More Than You Know by Jennifer Gracen (4)

Chapter Four

Julia made her way up the two flights of steep stairs to her apartment, straining from the weight of the four bags of groceries she carried along with her pocketbook. This was one of the times she hated living on the middle floor of an old house.

She dropped the bags with a thud in front of her door, searched her pocketbook, found her keys, and unlocked her door. After kicking the door shut behind her with her foot, she dragged the bags into the kitchen and started unpacking the items into the refrigerator and tiny closet she used as a pantry.

She’d lived there for a decade already. It had been twelve years since she’d left Boston and moved back to Long Island. At first, she’d shared an apartment with Kelvin over in Edgewater. He’d moved to New York with her, unwilling to leave her when she was so alone and at rock bottom. Between her emotional devastation at the hands of her ex, breaking away from her unsympathetic family, and her small income, having a roommate helped her slowly get back on her feet. He worked several gigs on Long Island and in Manhattan, piecing together enough to be able to live on his earnings. She found a quiet office job and a good therapist. For two years, they lived together, until she’d healed enough for him to feel she was fine on her own. He moved to Astoria, and she moved to Blue Harbor.

She loved Blue Harbor, with its seaside New England–type charm. A sleepy town dotted with tiny shops, restaurants, boutiques, and charming old houses, she’d dreamed of living there as a kid. Now, completely on her own, she could. Her landlords, a kind couple twenty years her senior, owned the tremendous old house and lived on the bottom floor. She rented the second floor, and another tenant lived on the top floor. She felt safe there. It was quiet, and although she was alone, there were people nearby.

When the last of the groceries were stashed away, she washed her hands and looked around. She’d given notice at her job the day before, and in a show of petulant anger, her shortsighted boss had told her to just leave. It had been sad to say such a rushed good-bye to her coworkers, but as she’d left the gray, stifling office, she’d done so with a smile and a rush of elation. The new chapter of her life was going to be exciting. Getting paid to do what she loved most, and getting paid handsomely. But she wouldn’t be starting the job at the hotel for another two weeks. Her errands all completed, she found herself with nothing to do. It was a strange, almost unsettling feeling.

Leaning against the small table that was shoved against the wall, she drank down a glass of water and looked to the window. It was a beautiful afternoon. Golden sunlight poured in through the gauzy white curtain, splashing on the three pots of African violets on the windowsill and bouncing off the pale yellow walls. She moved to the living room and turned on the air conditioner wedged into one of the two windows. It started to hum and she sank down onto her couch. A glance at the answering machine showed no messages. She reached for her Kindle, curled up into the cushions, and played a few rounds of Words With Friends with the random strangers she’d challenged.

After the games were finished, she sighed. At this time tomorrow, she’d be in the city, getting a personal tour of the new hotel from its debonair, charming, and gorgeous owner. Thoughts of Dane Harrison floated into her mind, but she swatted them away. It was a shame, because she would have loved a few rounds of sheet gymnastics with him. But no, that would never happen.

What to do? Randi was at work, and Kelvin was spending the day at the beach with his new boyfriend. Though she was a voracious reader, she didn’t feel like reading. She didn’t mind being alone, she’d gotten used to it over the years. But sometimes she longed for company. Restlessness, laced with threads of anxiety, stirred inside her. She looked around aimlessly at the periwinkle walls, the framed artwork, her bookshelf, her few precious framed photos on the top shelf. She’d done her best to make her home feel cozy and warm. But there were times she couldn’t escape the quiet emptiness there, the loneliness of her life. And suddenly, this was one of them.

With new determination, she rose from the couch and went to her bedroom. She stripped out of her sundress and changed into a tank top and loose shorts. The SPF 70 sunblock was in her small bathroom, and she slathered it all over her arms, legs, chest, face, every inch of pale skin that was exposed. She grabbed her big floppy sun hat, her iPod, and her keys, and left to go for a walk down by the water. The sight and sounds of the Long Island Sound always had a way of soothing her soul. She’d just make sure to stay away from the park; the sound of happy children playing would break her heart when she was in a melancholy mood like this.

 

 

The next day, as Julia emerged from the cab, her heart began to beat a little faster. Excitement and anticipation fired up all her senses. It was a gorgeous early June day in New York City, warm but not too hot yet, with the sun shining from a clear, bright blue sky. A few trees dotted the length of the sidewalk, and a soft breeze made the emerald leaves flutter and sway. The cacophony of city sounds—traffic, horns blowing, human voices—seemed to fade around her as she looked up at the entrance to the impressive soon-to-open Hotel Alexandra.

This was really happening.

She removed her wide sunglasses and tucked them into her large shoulder bag, shuffling around inside it for a mint. As she chewed it up quickly, she tried to calm her suddenly rapid breathing and swept her hair back from her face. The contracts had been signed and delivered two weeks before, her photo shoot and press kit arranged and completed the week before. In two short weeks, she’d be the headlining singer at this sleek Manhattan hotspot. It was surreal. Her head hadn’t stopped spinning. And now, between the warm weather, her meager breakfast, and her nerves, she wondered if she’d even make it through the tour of the hotel Dane had invited her for—maybe she’d pass out instead.

She pushed her way through the glass revolving door and into the lobby. Thankfully, it was cool, the welcome air conditioning flowing over her skin. She crossed the lushly carpeted floor to the main desk, smiling at the woman behind it. “Hi. I’m looking for Dane Harrison. I’m supposed to meet him here.”

“Ms. Shay?” the woman asked.

“That’s me.”

“He was here five minutes ago, but had to take a call. He asked if you’d be kind enough to wait and he’d be right back.”

“Sure. Could you just point me toward a ladies’ room while I wait?”

Julia took the opportunity to survey her surroundings as she headed to the restroom. This would be her workplace, after all. From what she could see, the hotel was striking. Modern but not trendy, everything from the luxurious furnishings to the décor spoke of crisp elegance, style, taste, and big-time bucks. Dane Harrison had obviously spared no expense in the design and decorating of his newest hotel.

She washed her hands, fixed her hair, and touched up her makeup. The slight humidity in the summer air had made the waves in her hair more pronounced, but at least the expensive product she’d used had tamed the deadly frizz she’d suffered from as a kid. Her clothes had barely wrinkled, for which she was grateful. The sleeveless royal blue silk top and white pencil skirt still looked fresh. Her open-toe white wedge sandals were comfortable but attractive. She took a deep breath, released it, and stared into the mirror.

Her eyes took on an energized sparkle and her chin lifted a notch as she popped another mint into her mouth. Let’s do this.

She left the restroom to return to the lobby. Halfway across, she stopped in her tracks. Dane was standing by the large wall of windows that looked out to the street beyond. Sunlight shone through the glass, backlighting him dramatically. His dark curls were just a bit too long for business standards, and she had a feeling he liked it that way. His square jaw was covered with light stubble, another poke at the business world, letting everyone know that he was a man who did as he pleased. It also made him even sexier, damn him. Standing tall and sure, his trim frame dressed in a crisp white button-down shirt and dark gray slacks, he was even more handsome than she’d remembered. He was breathtaking, actually. Just looking at him made all her body parts jump to life, made her blood sing in her veins and her skin tingle. Ohhh, this was not good. She couldn’t have such visceral reactions every time she saw this man. He was her boss now.

He spotted her across the lobby and flashed a grin. She swallowed hard as a wallop of heat spread through her. A grin like that should be registered as a lethal weapon. With all of her senses heightened and her head screaming red alert, she pulled out her most professional smile and crossed the rest of the way to meet him.

“Great to see you again, Julia,” Dane said. “Glad you could come.” His brilliant blue eyes swept over her briefly. There was both quick approval and the ever-present spark of light amusement there, like he had a joke or a secret to share. She wanted to be let in on that secret. She wanted a lot of things where this man was concerned, and all of them were naughty, if not downright wicked. He stretched out a welcoming hand.

She slipped her hand into his to shake it and felt a jolt of desire as she touched his warm skin, like she’d read about in books. Her hormones raged like a teen’s, and that jarred her. But with measured cool, she said, “Likewise. Thanks for asking me. I really wanted to get a feel for the setup of the lounge. I appreciate your taking the time to show me around. I’m sure you’re very busy.”

“I am, but not too busy for this. It’ll be a pleasure.” His grin widened into a proud smile as his eyes flickered around the lobby, then back to her. “So? What do you think so far?”

“Your lobby and ladies’ room are both magnificent,” she teased.

He laughed and touched a hand to the small of her back. “Wait ’til you see the rest of it.”

His tiny but intimate gesture kindled flames of lust in her, sending heat to all her most sensitive spots. Oh, what she could do with this man under different circumstances. Five years plus of an age difference didn’t make her a cougar, did it? So what if it did. She didn’t care. Being near him was excruciating, making every nerve ending alert and alive, and the growing, tingling tension building low in her belly was making its way to between her legs. The effect he had on her was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. Kelvin had been right: pure chemistry. She ignored the way her heart was pounding in heavy thumps as they walked side by side down a long hallway.

“So,” she said, desperate to get her mind off her wayward thoughts. “Why’d you name this hotel the Alexandra?”

His smile was tinged with affection as he said, “It’s my sister’s middle name.”

Something tugged at Julia’s heart. She smiled back. “That’s . . . sweet. You’re close with her, then?”

“Very. Tess is the best. I’ll introduce you to her at the hotel opening.” Dane turned and led her down another hallway. She took the moment to quickly check out his ass, which was a very nice one indeed.

The Alexandra Bar & Lounge had wide glass doors, hinting at the darker lair beyond. She stopped in her tracks. Beside the entrance was a blown-up photo on a stand, one of her publicity shots, announcing her as the main act inside. She stared at it. It was so . . . professional. Glitzy. Polished. For a second, she felt like a star. And dammit, it felt good.

“You approve?” Dane asked from behind her.

“Yes.” She could feel him watching her, taking in her reactions. Nodding, she said, “It’s nice. I like the shot you chose.”

“It was hard to choose,” he said, his deep voice warm, just above her ear. Even in her three-inch wedge sandals, he towered over her. “All the shots were good. Seriously. The camera loves you.” She looked up at him, and though he wore an easy grin, his eyes glittered at her with a hint of sin. “And that’s more than a ‘nice’ shot, Julia. It’s gorgeous. Just like you.”

“Thank you,” she said demurely. He stood close enough that the faintest scent of his cologne teased her, sparking new fires in her body. Slightly spicy, it wasn’t overpowering, it was just a hint—just enough to make everything tingle with desire.

“Come on inside.” He opened one of the doors and ushered her in.

Her breath caught. This place was fabulous. Modern, stylish, and cool. Little round tables with curved-back chairs dotted the front of the room, the lounge area. Then there was more open floor space by the bar, and along the back wall, six deep, cozy booths, with seats covered in dark brown leather. Julia followed Dane farther into the room. Low lighting from funky fixtures above illuminated the room, except for the bar itself—eight or ten shelves held every kind of top liquor there was, backlit against mirrors. And at the front of the lounge area was what would be her domain: a small rectangular stage, not too highly elevated, to promote some intimacy with the audience. It was mostly filled by a black Steinway piano.

“You like it?” Dane asked casually, peering at her.

“Yes, I do,” she said, understating it by a mile. It was amazing. She already loved it. She could imagine what it would be like when filled, crackling with lively late-night energy. A respectable, upscale place, a place to be proud to sing in, with Kelvin at her back . . . it was going to be very enjoyable indeed to work here. “How many does the lounge hold?”

“A hundred. And room for over a hundred more in the bar.”

She nodded and stepped up to the stage, turned to face the room, and took in the view from her vantage point. She felt like she’d just stepped up on an Olympic podium to accept a gold medal. “Nice.” Her eyes flickered to Dane. “The aesthetics are great, but how are the acoustics?”

He frowned. “Not sure what you mean.”

“You don’t have a mic here, do you?”

“It’s somewhere in the back. I can go look for it if you like,” he offered.

“Not necessary.” She swallowed to clear and wet her throat, drew a deep breath, closed her eyes, and started to sing.

Dane stood mesmerized as Julia belted out two lines from a song he didn’t know. Her voice was full, rich, and dazzling. He’d heard her sing before, of course. But watching her up onstage alone, singing without accompaniment and hitting every note right on target, with ease and passion . . . he felt like someone had punched him in the gut.

He’d never been the groupie type, but suddenly he understood the phenomenon. Julia’s natural talent made her even more attractive to him. He wanted her to sing to him, seduce him personally with that voice. What a gift.

She stopped as she’d started, quickly and without warning. “It’ll work,” she said simply, and stepped down from the stage.

“Yes. It. Will.” Dane felt a bit hazy. “What was that song? I don’t know it.”

“Annie Lennox. ‘Dark Road.’ One of my favorites.” She passed him to head back toward the bar.

“Add it to your set list,” he commanded.

“Already on it, Boss.”

He watched her stroll around the space, examining details and taking it all in. His eyes greedily rolled over her curves. “Think Kelvin will like it here too?” He didn’t really care, but had to keep the conversation flowing before he did something stupid with his newest, red-hot employee.

“Absolutely,” Julia said. “He’s very easygoing. He only comes off like a diva.”

Dane laughed. “So who’s the diva, then? You?”

“Nooo,” she said, unable to hold back a grin. “I’m no diva. You don’t have to worry.” She took a seat on one of the barstools, covered in the same dark brown leather as the booths.

“Good to know,” Dane said, taking a seat beside her. He leaned an elbow on the bar, mirroring her. “Okay, so you’re not a diva. You’re tough as hell, though. How come?”

“How come?” she echoed, looking at him strangely. “Um . . . life?”

“Okay.” Dane let that go. For now. “I meant to ask you last week, forgive me—is there anyone you want to invite to the grand opening?”

“I’ll be working, won’t I?” Julia asked, confused.

“Yes, you will. Doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some of the party before you start. You don’t go on until ten. You should mingle, work the room.” He kept his grin easy as his gaze sharpened. “So no one you want to invite? Family? Friends? A boyfriend?”

Julia snorted out a laugh. “Really?” She shook her head and said, somewhat bemused, “That’s your idea of a fishing expedition? Jeez.”

He stared at her in mild disbelief. “Excuse me?”

“If you want to ask about my personal life, just freakin’ ask.”

Her way of cutting right to the point threw him, and he wasn’t a man who was easily thrown. He’d have to get used to being on his toes around her. Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. “Fine. Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Are you married?”

“No,” she said, with more of an edge.

“Do you have any family locally that you’d like to invite?”

“Nope.” She met his eyes. “You’ve got money and means. You’ve probably checked out my entire life history already. What are you looking for?”

Affronted, he frowned. “You’re right, I could have done that if I’d wanted to. I didn’t. I only checked what was necessary for your professional life, not your personal life. That’s your business, not mine. I’m not like that. Okay?”

She pressed her lips together and nodded.

His head cocked to the side as he studied her. “Do you believe me?”

She regarded him in silence for a long moment before saying, “I don’t trust anyone until they’ve proven to me that I can. Don’t take it personally. It’s not you.”

Watching her keenly, he only nodded, filing that away.

“I’d like to invite my best friend, Randi, and her husband,” Julia said, closing the tense gap. “Is that all right?”

“Of course. Give me the names and address, consider it done. Anyone else?”

“Nope.” She slid off the barstool. “Do I have a dressing room?”

“Absolutely.” Dane stood and escorted her behind the stage, down a short hallway to the room at the end. He opened the door for her and stepped aside. “Ladies first.”

She moved past him into the small but elegant room. Dane had ensured that the mirror on the wall was well lit, the counter attached to it wide enough to hold makeup, a drink, whatever she wanted, and the chair was comfortable. The walls had been painted taupe and the carpet was a rich brown, adding warmth to the room. Two chocolate-colored leather sofas lined opposite walls; a large vase of freshly cut flowers sat on the long glass coffee table between them.

He watched her face as she took it in. “You like it?”

“I do,” she answered simply. She offered a smile. And that was it.

He’d been hoping for a more enthusiastic response, but swatted away the flicker of annoyance. Julia wasn’t the type of woman to squeal like a fangirl over a nice room, even though he’d made sure it was nice solely for her enjoyment. He wondered what would get her to drop her guard around him, to express more emotion than cool respect, quiet gratitude, or wary mistrust.

On the back wall, opposite the vanity, was a closet door. Dane went and opened it to show her what was inside. “These are yours.”

Julia had an odd look on her face that he couldn’t read. Was she happy? Unhappy? Pissed off? She kept her cards so goddamn close to the vest.

“What’s in there?” she asked.

“Your wardrobe,” he said, opening the door as wide as it could go. “Dresses.” He grinned at her. “They don’t bite. Come take a look.”

She approached the closet slowly. He could see the curiosity in her eyes that she was trying so damn hard to hide from him. That . . . and a hint of wonder. A flicker of vulnerability. Ah, hell. His heart twinged in his chest.

He moved to give her room. “This is a good start, I think. You don’t need to do any wardrobe changes each night, this isn’t Vegas. One dress per night is fine. You gave my assistant, Elise Cannon, your measurements, and then she did the heavy lifting. But between you and me, I think she had fun doing it.”

“I’m glad,” Julia murmured. Focused on the dresses now, she reached out to touch them. There were about a dozen hanging there. Black, midnight blue, royal blue, deep purple, emerald green, hunter green. Silk, cotton, beads, sequins. All of them stunning. “You had all of these made for me?”

“Yes.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her. “I hired you. I need to make sure you look your best.”

“That must’ve been pricey.”

“Not your concern. Just wear them well.”

She glanced at him, then back to the dresses. “I’ve never had a wardrobe purchased for me for a job before. Much less anything like this. I . . . wow. Thank you.”

Her eyes met his again for a long beat, and he saw there what her quietly spoken words had given away. She was genuinely moved. Possibly even a bit overwhelmed. It was a moment of softness he hadn’t seen in her before now, and something in his heart pinged again. He smiled and said warmly, “You’re welcome. My pleasure.”

She broke the intense gaze and looked back at the dresses.

“I’m sure you’ll look gorgeous in all of them.” He let his eyes glide over her hourglass figure. The word goddess flashed in his head. “But if you don’t like any of them, tell me, we’ll send them back and get different ones. Don’t be shy about that.” He moved closer and lifted her chin with a fingertip, looking down at her. She stilled beneath his touch. “Julia, I want you to feel beautiful up there. If you feel like a gorgeous queen, it’ll come across. That’s what I want.”

Her hazel eyes shone and glimmered as she met his gaze. “Is that all you want?” she murmured provocatively.

Heat flooded his body, lust ruled him without mercy. Goddamn. “No, that’s not all I want,” he murmured back. Their eyes locked and held. Her softness was gone, replaced by a flirty sensuality. He took another step closer. “You are a vile temptress.”

She smirked and purred, “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

Her husky voice sent shimmers of desire through him. He let his finger trail along her smooth jaw. His eyes fell to her mouth, those lush, inviting lips so close. “We can’t do this, you know.”

“Of course not,” she said. Her voice didn’t waver, but she didn’t step back from him. “You’re my boss. I’m not stupid. I plan to keep my job.”

“And you will.” His heart started pounding against his ribs. He dragged his finger down her soft, pale neck . . . slowly, teasing. He let that fingertip wander back up the side of her throat. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t break their gaze. “You . . . are incredibly sexy, Julia. You drive men wild. And you know it.”

“Maybe a little.” Something flamed in her eyes. “Is that why you hired me? I thought it was because of my voice.”

“It was both,” he said flatly. “You have an amazing voice. And you’re unbelievably hot.”

Her mouth curved up. “Thank you. But I’ve gotta tell ya . . .” She moved in a drop closer, their faces now only inches apart. He could feel her warm breath against his mouth, see the gold flecks shining in her striking hazel eyes. Her voluptuous breasts brushed against his chest and his heart almost stopped. She looked deep into his eyes, smiled, and whispered with carnal boldness, “You couldn’t handle me.”

Lust slammed him, almost made his knees weak. With all the women he’d known, all the women he’d been with—and yeah, there were more than he cared to admit to—not one of them had been this direct. This forward. This hot. Who was seducing whom here? Jesus Christ. “Oh, I could handle you,” he assured her in a rough whisper, even as adrenaline and hunger surged through his body.

“Mmm. Maybe you could.” Her eyes danced, teasing as she took a step back. “Too bad we won’t find out, huh?”

His blood sizzled through his veins. He hoped she couldn’t tell he had a raging hard-on. “No, unfortunately, we won’t. We can’t.”

She nodded and turned her back to him. He stared at her hair, the cascading fiery waves, and his hands fisted at his sides. Everything in him longed to grab her, whirl her around, and kiss her senseless. But he couldn’t. I’m her boss, he reminded himself, willing his heart to slow. I’m her fucking boss.

Before he could blink, she turned back to him, took his face with both hands, and pulled him down to bring his mouth crashing onto hers.

A second of shock blurred into instant passion as he kissed her back. Her mouth was as warm and soft as he’d imagined it would be. His hands grasped her waist and pulled her closer. Her kiss was demanding; she wanted. Goddammit, so did he. She touched her tongue to his and he tasted mint and fire and sensuality . . . More. He wanted more.

She broke the kiss, gasping for air. Her hands went to his chest to push back from him, but he didn’t release her.

They stared at each other for a moment. The air around them crackled and pulsed.

“Well, okay then,” she gasped. She drew a shaky breath. “Okay. Had to just get that out of my system. I’ll be fine from here on in.”

“Really?” Dane said, his voice thick. “Okay. But I didn’t get my turn.” He gripped her face and crushed his mouth to hers. No mercy. Pure animal lust. He wanted her boneless when he was done kissing her. He wanted her so bad it ached, and he took it out on her luscious mouth.

His kisses were greedy, ravenous. He wanted to own her, and his mouth was relentless. Kissing, nipping, tasting, he consumed her. She whimpered softly into his mouth as the kisses deepened; as she surrendered with a tiny moan, her arms slid around his neck and held.

That tiny moan nearly undid him. He tangled his fingers in her soft, thick hair, holding her head as he took what he wanted. But she matched him, taking and giving, the heat between them rising. Their tongues tangled in an erotic dance. His hands slid down her sides, around to her back, over those lush hips to hold her tighter. She pressed her body against his and he grabbed her ass, holding her hips to his. His erection strained against her and a groan came from deep in his throat, vibrating into her mouth.

She pushed him away. Hard. “Whoa. Okay. That’s . . .” Her eyes were dazed, dark with passion. Gasping, wide-eyed, she gaped at him.

His head spinning, he fought to catch his breath too. “Holy shit,” he panted.

A quick laugh escaped her now-swollen mouth. “Yeah.” She stared a moment longer, then took a step back, recomposing herself in a flash. “But that can’t happen again.”

Annoyance flashed through him and he squelched it. He was ready to throw her down on the couch and totally ravage her. But she was right. He took a deeper breath and raked his hands through his hair. “I know.” He couldn’t help but smirk as he added teasingly, “You started it.”

Her face flushed and she pointed an accusatory finger at him. “Okay. Yes, I kissed you first. But I don’t care how hot you are, or how hot you think I am,” she said staunchly. “This will not happen. This is a great job. A dream job. I want to keep this job.”

“You will,” he assured her. His mind had cleared, his heart rate was slowing, and as much as she was putting on a damn strong front, he’d caught a glimpse of something in her eyes before she’d shuttered it: fear. “Julia. Your contract is ironclad. You’re safe. Don’t show up drunk, don’t be inappropriate in the hotel, don’t get your name in the papers for anything negative, and your job is secure. Whether anything ever happens between us or not. Okay?”

She stared for another few seconds, then turned away. She went to the mirror and dropped her shoulder bag onto the counter. Her hair fell around her face as she rummaged through her bag, like a shield of fiery waves. She pulled out a lip-liner pencil and fixed her mouth, not meeting his eyes in the mirror as she worked.

Dane stared at her back. She’d brushed him off. She’d all but fucking dismissed him. He sat slowly on one of the sofas, trying to maintain an air of casual ease, but his insides were still throbbing and his mind was in a tailspin. To say she’d surprised him was the understatement of the year. She’d kissed him, she’d made the first move. He’d been, as Pierce would say, gobsmacked. He wasn’t used to a woman taking what she wanted from him so boldly. She’d wanted it so she’d taken it, without apology and without restraint. It turned him on more than he wanted to admit.

He licked his lips, still tasting her. The sound of her soft moan of surrender still echoed in his head. Goddammit, he wanted her. She was fire and power and heat, and he wanted all of it. She could brush him off all she liked—the chemistry between them was undeniable. Those scorching kisses had proved it.

He drew in a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.

Maintaining a professional relationship with Julia Shay was going to be even harder than he’d thought.