Erin shot a questioning look at Jared. “What’s a bake sale?”
Momentarily flustered at the realization that he’d inadvertently spilled the beans, Jared cast a surprised look in Ethan’s direction, brows raised in silent query. Ethan glared back, fingers gripping the edge of Erin’s seat in an attempt to stop himself from wrapping those very fingers round his brother’s neck and squeezing real hard.
Jared leaned close to whisper to Ethan, his eyes glinting in amusement.
“Uh oh! Haven’t asked her yet?”
“I was going to if you’d managed to stay away long enough.” Ethan whispered back, sparing Erin a glance as she watched their exchange, a small curious frown on her face.
He turned back to Jared in exasperation. “You’re an idiot, you know that?”
Jared managed to look contrite for about three seconds then chuckled, clearly enjoying his brother’s discomfiture. “My bad, Bro.”
“Umm.. could someone please explain what’s going on?” Both men turned to look at Erin, who sat with an expectant look.
“Don’t you have customers to attend to Jarhead?” Ethan turned to Jared, giving his sibling a meaningful look to get lost, all the while conscious of Erin’s eyes on the both of them, her gaze a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
Jared returned the look with a mischievous grin, not wanting to pass up the opportunity to rile Ethan up a little. “I’m sure Diane’s got things under control.”
Ethan’s glare turned shades darker, mouth set in a thin line of displeasure. “Jarhead…”
“Fine… Fine..” Jared threw up both hands in mock surrender and took a step back. “I’ll let you two catch up.”
He turned back to Erin and took her hand, bringing it to his lips for a brief kiss. “Like I said, it’s really great meeting you Erin, hope you enjoy your meal and do let me know if you need anything else.”
Despite the million questions swirling through her, Erin couldn’t help but be charmed by his actions.
“Thank you Jared, it was good to meet you.”
Jared patted her hand and let go, giving his brother a cheeky salute before beating a hasty retreat. “Till Saturday lil’ bro.”
“Just hope you’re still alive by Saturday.” Ethan shot back, his anger dissolving as fast as it had come.
Much as he’d like to murder Jared for nearly ruining his perfect plan, it was hard to stay mad at any member of his family.
Alone with Erin once more, he resumed his seat, taking a moment to gather his thoughts, a small smile playing across his lips as he could almost feel the curiosity emanating from her in palpable waves.
“Sorry about that.” He murmured, reaching for his glass and taking a sip of his wine.
Erin drummed her fingers on the table and pierced him with a look. “What was that about? What did he mean by the bake sale thing?”
Ethan sighed and set down his glass, wishing now that he’d simply let his mother have her way and pair him up with her mystery woman. Certainly, that would have been a lot easier for his peace of mind than this present moment. But no, like the unthinking idiot he was, he’d gone and made things a whole lot more complicated and he had a gut feeling that this was only the beginning of his troubles.
He studied her intently, noting in dry amusement how she perched on the edge of her seat, brown eyes wide in anticipation as she waited for his answer.
“My mother does this charity thing every couple months or so to raise money for shelters and safe homes scattered all over the country.” He paused to take another sip. “She’s having a bake sale this Saturday and since I detest going to those things alone, I thought you could come with me?”
Erin stared at him, mouth falling open in shock as her brain slowly digested his words.
What the hell? Of all the things she’d expected, Ethan Lachlan, Villain extraordinaire asking her to be his date had not been one of them. She studied his face for a sign.. any hint that all this was some sort of practical joke but he returned her look with a grim expression.
She recovered enough to realize she’d forgotten to breathe and inhaled, her brain demanding copious amounts of oxygen to process this unexpected situation. Her heart resumed beating and Erin slowly became aware that Ethan watched her, waiting for a reply. She tried to speak, but her mouth had gone dry. Erin reached for her own wine glass with shaky fingers and took a long sip, keeping her gaze lowered to the table.
Ethan watched her stunned reaction in wry amusement. “Well, it looks like I’ve finally discovered a way to keep you quiet.”
Erin set down the glass, unwrapping her fingers one by one from the fragile stem as she realized just how tight she had gripped it. Gathering her thoughts under control, she raised her eyes to his, noting the casual way he leaned back against his chair and watched her, a self-assured smirk on his face.
How typical! She thought drily, feeling an overwhelming urge to wipe that annoying smirk off his face. A thought occurred to her and she raised an eyebrow at him, thankful to have her composure back.
“So that’s why you brought me here.” She raised an eyebrow at him, searching for confirmation. Ethan merely smiled in that enigmatic manner of his, playing with the stem of his wine glass.
“Perhaps.” He replied with a noncommittal shrug.
“Fair enough.” Erin conceded and leaned forward, her mind racing, searching for answers. “Another question though, why me? I mean, why ask me when I’m sure there are a million women you could ask instead?”
Ethan smiled, “Other women bore me.”
“That’s it?”
He looked at her askance, “Is there supposed to be another reason?”
“With you, there always is a hidden agenda.” Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she’d not yet eaten and she picked up her fork, attacked her food, conscious of Ethan’s eyes on her.
He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “There is no hidden agenda Sweetcheeks, though I thought we could use this chance to…” He paused, searching for an appropriate word, “…get better acquainted.”
“Right.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Look Ethan, I don’t think it’s a good idea bringing me along, I mean, your family’s bound to realize who I am and that could raise some awkward questions. What do you intend to tell them about our…er…relationship?”
“I will tell them what they need to know.”
“Meaning?”
His lips quirked. “That we’re two adults who have a mutual respect for each other and they should mind their own damn business.”
“Yeah, like that’s going to make them back off.” Erin scoffed, taking another bite of lobster. “If your family is anything like mine, that will only make matters worse.”
“Fine then, I’ll simply tell them we’re sleeping together.”
Erin choked.
“You ok?” Concerned at her distress, Ethan rose and crossed to her seat, handing her a glass of water while his other hand stroked her back.
Erin gulped down the water, the spasms easing to little coughs as she tried to catch her breath.
“I’m fine.” She managed to gasp out between lungfuls of air. “What the hell are you trying to do Lachlan, kill me with shock?”
He smiled down at her, his ice-blue eyes filled with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine, coupled with the hand that still traced lazy circles over her back was enough to cause Erin to lose her train of thought. Erin fought down the urge to let out a moan at the pleasant sensations bombarding her senses at his touch, her core a pool of liquid desire. Her appetite fled, to be replaced by a more primitive hunger that demanded satiation.
“Perhaps.” Ethan murmured and removed his hand, the motion eliciting a little moan of disappointment from Erin. He resumed his seat, though his eyes never left hers. “But there’s no fun in that, is there?”
Erin’s face flamed in mortification, appalled at her response to him. Christ! One would think she’d never had sex the way she’d responded to a single touch.
Grow up! She silently admonished herself, careful to keep her face averted from his piercing gaze. Even more irritating was the fact that he hadn’t been affected by the contact though the very air seemed to be charged with sexual tension.
She cleared her throat softly, eager for something to distract her from wayward thoughts that would do her no good. “Tell me more about this charity thing. What exactly does a bake sale entail?”
*******
Much later, Ethan steered the car to a stop outside The Gosling and killed the engine. He turned to watch the silent woman sitting beside him, hands clasped primly on her laps as she stared straight ahead, so lost in thought that she was oblivious to the fact that she was home. He took the opportunity to study her in the dim light that filtered through, his nostrils filled with the heady scent of her fragrance, stirring him in ways he couldn’t explain.
His gaze drifted to her full, sensuous mouth and his body tightened at the memory of how that mouth had done things to him…good god! He stifled a groan, his body alight with an almost uncontrollable need to reach across the tiny space and pull her onto his laps so he could ravish that mouth to his satisfaction.
A horn blared in the distance, jolting Erin from her thoughts and she started when she realized her surroundings. “Oh…we’re back already.”
Ethan took a moment to get himself back in control, an impossible feat given how the small interior of his car, caused their bodies to brush together with each move. His hands tightened on the wheel and he uttered a curse under his breath, conscious of her gaze on him.
He turned to face her, mouth twisting in a wry smile, “You were a million miles away.”
Erin laughed, the sound betraying a hint of nerves as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ears, a gesture Ethan found strangely arousing. “Sorry, I was just thinking….”
Her voice trailed off as she noticed the feral way watched her, his eyes twin orbs of heat that wanted to consume her. Ethan heard her sharp intake of breath, watched as her own eyes widened in awareness of the desire that simmered from him.
Screw control. Ethan leaned close and kissed her hard, one hand snaking to the back of her neck to pull her even closer. Erin gasped into his mouth but then desire took over and she returned his kiss with fervor. The temperature in the car went up several degrees as their mouths and hands explored, grasped and caressed each indulging in a need that had swirled around them since she had opened the door to her apartment earlier this evening.
His other hand moved to caress her breast through the fabric and he growled in appreciation as his fingers encountered the hard nub that betrayed her arousal. She moaned and arched into his hand, begging for more of his touch. God! But she was a hot vixen.
The moment was broken by a discreet knock on his window. Ethan broke the contact, and turned to glare at whoever had interrupted their moment. A nervous looking valet stood there, an apologetic look on his face that turned to alarm as Ethan wound down the window and he saw the killing look.
“What is it?” Ethan barked.
“Ummm…. sorry to bother you Mr. Lachlan…but you’re not supposed to park here…. oh…hi Ms. Gosling. Sorry…didn’t know you were with him.”
Ethan swore under his breath. Beside him, Erin let out a groan and he turned to face her. She looked embarrassed and mortified as she picked up her purse from the floor and fumbled with the door handle. “Erin…”
“I have to go.” She cut in, face flushed, still struggling to open the door.
With a sigh, Ethan reached out to grasp her arm, restraining her. He turned to the valet who stood waiting.
“Give me a minute ok?” the man scurried away, and he turned back to Erin, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Sorry about that.”
Erin nodded, her eyes fixed on her arm where his fingers held her but remained silent for a few minutes. Finally she sighed and relaxed back against the seat, raising her eyes to meet his, a wry smile playing across her lips. “That was embarrassing. Thanks for ruining my rep Lachlan.”
He grinned at the unexpected joke. This woman just kept surprising him each time. “You’re welcome Gosling.”
She laughed, the sound easing the last bits of tension in the air. “You should move though, this really is a wrong spot.” With her free hand, she opened the door then paused, turning to face him again. “Thank you for dinner.”
“I’ll pick you up by eight am Saturday.” Ethan let go of her arm and started the car.
Erin raised an eyebrow at him. “I haven’t said I would go with you.”
“That so?”
“Yep.” She folded her arms across her chest. “There’s still the issue of how you intend to introduce me to your family.”
“I’ll handle my family. Just be ready at eight, it’s a long drive to Homewood.”
“Sure.” She stepped out the car and shut the door.
He waited until she entered the brightly lit lobby before pulling back into traffic.
He also didn’t notice the lone figure calmly taking pictures with a mobile phone.