“I can pay for my drink.” Lorelei reached for her bag under the table.
“No need, I’ll expense it. I work for a mega-rich company. They can afford a drink and a meal.” He handed a couple of bills to the waitress and waved the change away.
“Aren’t you supposed to be dining with a client?”
“Do you own a computer?”
“Yes.” She wondered at the non sequitur question.
“Well, I’m in the computer industry. If you own a computer then you are, in effect, a client as well.”
“Don’t you think that’s stretching it a bit?” She stood next to him. He put an arm out inviting her to lead the way through the crowd, taking up a protective stance behind her.
“Not for you,” he murmured so softly she wasn’t positive that was what he said.
Chapter Four
The cool night air cleared the slight wine buzz that had fogged Lorelei’s brain. It did nothing to the buzz of attraction, which drew her to the man next to her. She hadn’t even felt that way when she’d first met Barry; it had taken several dates before she’d felt anything for him.
“Before we take another step, I have to ask, are you married?”
Liam held out his left hand; his ring finger was bare, with no sign of a tan line. “Nope. No girlfriend in the background, either.”
“I find that hard to believe. After all, you’re not exactly ugly.” Heat coursed through Lorelei’s face. Well, the man must own a mirror, he had to know.
He smiled again and the dimple reappeared. “Thanks, but it’s been a tough year.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
He turned and peered down the street. Obviously, he wasn’t a man who talked about his feelings. “Doesn’t matter. The restaurant is about five blocks away. Do you want to get a taxi?”
“I’m all right walking if you are.”
“Sure.” He seemed about to reach for her hand but shoved it into his pocket instead.
“So, were you born in San Francisco?”
“A little farther down the coast, but I’ve lived here for the past twenty years so I consider it home. What about you? Where are you from?”
“Buffalo. I lived there until about a month ago. Then I decided it was time for a change.”
“Would the question about whether or not I’m married have some bearing on your decision to move?”
“Yeah.” The heat was back in her face; hopefully Liam didn’t notice. She’d come all the way to San Francisco to distance herself from the Barry debacle. Making the same mistake with the man beside her was unthinkable. Her boss had overlooked one misdemeanor in her personal life. Two blots on her reputation and she’d be out of a job with little chance of securing another in the charity field.
“Here we are,” he said as they stopped in front of an Italian restaurant.
He held the door while she entered and then spoke quietly with the maître d’. The older man looked her up and down and then led them over to a booth at the far back of the restaurant, in a secluded corner.
Liam held her chair while she sat. “This is the table you reserved for your dinner with a client?” She raised an eyebrow as he sat next to her. She couldn’t imagine a more romantic setting.
“Of course,” he said, straight-faced. “The seclusion allows for a frank business discussion without fear that a competitor will overhear.”
“Ah,” she said, not convinced at all.
He smiled and she forgot what her objection was to the quiet table. Her companion was charming and the meal passed quicker than any other she’d had in recent memory. Several times her phone had vibrated in her bag against her ankle but she ignored it. By the time the server cleared the table she was full, yet she didn’t want the evening to end.
“Can I tempt you with dessert?” The waiter hovered at their table.
“Not for me,” Lorelei said with genuine regret.
“I’ll pass as well,” Liam said. “Please give our compliments to the chef, the meal was excellent.”
“I will, sir. The check?”
“Yes, please.”
Lorelei reached for her bag.
“Don’t even think about it. This is a business meal. I told you I’ll expense it.” Liam put his warm, strong hand on hers where it rested on the table. The innocent touch had her wanting more. She fingered her necklace again to bring herself back to reality. They were strangers, no matter how her skin tingled when he touched her.
“But we didn’t even discuss computers,” she said.
“Because computers are boring. You Mac or PC?”
“PC.”
“Then you need me. I can make sure your virus protection and firewall are up to date and there are no malware, spyware, viruses, or bots on your system.”
“What would you have replied if I’d said Mac?”
“The same thing.”
The grin was back and a little more of Lorelei’s resistance melted. God, he was gorgeous. Lorelei was imagining what his lips would feel like on hers when she realized he was speaking again.
“…tomorrow?”
“Sorry?”
“I asked what you’re doing tomorrow? It’s supposed to be one of those rare sunny, warm summer days. As a native Californian it is my sworn duty to show you the sights.”
“Really?”
“Yup. When we get our first voter registration card we have to promise to show at least one East Coaster what living is really about. You’d be doing me a great favor, ’cause this responsibility has been hanging over me for a while now. And I can’t imagine anyone I’d rather spend the day with.”
“I’d love that—helping you out, that is. It’s the least I can do to repay you for tonight.” Despite the left side of her brain telling her it was just a friendly invitation and meant nothing, the right side was sending all kinds of conflicting signals through her body, and a slow-burning heat began to smolder in her belly. He wanted to see her again.
“I hoped you’d see it that way.”
He waited while she gathered her bag and the jacket she’d discarded after the second glass of wine. Following her out of the restaurant, he placed a hand on her back. She knew it was simply a support as she wobbled a bit as she walked, but couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to have Liam holding her for another reason.
She shook her head. This was her whole problem. One nice guy, who hadn’t spent the entire evening talking about himself, and she was already picturing them together. What she needed was to take a step back and listen to reason and not her heart. There was a first time for everything.