Entangled Hearts (18 page)

“Yet.”

“What do you mean, yet?”

“Lucas, c'mon. I'm your boy. I know when you have the hots for a babe and you want that broad real bad.”

Lucas turned away, not because he was lying, but because he was telling the truth. He just refused to give Eli the satisfaction. It was his and Chynna's personal business if they chose to take their relationship to the next level. He certainly hoped so. Since she'd returned from Arizona, he'd had a raging hard-on. Not to mention the jealousy when he'd burst into Chynna's trailer to see Lamar manhandling her. He'd had to curb his desire to beat the crap out of that wanna-be Michael Jackson.

“You, “Lucas said, spinning around to face his oldest friend, “need to mind your own business.”

“Hide it if you want,” Eli said. “Won't change the facts that you got it bad.” He started singing the Usher song
“
U Got It Bad” and moonwalking across the floor.

Lucas couldn't resist a chuckle. He could never stay mad at Eli for too long, even when he'd made some mistakes at the outset of starting the company. Eli had promised he would keep his eye on the ball, and he hadn't let him down since.

“Whatever, man,” Lucas said. “Just don't pull any more stunts, ya hear?” He left Eli several minutes later in search of Chynna, but when he arrived at her trailer, he found it empty.

“Where's Chynna?” he asked Daisy, her makeup stylist who was packing up.

“Oh, she just left in the limo,” Daisy said. “Appeared to be in a hurry.”

Probably to get away from him, Lucas thought. But he'd had enough of their cat-and-mouse game. He was going to take a cue from Eli's playbook and take action.

The following day, he contacted Fiona and Deacon to finally arrange that date at Spago for him and Chynna, so they could be seen in public as a couple. It was a plausible excuse that would give Lucas time alone with Chynna without her entourage. But rather than tell Chynna about it, he'd informed Fiona that he wanted it to be a surprise. Better to catch Chynna off-guard than leave her with time to try and get out of their date. Fiona had been ecstatic as she'd been trying to arrange it since their return from New York. The only thing she didn't know is that he intended to take his and Chynna's relationship from public to personal—very personal.

When he showed up to Chynna's estate in his Ferrari, the security guard told him that it was Chynna's day off and that she was not seeing visitors, but Lucas was not taking “no” for an answer. He was determined to finish what they'd started that night in the limo after his birthday party.
He used strong-arm tactics to convince the guard to let him in against Chynna's wishes, which is why Chynna swung open the door in a sexy cami and boy shorts and looked disgruntled.

“I told you I didn't want ...” Her voice trailed off when she saw Lucas standing on the other side of the door. “What are
you
doing here?”

“
I came to take you out on that date,” Lucas said, eyeing her in the shorts that showed off her ample, but toned, thighs—thighs he wanted wrapped around him tonight.

“Date?” She looked perplexed.

He was sure she was racking her brain, trying to see if she'd forgotten an appointment.

“Our public date that Fiona planned for Spago,” he offered.

“But we hadn't set a date yet.”

“We have now.” He stepped past her and into the foyer.

“I didn't invite you in.”

“I invited myself.”

Chynna folded her arms across her chest. “I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in going out tonight. I've rather had enough of putting myself on show recently.”

“Put on whatever you want,” Lucas said. “Whatever you'll be comfortable in, but we're going out. Me and you. No entourage.”

She tried to interrupt him with “buts,” but he ignored her. “Go put something on.” He pushed her toward the grand staircase. “I'll be here waiting for you.”

Chynna stood firmly in the middle of the foyer, pouting.

“I'm not leaving here without you,” Lucas said, “so you might as well go get dressed.”

She sighed heavily, but eventually spun on her heel and began running up the stairs. She must have known she couldn't be caught dead not looking her best because she slipped into an animal print sheath dress and grabbed her Missoni coat and Jimmy Choo clutch. Her hair was piled high in a simple, sleek ponytail.

“This is as good as it's going to get,” Chynna said when she descended the staircase, fifteen minutes later.

After he'd assessed her for several long moments, he said, “You look beautiful in anything you wear.” And he meant every word. She looked young and sweet and sexy at the same time.

“C'mon.” He grabbed her by the hand and led her out to his Ferrari. He was excited about the wonderful evening he had planned as he opened the door and she slid inside. She was his prisoner for the night, and she had no idea that tonight would be the night they became lovers.

The paparazzi were hot on their heels for the first few miles, but Lucas knew he could lose them in his Ferrari. So when they drove up to valet parking outside Spago, they were paparazzi-free.

After the valet had taken Lucas's keys with a terse warning from him to be careful, Lucas led her inside. The maître ď sat them in a private booth to enjoy their meal in peace. Soon, the waiter was returning with a bottle of Cristal, which Lucas nodded for him to open.

Lucas picked up his glass first. “To a great evening.”

Kenya managed a tremulous smile, even though her heart was thudding and hadn't settled into a natural rhythm since he'd showed up unannounced at her door. “To a great evening.” She clicked her flute against his.

“You know, you can relax,” Lucas said, sitting back against the booth's cushions and assessing her frankly. “I'm not going to bite unless you want me to.”

“I'll be sure and let you know when I'm ready for you to,” she surprised herself by saying.

Lucas grinned broadly and took a sip of his champagne. “I think tonight is going to be a great night.”

And to Kenya's surprise, it was. Once the champagne had begun to work its magic and ease her nerves at being alone with a man she was immensely attracted to, the conversation flowed easily. And the food ... well, Kenya enjoyed every bit of her sweet corn soup, fresh vegetable salad and wild king salmon while Lucas had indulged in soft shell crab and a dry-aged New York steak from the famous restaurant.

They talked about music and shared a love of a variety of it, from jazz to country to rhythm and blues. Eventually they talked about the movie Chynna was filming and how much she didn't care for acting.

“But it's a natural step for you in today's market,” Lucas said.

“I know that. But it doesn't come easy for me.”

“You convinced Carter Wright to keep you.”

“That's because my back was against the wall, and I always come out fighting.”

“You impressed me.”

Kenya laughed. “And after all these years I thought that was an impossible task.”

Eventually, their conversation flowed to a more personal nature, and Lucas shared with her his roots and upbringing.

“It wasn't easy getting out of South Central,” he said. “The odds were in my favor of becoming another statistic of a young black man in jail, but I had a different future in mind. Going to college and getting a degree were part of it.”

“What made you decide to get into the record business versus going corporate after you got your MBA? The music business can be so fickle.”

“In one word ... Eli,” Lucas said. “The man had been singing and dancing since we were kids. When were in high school, Eli could always spot when someone had talent. He formed his own band, and I even thought they might get picked for a record label themselves, but that day never materialized. When I graduated UCLA, Eli pitched starting a record label together. It was a long shot, I knew. But then again, my getting out of South Central alive with no babies with a degree in my hand had been too.”

“So you took a chance?” Kenya asked.

Lucas nodded. “And it paid off big-time. Signing you was one of the best moves Eli ever made.”

Kenya nodded. “You're right about that. You snapped me up before any of the big boys could get to me.”

“And I'm glad we did.” Lucas studied her face unhurriedly
.

“What?” she asked. She could see he was deep in thought, but about what she didn't know.

“I've underestimated you,” he said, finally. “Always thought you were all flash and sass, but you've surprised me in so many ways.” His eyes raked over her boldly as he leaned closer on the table toward her. “There are so many different sides to you that I feel like I've barely touched the surface.”

It had been a long time since a man had looked at her the way Lucas was doing at that moment. He was making her feel special and desirable, which is why, in an uncharacteristic move, she scooted toward him in the booth, wrapped one arm around his neck and pulled him closer.

She stared deep into his eyes for a long moment, trying to assess if she could trust him ... if she could trust herself. Finding her answer, she boldly pressed her lips against his. She stroked them softly until he pulled her more firmly to him.

Their mouths melded together, each giving and taking what the other offered—lips, tongues and more. It was a sweet, sensuous kiss that seemed to last forever. When they finally pulled apart, they were breathless.

“What do you say we get out of here?” Lucas whispered huskily.

Kenya nodded. Her mind told her to wait and be cautious, but her body was aflame and it was time she finally put out the spark.

After he took care of the bill, Lucas slowly rose to his feet and held out his hand to help her up. Brushing her dress when she stood, Kenya suddenly felt self-conscious that she'd just agreed to go to bed with Lucas. Apparently, he had no qualms. Touching the back of her spine, he propelled her forward and outside the hotel where his Ferrari awaited them.

The ride to Lucas's penthouse was quiet yet fraught with sexual tension. Kenya didn't know who was more nervous—her or Lucas. Or maybe it was just excitement. It certainly was for her. It had been several years since she'd been with a man. Her last relationship had ended with a sputter because Jason hadn't been the “one” for her. Although they'd enjoyed each other's company and liked the same activities, there just wasn't a spark between them. When Kenya had eventually ended the relationship, there hadn't been any crying or theatrics. They'd parted as friends, wishing each other the best of luck.

That wasn't the kind of relationship Kenya wanted. She wanted fire and passion. Sparks. She certainly had those with Lucas. She wasn't sure if there was more beyond the physical attraction, though tonight he had shown her there was a lighter, more fun side to him than she'd imagined.

When the car came to a stop in front of his modern two-story duplex, Kenya's nerves suddenly attacked. Her stomach clenched, and she could feel her pulse racing.

As if sensing her uneasiness, Lucas turned to her but didn't shut off the engine. Kenya looked down at the car floor. “Look at me, Chynna.”

Slowly, her eyes rose to meet his dark gaze. “I want to sleep with you, Chynna. There's no denying that, but this has to be consensual. If you come upstairs with me, you need to be sure this is want you want. Otherwise, if you're having second thoughts, I can turn the car around and take you home.”

His words were so sincere and his gaze so honest that any fear or doubts Kenya had slipped away. Somehow she found her voice and said, “I want you too.”

Lucas smiled that devilishly handsome smile that made her heart go pitter-pat, and he turned off the engine.

Several minutes later, they'd walked the stairs to his condo and just as he opened the door, he pulled her into his arms and spun her inside. He backed her against the door as he shut it and kissed her until she was dizzy with passion. She didn't have time to recover from his assault before he was pulling at the Missoni coat she wore and tossing it to the floor.

Kenya lifted her legs around his waist, and Lucas caught her in his arms and carried her through the condo. She assumed they were heading into his bedroom, but instead he lowered her onto the rug in the center of the living room.

Before joining her on the rug, he looked down at her. “You have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?”

Even though she knew he thought he was talking to Chynna, she loved being complimented. Although Chynna had always been in the limelight and called one of the most beautiful women in the world in magazines, Kenya had never thought of herself as beautiful. It was funny given that they shared the same face. Maybe people were right about the self-confidence thing—how it could make you appear more beautiful.