Page 29 of Take the Bait

Huh. Cam had given the restaurant her name, too? That was thoughtful of him.

“Actually, I need to change my clothes. Is there somewhere I might do that?”

“Of course. The ladies’ room is quite spacious. I’ll have my associate, Lorelei, show you where it is.”

A lovely young woman with a heavy French accent led her to a restroom larger and nicer than Dani’s living room—by a lot. After assuring the girl that she didn’t need any help, Dani stepped into a stall, closed the door, which went to the floor and the ceiling, and quickly changed into her naughty lingerie and sexy dress.

It had been a miracle to find a slinky black dress that hit her figure just right. The combination of large breasts and a small waist often made clothing too tight up top or too loose below. She’d never had a pair of silk stockings and relished their sleek smoothness on her legs. She attached the garters—also a first for her—and stepped into the Louboutin’s she’d coveted for so long. Even if WMP’s accountant refused to pay for them, they’d been worth the splurge.

She touched up her make-up with the emergency mascara she kept in her purse and the stick of expensive red lipstick she’d bought at the department store.

Her hair was hopelessly out of control. August heat, New York humidity, and her naturally curly hair were a dreadful combination. She twisted her hair up into a French twist and secured it with a beautiful gold swirl clip she’d picked up today, as well.

The hairdo was rather more elegant than the vibe she was going for, and she was afraid it classed up her outfit too much. But there was no help for it. It was the twist or hair that looked as if she’d stuck her finger in a light socket.

She took a look at herself in the full-length mirror leaning against the back wall and was startled at her appearance. Gone was the college co-ed she’d been until recently, and in her place was this grown up, sophisticated woman. She might have been aiming for slutty, but she’d accidentally landed on classy but sexy.

Which she was secretly relieved about, now that she’d seen how fancy a place this was. Why would Cam take her here on a first date…if that’s what he thought this was? It seemed more like a place one took a long-time girlfriend to propose or an anniversary place after years of happy marriage.

She was vividly aware that the high slit in the side of the dress, if hitched up an inch or two extra, let the top of her stocking and a teensy glimpse of garter strap show. Every male who entered the bar seemed to zero in on the top of that slit like a heat-seeking missile. Or was she just being paranoid?

It was a fight to stop herself from standing up and pulling down her dress to cover more of her leg. She had nice legs, dang it. It was okay to show one off from time to time. Particularly in a dark, romantic restaurant like this.

She sipped at a glass of spectacular white wine and did her best to ignore the steady stream of men finding excuses to brush against the back of her stool. At least they were being subtle about it and not pawing at her directly.

Sheesh. If Cam reacted half as strongly as most of the men here, this was going to be a very interesting legal consultation.

10

“Hey, beautiful.” A warm, tingling hand landed lightly on her bare shoulder. Oh, wait. That was her doing the tingling.

She looked up at Cam and smiled. The guy did wear a suit extremely well. The first time she’d met him he’d been wearing sweaty gym clothes, and he’d been very sexy.

At the party, he’d taken off his coat and tie and wore an open necked dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to display his tanned, muscular forearms, and he’d been even more sexy.

But she liked him best of all in a beautifully tailored suit, just like this. There was something about wondering what he looked like underneath the expensive wool and starched white cotton shirt that was a huge turn-on to her. And after all, she had a decent idea what was under the suit thanks to his skimpy, wet T-shirt and shorts that first day.

He leaned down to kiss both her cheeks, European-style. When he straightened, she noted the brief warning glance he fired at the other men nearby. Staking his claim on her, was he? That was okay. It played right into her grand plan.

He murmured, “Sorry about being so forward, but enough men in here are eyeing you like you’re on the menu for desert that I thought I’d better make it clear you’re off limits.”

“Umm, thanks? But how do you know I don’t want to pick up one of the men in here and take him home?”

“Do you want to?” he replied, sounding surprised and maybe a tiny bit hurt.

She took her time gazing around the bar, pretending to assess the unaccompanied male patrons. “No, I’ll pass. I’m already with the best prospect of the bunch.”

His eyebrows shot up.

“What?” she demanded in response to his eyebrows.

“I didn’t take you for the forward type.”

“I’m full of surprises,” she replied lightly.

“Indeed, you are. Shall we go sit down? Jean-Phillipe told me when I arrived that our table’s ready.”

“Who’s Jean-Phillipe?” she asked as she slid off the stool.

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