Page 8 of Secrets & Desires
He had to see her again—to see if the connection between them hadn’t been justthatmoment in time. To see if it was real, tangible and something they could build on. Also he really,reallyneeded to kiss her gorgeous pink mouth—it was driving himcrazy.
“Nox?Buddy?”
Nox blinked back into the present. “Sorry,what?”
“I was saying, I was taking to Roan at the party. He seems pretty keen on working with us on the Feldmanproject.”
Nox snorted and sipped his bourbon. “What doesRoanknow about the luxury foodtrade?”
“Nothing, but he does know about theshippingtrade,” Sandor gave Nox a reproachful look. “Look, I know you think he’s a playboy, but he’s got a good head on his shoulders. Besides…he wants to buy hiswayin.”
“What?”
“He told me he wants us three to go into business together. He wants in on thecompany.”
For the first time that night, Nox stopped thinking about Livia, leaning forward to study his friend. “How come he hasn’t said anythingtome?”
Sandor chuckled. “Because heknowsyou think he’s a playboy. He’s your best friend, but there’s always been the joker in the pack, and it’s always been Roan. He was feeling me out in the hope I’d do the approach. So, I am. I think it’s something we should talk about. He wants to impress you, buddy,isall.”
Nox considered. “I’m open to talking about it,certainly.”
Sandor smiled. “So, I can tellhimyes?”
“Talkingabout it, San. Nothing more at thisstage.”
“I love it when you get masterful. Anotherdrink?”
“Goforit.”
Nox leaned back, his eyes flicking automatically to the restaurant on the other side of the street. He could see the pretty Asian girl who was working with Livia at his party waiting on tables, but there was no sign of Livia. He thought about what Sandor had said. Roan was Nox’s oldest friend but he was also someone who acted on impulse—he would best be described as reckless. Nox had worked too hard on the business, and not even his love for his friend could override the fact that Roan was not a good bet. Nox rubbed his eyes. Maybe he should loosen up, takearisk.
Take a risk… His mind went back to the lovely girl he’d met at his party. Yes, he would take a risk. Enough of skulking like a creep across the street. Tomorrow, he would go the restaurant and ask for her. If she wasn’t there,he’dleave his number. If shewasthere…
He was still smiling when Sandor returned with thedrinks.
It wasafter midnight when Livia left the practice rooms, and as she didn’t have enough cash on her for a cab, she decided to walk home. When she got back to the French Quarter, she decided to go the restaurant and see if Moriko wanted company on herwalkhome.
As she turned into an alley leading to Bourbon Street, she suddenly felt herself being jerked back, and a heavy arm locked around her throat. Shocked into action, she threw her elbows back with all her strength, cussing and screaming at her attacker. “Get off me, motherfucker!”She slammed her fist back into the man’s groin and he groaned,releasingher.
Her anger at full flood and the adrenaline spiking in her system, Livia punched and kicked the mugger until, still groaning, he took off. Yelling“Bitch!”at her as he ran, she unleashed a litany of curse words at him, beyond caring who heard her. Finally, she caught her breath and picked up her bag, turning to go to therestaurant.
She stopped. Nox Renaud was looking at her, astonished admiration in his eyes. Livia’s breath caught in herthroat.
“Well,” he said finally, a grin slowly spreading across his face. “Helloagain.”
ChapterFour
“I’m absolutelyfine,”Livia complained as Marcel fussed over her, making her drink the bourbon he offered. Nox Renaud sat across from her, a small smile playing around his lips. It was as if they shared a secret now, and Livia couldn’t helpbutgrin.
“I heard you holler,” Nox told her, “and came to help, but you’d pretty much wrecked the guy by the time I got there. Pretty badass, if youaskme.”
“A girl’s got to look after herself,” Livia said. She couldn’t stop looking at him—shehadn’timagined how gorgeous he was. Those green eyes, that dark hair and messy curls, they were all as beautiful as she remembered. The way he was looking at her sent thrills through herentirebody.
Marcel and Moriko seemed to notice the charged atmosphere and, after making sure Livia really was okay after the shock of her mugging, they discreetly disappeared. The restaurant was closed now, only a couple of lamps still on, and in the gloom, Nox took her handsinhis.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” he said honestly. “I admit, my friend and I came to the Quarter for drinks and I deliberately chose the bar across the street from here…I hoped toseeyou.”
“Whichfriend?”
