won’t have to worry about running into anyone. Besides, I’m not sure we’d get out of the house if we go back to Greenwich.”

  A flash of heat coursed through her. “Ethan!”

  “On the other hand, maybe we should go to your place. We’ll order takeout.”

  “No way. You promised me a real date. Then we can.” Heat crept up her neck. She sucked in a breath remembering all too well what he could do.

  “Mmm.”

  His husky murmur had heat pooling low in her belly. Oh my.

  “Are you blushing, Rachel?”

  “No. Okay, maybe a little. Forget it. Where should I meet you?”

  He let out a soft chuckle. “I’ll arrange for a taxi to pick you up in front of your office.”

  “What time?”

  “Quarter to seven. Our reservations are for seven.”

  “You already made them?”

  “I’m a firm believer in being prepared.”

  “What if I’d told you no?”

  “I wouldn’t have taken no for an answer. Besides, you didn’t. I can’t wait to see you tonight. And then we can…”

  “Ethan!”

  “Good bye, sweetheart.”

  The line went dead. Rachel hung up the phone and spun her chair around, a huge smile on her face. Anticipation of the evening to come bubbled inside. She couldn’t wait to see him again either. Her smile faded when she caught a glimpse of the clothes she wore. The business suit gave her an air of professionalism. Not the image she wanted for tonight. She glanced at her watch. Two hours until her one thirty meeting. Enough time to go shopping.

  Taxis were plentiful at this time of the day, and she secured one quickly.

  “Where to?” the cab driver asked.

  “Macy’s.”

  It took precisely thirty minutes to find the perfect dress. Rachel stared at her reflection in the dressing room mirror. She’d probably freeze in the scrap of material given the temperature dipped into the low forties at night, but what the heck. The dress clung to her figure in the right places and the color, a deep navy blue, complimented her complexion. The color also made the blue in her eyes sparkle. Ethan would love it. But not with these shoes. They were all wrong. She needed something with a higher heel. And strappy. Yes, they definitely needed to be strappy.

  At six thirty, Rachel shut down her computer and gathered her things. After a quick change in the ladies room, she hurried out to the front of her building. The cab waited by the curbside. She opened the door and got in.

  A short time later, the taxi pulled to the side of the road opposite the restaurant.

  The driver turned to face her. “Sorry, ma’am. This is a one way street.”

  “No worries. What do I owe you?”

  He shook his head. “The fare and tip have already been paid. Have a good evening.”

  “Thanks.” Rachel smiled and slipped out of the car.

  Ethan stood waiting in front of the restaurant. She waved and hurried toward him.

  He pulled her in his arms and kissed her. An I-want-you-right-here-right-now type of kiss. A girl could get used to greetings like this. The breath whooshed out when he released her. “Wow!”

  He gave her a wicked grin. “Come on, let’s go in.”

  Once inside, Rachel removed her coat and draped it over her arm.

  “I’ll check—” His heated gaze traveled up and down the length of her. He let out a low whistle. “Amazing.”

  She smiled. Worth every penny.

  A host escorted them into a small, secluded area with a table set for two. Once seated, Rachel turned her attention to their surroundings; a mix of elegance and informality with handsome neutral tones, a vaulted glass ceiling, and wood tables. Very contemporary.

  Her eyes settled on Ethan. The dimmed overhead light cast soft shadows over his handsome features. His charcoal gray suit fit him to perfection. An impression of herself shoving the tailored jacket from his shoulders and ripping the crisp white shirt from his body formed in her head and had shivers of anticipation sizzling through her.

  A sudden wave of uneasiness settled over her, and she swallowed hard to clear the lump in her throat. I can’t screw this up.

  “Rachel, what’s going on in that lovely head of yours?”

  Nervous energy skittered down her spine. She gave him what she hoped was her most brilliant smile. “Nothing. Everything’s fine.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not true. I can see in your eyes something’s troubling you. So come on, out with it.”

  She fidgeted in her seat. “I guess I’m a little nervous.”

  “Why?”

  Heat flooded her cheeks. Her words came out in a rush. “I haven’t been out on a date in over thirteen years, and I don’t know how to act or what to say.”

  “This dinner tonight isn’t any different than the one we shared the night before last or when you brought Emma home from the hospital after her accident. You weren’t nervous then.”

  “I know but… Things have changed between us. Everything’s happening so fast and I—”

  “Do you regret what’s happened?” he asked, concern in his voice.

  She reached for his hands and squeezed them tightly. “No!”

  “Good. Now sit back and relax.”

  A sommelier appeared, and Ethan ordered a bottle of Burgundy wine. “Tell me about your day,” he invited as they sipped from their glasses.

  Rachel let out a silent sigh of relief. “I spent most of the day getting up to speed with a new client.”

  “Except for the quick trip you made to the store.”

  She let out a soft chuckle and nodded.

  “That’s some dress.”

  “Do you like it?”

  “You’d better believe it.”

  She grinned. “Good.”

  He leaned in close and whispered into her ear. “Do you have anything on underneath?”

  “Ethan!” Delicious shivers raced down her spine, tightening her nipples into taut peaks.

  He flashed a wicked smile and asked in a casual tone, “Now, what were you saying about work?”

  Rachel stared, nonplused. Her brain couldn’t process the sudden switch. It continued conjuring images of her and Ethan. Naked. Stroking, teasing, tasting. She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms in her lap. “I hope to have things wrapped up in a few weeks.”

  “That fast?”

  “The company I’m auditing is small. The accounts shouldn’t take long to review.”

  “Do you have any idea what you’ll do next?”

  “Not yet. I’ll meet with Jarrod and Carter, he’s the other partner in the firm, in another week to discuss where I’ll go next. How are things at the bank?”

  He sighed. “Things are getting nasty. We had another big client close their accounts today and go elsewhere. We’ve lost the support of many shareholders who were originally behind us, not to mention our customers are losing faith in us.”

  “Oh, no. How many clients have you lost?”

  “Seven major accounts and several smaller ones since the dispute was filed.”

  “Are you worried the bank will go out of business?”

  He shook his head. “No, although I suppose anything is possible if the conflict drags on indefinitely.”

  A waiter appeared to take their orders. After he departed, Ethan asked, “Do you have any plans this weekend?”

  She shook her head.

  “I’m wondering if you’d help me with something.”

  “Sure, what do you need?”

  “A place to live.”

  Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

  “Staying with my parents isn’t an option anymore. They’re driving me crazy, especially, my mother. She called this morning and scold
ed me for not informing her I wouldn’t be home last night.”

  Laughter bubbled up inside her. She tried to stifle it by covering her mouth. It didn’t work. A loud snort erupted and she had to force herself to quiet down.

  “It’s not funny,” Ethan huffed out. “I’m thirty-four years old not some irresponsible teenager.”

  “Yes, it is.” Tears of laughter pooled in her eyes.

  He flashed a quick grin. “All right, maybe it’s a little funny, but it made me realize, I need a place of my own. I want to look at houses this weekend, and I’m hoping you can come with me. I’d like your opinion.”

  “You’re planning to stay here in New York?” Okay, she probably should have asked him that question before getting involved with him.

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  She let out her held breath and smiled. “It sounds like fun. Do you have any appointments set up?”

  “No. I’m not sure where I want to look yet.”

  “We should look for apartments in Manhattan. There’s so much to do. Great places to eat, and the nightlife is excellent.”

  “I don’t want an apartment. I want to look at single family homes.”

  She frowned. “There aren’t any single family homes in Manhattan, at least I don’t believe there are.”

  “Then we won’t search in Manhattan.”

  “I don’t understand. Why on earth do you want a single family house?”

  “I’ve lived the bachelor life in Paris. I want a change.”

  “Why would you want the headaches that come with a house? Have you forgotten about the upkeep and the costs associated with it?”

  He gave her an obstinate smile. “I want a house.”

  Their meals were discretely delivered, and as they ate, Rachel continued to press her point. “You won’t have the nightlife in the suburbs you’ll have in midtown.”

  “I’m not interested in the nightlife, but I do want to stay in the city.”

  “I guess we can check out some of the city neighborhoods.”

  Ethan nodded. “The trouble is, I’m not sure which neighborhoods to search. Are you familiar with any?”

  “The Park Slope area of Brooklyn, a little. Jarrod Hirsh and his wife live there. It’s a nice area. Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill are nice too.”

  “We’ll check out those three first.”

  “Have you contacted an agent yet?”

  “No. Do you know any?”

  “Not in New York. Maybe someone at the bank can make a recommendation.”

  “Good idea. I’ll ask around tomorrow.”

  The waiter appeared and inquired about dessert after they finished their meals.

  Ethan inclined his head. “I already know what I want.” Heat smoldered in his eyes.

  A shiver ran down her spine. She knew what he wanted, too, and it wasn’t on the menu. He wanted her. Excitement coursed through her, and she gave him a slow smile. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  Outside, Ethan hailed a cab, and they crossed to the opposite side of the street. High beams came out of nowhere and blinded her.

  She froze.

  A car raced toward her at top speed.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Ethan unlocked the front door to Rachel’s home and lifted her into his arms.

  “You don’t have to carry me, Ethan. I’m fine.”

  Thank God. His heart had stopped beating when the car raced toward them. The only thought had been to get Rachel to safety. He jerked her back but with too much force. She tripped over the curb and went down hard. Bruises had already formed on her arm and cheekbone. There’d be more. He carried her into the living room and placed her down on the sofa. “I’ll make you a cup of Chamomile tea to help you relax.”

  In the kitchen, he filled the kettle and placed it on the stove to boil. While he waited, he rehashed the scene. There’d been something familiar about the driver of the car, but he couldn’t put his finger on what. Everything happened fast, and it had been tough to focus on anything other than getting them both out of the way.

  The kettle whistled. Ethan poured the boiling water over the teabag and carried it, and a wet cloth, back into the living room. He handed her the steaming cup and sat down on the sofa beside her. With the damp cloth, he dabbed at the dried blood on the side of her forehead. “I still think we should go to the hospital. You smacked your head pretty hard on the pavement. You could have a concussion.”

  Rachel sighed. “I’m not dizzy or nauseous, and my vision is fine. The only symptom I have is a headache. It’s to be expected.”

  “At least let me call my friend who’s a doctor. I’d feel better knowing you’ve been seen by a medical professional.”

  “I don’t need a doctor. All I want is a warm bath to ease my stiff muscles and some Aleve.” She stood and walked toward the stairs.

  “Stubborn,” he murmured, and followed her.

  “I heard you,” she called over her shoulder.

  When they reached her bedroom, he helped her out of her clothes and into a robe.

  She gave him a small smile. “Not quite the seduction scene I imagined when we left the restaurant earlier.”

  He let out a sharp laugh and kissed her. “I’m glad you’re not hurt badly.”

  After filling the tub with scented salts, he eased her down into the hot fragrant water.

  Rachel leaned back against the spa pillow and closed her eyes. “This is exactly what I need.”

  He should give her some privacy, but couldn’t bring himself to leave her alone. Instead, he dragged the small vanity stool out from under the counter and sat.

  Rachel’s eyes flickered open, and she gave him an appraising glance. “It was an accident. I’m fine.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Her brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  “I mentioned at dinner the situation with the shareholders has turned nasty. What I didn’t mention is threats were made. Initially, I didn’t believe there was any truth to them, but now, I’m not sure.”

  “Nasty to the point where someone would try to kill you?”

  Ethan gave her a reluctant smile. “No. The driver veered off before he came too close to us. I think the act was meant to scare not cause bodily injury.”

  “The driver was a he?”

  Ethan nodded. “I can’t be one hundred percent sure because it was dark, but yes, I believe he was.”

  She let out a soft whistle. “Damn, Ethan.”

  “I’m sorry you were hurt.”

  “Not your fault, so stop blaming yourself.”

  “It was my fault you tripped. I shouldn’t have pulled you so hard.”

  “You were trying to save my life. I’m grateful. What happens now?”

  “I need to call the police. I got a partial plate number—”

  She shook her head. “If we involve the police, we’ll have to file a report, and I don’t want to do that, besides, if this was a deliberate act, the car was probably stolen.”

  Ethan frowned. She was probably right, but he still had to check. “I’ll contact a private investigator in the morning.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Ethan parked the SUV in the first available spot near the entrance to Grand Army Plaza.

  “Why did you park here? Isn’t the house we’re going to see on President Street?” Rachel asked beside him.

  He nodded, got out of the car and walked around to open her door. He extended a hand to help her out. “I want to walk around before we meet my real estate agent and find out what the neighborhood has to offer.”

  Rachel gave him a hesitant nod. “How much time do we have?”

  He glanced at his watch. “About half an hour, and we’re only a few blocks away from the house.”

  Her eyes darted around the area, searching the crowd.

  “Rachel?”

  She lifted troubled eyes to meet his.

  “You’re concerned someone will see us together and cause problems.”

/>   “Aren’t you? After the incident with the car the other night—”

  “Exactly. We tried sneaking around and someone still found us. If they wanted to cause trouble for you at work, they’d have already done it. I won’t hide anymore.”

  “Ethan, one of my bosses lives right around the corner…”

  He shrugged and started walking away, praying she’d follow. He shouldn’t push her, but it might be weeks or even months before the shareholders dispute was settled. Were they supposed to go on hiding indefinitely? He couldn’t and wouldn’t.

  “Where did you want to start?”

  He stopped and turned to face her.

  She gave him a hesitant smile.

  “The Farmers Market is here in the plaza today. Let’s start there.”

  “Great. Let’s go. Have you heard anything back from the investigator you hired?” she asked.

  “Nothing yet.”

  “You still believe the incident is related to the shareholder’s dispute?”

  “Yes.” Why else would someone try to frighten him?

  “Are you worried they may go after you again?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t scare easily, and I won’t be manipulated into admitting wrongdoing when there’s been none. I fully believe the outcome of this investigation will be in the bank’s favor.”

  She nodded. “I just… don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  Care and concern gleamed in her eyes and had a knot forming in his stomach. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” He smiled. “Now come on. Let’s see what the market has to offer.”

  They wandered along, stopping occasionally at various stalls to try the many samples vendors offered.

  Rachel smiled when they reached the booth carrying fresh baked goods and confections. “Ooh, can we stop here? The breads smell fantastic and there’s quite a selection.”

  Ethan nodded. “The pastry’s caught my eye.” He motioned to the vendor and pointed to a large, sugar coated apple fritter. “I’ll take one of these. Rachel?”

  Her eyes lit with pleasure. “Yes, please.”

  Ethan handed a fritter to her. “Did you want a loaf of bread as well?”

  “Yes.” She pointed to the middle shelf. “Is that cranberry walnut?” At the vendor’s nod, she added, “I’ll take a loaf.”