Page 60 of Peasants and Kings
She grinned. “He won’t know what hit him.”
Chapter Fourteen
I climbed out of the car with the aid of the driver. With my black beaded clutch in one hand, I strode toward the heavy oak doors of the restaurant. I approached the hostess and smiled.
“Good evening,” she greeted, setting a cordless phone down in its cradle. “Do you have a reservation?”
“My name is Eden Smith and I—”
“Welcome, Ms. Smith,” she said. “We’ve been expecting you. If you’ll follow me.”
She led me through the subdued, romantic restaurant, past people enjoying their bowls of spaghetti and meatballs and veal scaloppini.
We headed through the kitchen where there were two tables set so VIP customers could dine while their food was being prepared, and then continued on to another room at the back of the restaurant.
The walls were dark wood, and the light fixtures emitted a soft glow. It was dreamy and quixotic, with black and white sketches of vineyards and tables laden with food. The atmosphere was a blend of extravagance and earthy Italian home.
There was only one table and it was set with a white tablecloth, a breathing bottle of red wine, and a bread basket.
“Mr. Rhys will be joining you shortly,” the hostess said. “May I get you anything while you wait?”
I shook my head and set my beaded clutch down on the table. “I’m fine. Thank you.”
She cocked her head. “Enjoy your dinner.”
The hostess left me alone. There was no menu on the table, so I assumed that meant the order had already been taken care of.
I hadn’t eaten anything since that morning, so I took the olive oil shaker and dribbled it onto a bread plate. I added pepper and salt and then dunked a piece of bread into it before setting it in my mouth. I inhaled deeply as the aroma of freshly baked bread reached my nose, and then I exhaled in enjoyment.
“Eden,” a low, masculine voice greeted.
My spine snapped straight in surprise. I hadn’t heard anyone enter the room.
But that wasn’t what startled me.
It was the pleasure in hearing his voice.
Deep.
Brogue.
Familiar.
I turned slowly, needing time to prepare and steady my nerves.
Hadrian Rhys stood arm’s length from me, dressed in an immaculate three-piece gray suit. His blue-gray eyes surveyed me from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
He sauntered toward me and I had the insane urge to take a step back, to flee. It was a mistake agreeing to meet with him alone. When all I wanted to do was—
Despite my mind trying to talk me out of this meeting, my body remembered him longingly. It wanted him; it yearned for his touch. And my body was telling my brain to shut up.
“Thank you for coming,” he said.
I hadn’t been prepared for his polite countenance. If anything, I expected to meet Hadrian again and immediately do battle with his arrogant side.
“Shall we sit?” he asked pleasantly.
“In a moment,” I said, finally shaking off the spell of desire that came with Hadrian’s presence. “Why wasn’t I allowed to know the stipulations of the contract you’re proposing before coming to meet you?”
