Chapter 3

“Twenty minutes,” Adam muttered under his breath as he glanced at the watch on his wrist and tapped the table nervously. He had chosen a table to give him a vantage position at the entrance. He wanted to see Veronica walk in. He knew she was going to come. Her clicking heels gave her away.

He looked up and struggled to swallow the lump in his throat. There she was; she wore a black silk dress that ended just before her knee. Her hair was let down all around her face, giving off a sexy, vibrant look. Her legs traveled down her shapely thighs to the black stilettos on her feet.

It rocked him again, that feeling of déjà vu. He thought he had seen her somewhere in the past — New York?

He stopped thinking as she scanned the faces of the diners, and when their eyes met, she lifted a hand in the air and moved over to join him. Many of the men in the cozy restaurant looked up at her silhouette as she walked past, and he felt a warm glow of pride spreading on his face.

“This had better be important,” she said as she settled into a seat, dropping her gold clutch on the table. He took a peep at her manicured fingers. Her fingernails were coated in red. The color of passion.

Red… had a quick thrust in the bedroom. Her red panties were discarded on the floor.

He shook his head and cleared the lustful thought away. He looked at the woman before him. She looked breathtakingly pretty and… familiar.

“You look beautiful, Veronica.”

“I’m not here for your compliments. I got your message,” she hissed. Her eyes gave away her anger.

He had worked out an elaborate plan to get Veronica Hussey to meet him. He had telephoned a man in France, Leonardo. He was a celebrity jeweler, and Adam had been his favorite customer. He had called in a favor and transferred half a million dollars to an account belonging to a children’s charity fund. Veronica was on the board of trustees. Things had been easier from that point. He had insisted on a dinner date as a thank you from her.

“Thank you for coming. We need to talk.” She darted her lips to the corners of her mouth, and he was drawn to the succulent moist of her lips. She wore no lipstick, and he found that thought tempting.

“Cut the bullshit, Adam. You made a huge donation to the NGO, and now you want us to pretend you aren’t here to talk me into marrying you.”

He lifted a brow, amazed at her cool. “I want to marry you, Veronica Hussey.”

She rolled her eyes dramatically. Just at that moment, the waitress arrived with the drinks. Adam sat watching her as she poured the red wine into their glasses. After the waitress left, Veronica continued.

“What is this about? You are bankrupt, and suddenly you are in love with me?” Adam shifted in his seat and fixed his eyes on hers.

“I’m not in love with you, Veronica.”

She blinked rapidly as though surprised at his words. She opened her mouth to talk, but then she closed it. “If you don’t love me, then why am I here?”

He decided this was the time to lay his cards on the table. Adam took a sip of his wine and exhaled.

Here we go…

“Your father wants me to marry you for some big favor. Something bad is happening, and right now, I don’t have a hang of it. I need to get my life back.”

“And I have to lose mine. I’m not interested in you. You are surely not my type.” She picked up her wine glass and sniffed the liquid before taking a sip. It was elegant and a little erotic. He smiled ruefully and thought about kissing her lips.

Maybe a kiss would change her mind about me.

“This marriage will benefit both of us. I know your father doesn’t think you can run his business. I think you can.”

She looked up quickly. “Is this some sort of trap?”

Adam smiled sarcastically. “No. When you become my wife, I will ensure your father places you at the helm of affairs, where you truly belong.” He saw her eyes widen and her breath hitched up.

“Even if you propose a marriage of convenience, there should be a measure of affection in the union. My first impression about you isn’t pretty,” she said with a self-assured smile.

He ran a lazy look down her body, taking in the swell of her breast and the mole beside her aquiline nose.

That mole! He had seen it before, somewhere.

“I intend for this marriage to be fully consummated. You are breathtakingly beautiful, and I’m going to have a hard time fighting my hands to stay still around you.”

She gasped, and Adam could see a tinge of red on her face. The icy queen was blushing.

“Consummation?” she sneered. “We aren’t even married yet. Don’t get so confident now.”

He chuckled like she was joking. “We are going to be married pretty soon, Veronica.”

“You will have to make me say yes to you first.”

“How about I start now?” he said as he placed his palm upright before her.

“What? Are you asking for a dance?” He could see a faint smile at the corner of her mouth.

“Let me try and change your mind with a dance.” She slipped her hands into his big rough ones. Her palm was cold, and he felt a familiar tremor run through his body.

“Who are you, Veronica?”

He took her to the dance floor. The band played a slow love song, and as he drew her into the space in his arms, the lights dimmed.