Stormy Passion (19 page)

He’d have to have a word with Marty
later.

If possible, Dani was prettier than he
remembered. There was that special something about Dani that made
her stand out from the crowd. That glorious blonde hair shown like
a crown above her gently curving hips, narrow waist. Yes, he could
remember every nook and cranny of her body. Those vibrant blue eyes
had been in his dreams more than once.

Adrian wondered if she had thought of him
since they had parted. He hated to admit it, but he felt more than
desire where Dani was concerned. She had a freshness about her that
he found appealing. True he hadn't called her, but then, she hadn't
called him either.

Maybe she had started dating someone else, or
weakened and gone back to that idiot, Steven. Adrian shifted in the
director's chair. Could she have forgotten about him so easily?

He watched Marty as he stood and said, “I'm
impressed, Miss Kapur. I'll go over your proposal with the
president and we’ll get back to you.” He glanced down at his watch.
“Let’s grab a bite to eat before the limo takes you to your hotel.
I want you to enjoy a night on the town compliments of The Mass
Corporation.”

“
You don't have
to.”

“
But, we insist. And here
are two tickets to the Broadway musical Steel Magnolias.” He
motioned toward the door. “I hope you know someone here that you
can take.”

“
I did know someone,” she
answered, “but I don’t know if he’d be interested.”

Adrian watched Marty and Dani as they
disappeared out the conference room door. “Oh, she knew someone,”
he said, then smiled as he loosened his tie. He quickly changed
into a casual jacket. He didn't want to look like a businessman
when he set his plans into motion.

Chapter Eleven

Nick’s Deli bustled with customers as they
were shown to a booth. Dani felt like a mouse in a maze as they
wound their way around the high-back brown booths.

When they reached a vacant one, Marty turned
and asked, “Is this all right with you?”

“
Fine, thank
you.”

Dani was worried she would have nothing to
say at lunch, but since she and Marty both came from Texas they had
quite a lot in common. Marty was a very nice man with brown hair
and green eyes. He was certainly attractive and full of energy, but
as they talked she found herself unwillingly thinking of Adrian. In
spite of the good company, he seemed to jump to the front of her
brain almost as if he were here watching her.

She smiled at Marty, all the while thinking
about another man. Once she checked into her hotel room, she'd make
her decision whether to call Adrian or not. Could she really handle
seeing Adrian again? Was the pain really worth the effort?

“
Marty!” a familiar voice
rang out from behind Dani. She jumped. As she turned to see who
stood behind her, she choked on a chunk of chicken from the
salad.

“
Adrian, good to see you,”
Marty said, extending his arm to shake hands. “Please join
us.”

Dani began coughing and gasping for air as
she waved her hand in front of her face.

“
My God, she's choking!” In
one swift motion, Adrian had jerked her from the booth and pulled
her hard against his chest. Placing his knuckle below her breast
bone, he squeezed hard.

She gasped and coughed up the offending piece
of meat. Embarrassed, she reached for the napkin to rid herself of
the morsel. Still coughing, she managed to sit back down, but not
without noticing that everyone was staring at them. Heat rose to
her eyebrows as she wiped the water from her eyes.

“
You okay, Miss Kapur?”
Marty asked while Adrian patted her on the back.

Dani nodded, still unable to speak.

“
It appears I've saved your
life once again,” Adrian commented as he handed her a glass of
water. “Here, take a couple of sips, sweetheart. It should make you
feel a little better.”

“
You two know each other?”
Marty asked.

Dani sipped the cool water, then nodded at
Marty's question still unable to speak. Of all the ways to
embarrass herself, she thought. Of course, it was all Adrian's
fault. Why did he always spring up in her life at the most
inopportune times?

“
Good.” Marty smiled. “Now
you'll have somebody to take to the musical.”

Dani cleared her throat, but her voice still
came out in a whisper, “I guess so,” she rasped, her voice oddly
hoarse. How could she do otherwise? Marty seemed to like Adrian,
and she did have two tickets. Maybe somebody up there was looking
out for her.

Marty stood. “Since you have someone who
apparently can take good care of you, Miss Kapur, I'm going to run
back to the office. I have another meeting. The limo is at your
service while you’re in New York. Here.” He handed her a cellular
phone. “Just punch two, and Henry is at your service.”

“
You have really done way
too much, but thank you,” Dani managed to get out before taking
another sip of water.

Adrian moved into Marty's seat. “Waiter,
bring the lady a cup of hot coffee.”

Dani sat back and dabbed at her eyes.
Evidently, Adrian didn't seem aware that three months had passed
since they had last spoken, because he acted like he'd just seen
her yesterday.

The waiter brought a cup of hot coffee, and
she took a sip, hoping it would relieve her hoarseness and soothe
her throat. “Small world, isn't it?” Dani tried to sound carefree,
but her statement came out forced.

“
Sure is. I never seem to
know where you're going to pop up. It's a good thing I did happened
to be here, because once again you needed saving.” Adrian leaned
over and took her hand. “Do you suppose I'm your guardian
angel?”

She pulled her hand from his grasp. “I would
have said the devil, myself.”

“
Ah, Dani. How I've missed
your sharp tongue.”

“
Evidently, you haven’t
missed me much since you haven’t bothered to call.”

“
I had a very good
reason.”

“
Yeah, sure.” Dani stood,
grabbed her coat and purse then started for the door.

Adrian reached for her, but she jerked away.
“Don't you want to hear my reason?”

“
No,” Dani said, punching
in the Limo's number. “Henry, can you pick me up at--” She turned
to look at the building.

“
Nicky's,” Adrian
supplied.

“
Nicky's,” she told the
driver.

“
Look, I told you before
that I was going through a nasty divorce. And I wanted that behind
me before I saw you again.”

She stopped at the street curb, raised her
chin and with a cool stare, she said, “No, Adrian, you never told
me anything of the sort. Now you’re telling me you were going call?
Get real.”

Adrian, his body warm and sexy loomed over
her, but instead of stepping away, Dani waited to see what he would
do. He took her face in his hands. “I really can't imagine never
seeing you again.”

His piercing blue eyes were hypnotic and she
wanted very much to believe him. There was something so damned
charming about him. Her composure slipped a notch.
Dani, girl,
you are
so hopeless,
She told herself. As the limo
pulled up, Dani jerked away from Adrian. “Don't.”

He grabbed her arm. “Listen, Dani. It's
Christmas, and you're in New York and I'm in New York. I think we
need to talk. We'll talk, but first let me show you the city. It's
much more pleasant than sitting in a cold hotel. Then we can take
in that musical, which I believe Marty told you to take me to,” he
said with a grin. “Besides, I haven't bought my mother's Christmas
present and I could use some help picking it out.”

Dani looked at his handsome features stamped
with determination. At the mere mention of Christmas his eyes
sparkled like a child's. “Don't you have to work today?”

“
No. I've got some time
off. What do you say?”

He was right about her being in a big,
unfamiliar city. And she really didn't want to sit in her room . .
. alone. “I guess so. But I've got to check into the hotel
first.”

Adrian smiled when Dani turned her back, but
that quickly faded when he saw Henry start to say something. “You
must be Henry, I'm a friend of Miss Kapur's.”

The chauffeur frowned, but Adrian gave him a
signal to play along.

After Dani checked in at the hotel desk, she
returned to Adrian, who'd taken a seat in the lobby. “Let me change
clothes and get rid of this suitcase, and then I'll be ready to see
your city.”

“
Should I come up with
you?”

Dani shook her head and held up her hand. “I
don't think that's a good idea.”

Adrian’s dark brow flicked upward with
amusement. “Afraid to take a chance?”

Dani smiled at him. She couldn't help herself
when he was this charming. He could charm the pants off anyone as
she could testify. “The last time I took a chance--I nearly
drowned,” she pointed out, then turned toward the elevators before
he could respond.

Quickly, she changed into her white wool
slacks, silver sweater and tennis shoes. Grabbing a silver ball
cap, and heavy jacket, she headed for the door.

She really wasn't sure that spending time
with Adrian was such a good idea, but then again maybe it was. She
had to decide if she was going to tell him about the baby. She'd
keep everything on the light side, and she definitely wouldn't fall
willingly into his arms again.

True she might love him, but he'd never given
her any indication that she was anything more than a bed partner.
And Dani didn't want someone popping in and out of her life. She
wanted someone who would make a commitment.

He stood when Dani approached him, and she
couldn't help thinking he'd take any woman's breath away. He had a
supreme sense of confidence about him that she liked. He gave her a
sweeping appraisal from her head to her toes, and Dani shivered
with delight.

Adrian's casual dress made her think of the
beach. He was dressed in an oatmeal-colored sweater, brown slacks,
and a chocolate brown coat.

“
Why don't we walk to
Macy's?” Adrian said. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he took
her elbow. “I could use the fresh air and exercise.”

“
I'd like that,” Dani said,
then shrugged into her nylon bright pink jacket. A wool jacket
would probably be better but she didn’t have one.

“
Every pick-pocket in town
will be able to see you coming,” Adrian said. “But I have to admit
that color is becoming.”

“
Thank you,” Dani said
easily. “If I'm accosted, I have you to protect me, so I'm not
worried.” The words had tumbled from her mouth so easily, but the
truth was she really did feel safe when Adrian was near
her.

“
But who is going to
protect me?”

She smiled. “You don't need protecting.”

“
That's where you might be
wrong, Dani.”

She realized that his words held a double
meaning, but she didn't comment as they left the hotel.

“
Time Square. I never
thought I'd see it in person.”

“
It’s impressive,” Adrian
said. “Did you know that Broadway is one of the longest streets in
the world?”

As they walked down the crowded street, Dani
said. “It's very crowded. Even the sidewalks are almost as bad as
the streets. I feel like I'm going to be run over at any moment.”
She turned and pointed toward the busy thoroughfare. “Just look at
that traffic jam.”

Adrian chuckled. “I've never thought about
it, but there is one difference.”

“
What's that?”

“
The human's don't have
horns.”

“
Thank goodness,” Dani
laughed. “I decided on the way into the city that no one in New
York can drive without a working horn in their vehicle.

They crossed at the curb and continued down
Broadway.

“
I must say the stores are
certainly decorated prettily,” Dani commented.

“
Do you have plans for
Christmas?” Adrian asked.

“
Not many. I told my mother
I'd go home for Christmas.”

“
Sounds nice. It’ll give
you a chance to compete with your brother and sister.”

“
Don't remind me,” Dani
said with a half-laugh. “But this year is different.”

Adrian wasn't so sure he liked the way she
said that. Could she have met somebody in the last three months?
That was a thought he didn't find appealing. “You don't look any
different,” he teased, trying not to demand what was different.

She stopped walking, drawing his attention.
“You're looking at an independent business woman.” Dani smiled,
took his hand and they moved on. “I started my own advertising
agency.”

Adrian let out a puff of pent up air. He
didn’t realize he’d been holding his breath.
That was
all
, he thought, then remembered he wasn't supposed to know
about her business. “Congratulations,” he said projecting
excitement in his voice. “If we were not walking down the street,
I'd give you a kiss.”

“
In that case it's better
we're moving,” she said. “I'm not killing the world with my
business, but I'm slowly growing and if I land the deal I came here
to promote, things will be a little easier.”

Adrian hoped that she did land his account,
but he was a businessman first, and he'd have to listen to the
other proposals and give them all a fair chance. He also hoped he
knew what he was doing. His instincts warned him that Dani was
going to be a complication. It seemed when he was around her he did
things he normally would not do.