"Ah, I"m familiar with the name." Konrad nodded. "Good firm."
"The old man wants me to get my feet wet in the business world before he makes me partner at PE." Fabian still hadn"t looked at Ty or Dallas.
"Why is Toni your boss, though? Did her mother make her manager of something?" Dallas asked, leaning forward when the music began to thump louder. A crowd started to form. Fabian would rather be checking out the girls than talking anymore about Toni. Well, not really. He"d just rather not talk about Toni with the guys. The less he talked, the less they"d really know what was going on in his head in regards to her.
Ty cut in. "Nope. CEO." Could he not keep his d.a.m.n mouth shut?
Fabian glared at him, shaking his head. Toni was the last secret he"d ever tell Ty.
Dallas"s eyes grew wide. "CEO? No s.h.i.t!"
"You"re asking the wrong question, Halman." Ty at times referred to Dallas by his last name. He took a sip of his sissy drink and chewed on the straw in a slow churn.
Fabian threw up his hands in the air, finally showing the disdain he forced down inside. "And what"s that question, Ty?" As Fabian asked the question, he caught a glimpse of a white dress in the distance. Small and fitted, the garment was made for the body wearing it. He dragged his gaze up the sky-high heels to the delicate ankles and calves. Up and over the knees to linger over the familiar curved backside. He knew her. When he caught sight of the woman in the white dress, he wasn"t surprised it was Toni. Beautiful was the only way to describe her. Stunning would work too. And he wanted her.
"You can"t dip your pen in the company ink, dude," Ty said, laughing.
"f.u.c.k off, man." Fabian chuckled for show, his eyes still on Toni. "Have some more sissy punch."
"You trying to hit that?" Dallas joined in the laughter, his words pulling Fabian"s attention.
"Really, man? Have some respect." Fabian didn"t laugh anymore. In fact, he was p.i.s.sed at the crude question. "No, I"m not trying to hit that." Yes, he certainly did want to hit that. So did the many men standing near her at the bar, trying to get her attention.
"Easy man, I"m just kidding." Dallas threw his hands up.
Fabian stood with the intention to greet her. "She"s not my type."
"Bulls.h.i.t," Ty said, pointing to the bar. "Speak of the devil."
"More like you"re not hers." Dallas looked at her as well, admiration in his eyes. Calling dibs on her was becoming a powerful force.
"Nice-looking bird," Konrad commented with his British vernacular. "Might I suggest you talk her up before some other bloke does."
"I"m not going to talk her up," Fabian said, though that was exactly what he was going to do. "Just saying hi."
The guys laughed in unison. "Right!" Ty said, Dallas joining in with his own commentary.
The guys shouted after him as he stepped out of the VIP nook. Outside the s.p.a.ce was louder if that was possible, throbbing with energy from the mixed crowd of both young professionals just out of college and society brats looking for another way to spend their father"s money.
He slid his right hand through the top of his hair, the other hand still clutched his nearly empty gla.s.s. Not even thirty seconds later, he was in front of her, checking out the white dress that captured his attention. Close up she was even more gorgeous.
"Nice dress." The words were deliberately paced, but may have come off awkward and not cool as he intended.
She turned, her dark eyes pinning his. Her eyebrow lifted. "That"s inappropriate, Mr. Pallis."
Despite her words, the pulse at her throat quickened. He was standing close enough to smell her sweet scent.
"Why?" He leaned in further, his lips too close to her ear. "It"s after work hours."
She pulled back, a short breath slipped through her lips. "I know it is."
Their gazes connected again, and everything disappeared. She was the only thing he saw. In that crowded bar, he only saw her. "Say thank you then."
Her gaze narrowed. "Thank you then."
And just like that, she turned away and he became aware of everyone else again.
The woman peering over Toni caught his attention. Taller and attractive, though not like Toni, he racked his brain to identify her. He knew her from somewhere... Oh, s.h.i.t. A conquest? Toni looked amused at him. She wouldn"t be if she thought the other woman was a past hookup. In fact, Toni would never change her opinion of him if she thought that. G.o.d, he hoped the woman wasn"t.
"Hi," her friend said, thrusting her hand in front of Toni against the bar to shake his. "I"m Melina, Toni"s best friend. Nice to meet you."
"Best friend, you say?" He grinned, taking her soft hand into his. Thank G.o.d. He didn"t know her.
Toni broke apart their connected hands with the intention to pa.s.s through. "I"m going to the ladies" room. If he doesn"t leave you alone, call security."
"I honestly am not sure if she"s kidding or not." He watched the pull of her dress with each step she took. Such a perfect a.s.s. He shook his head. It was unfair walking around like she did, commanding everyone as she did. He thought of the meeting earlier and what she"d said. This woman had no idea how powerful she was. She could have everything she wanted, if she just believed in herself.
"You like her." Melina yanked him from his thoughts.
"What?" He turned to her shining brown eyes.
"You just watched her walk away with that far-off look in your eyes. I saw it!" She gaped, as the bartender placed a Cosmo in front of her.
"Charge the ladies" drinks to Pallis."
"Thank you!" Melina smiled, lifting the gla.s.s to her lips. If she had enough Cosmos, she might forget what she saw. But with his luck lately, Fabian doubted it would be that easy.
"You have crush on your boss." She sat the drink on the wooden bar top. "What about Camille? Aren"t you with her?"
His stomach jerked. That was how he knew her. "I thought you looked familiar. How do you know Camille?"
"I don"t really. I know her from Pilates cla.s.s. But we aren"t friends. You probably saw me there. I"ve seen you pick her up before." She leaned on her elbow against the bar.
He shook his head with more intensity than he"d like. "No, we aren"t together. I see other people. Well, I was. Not anymore."
"Not anymore?" Melina c.o.c.ked her head. She didn"t believe him.
He glanced to the ladies" room, desperately waiting for the white dress to emerge. "Not anymore." He turned back to her narrowed gaze.
She hesitated for a few beats. "You know, I sort of think Toni likes you. Sort of. But don"t tell her I said that. She"s very guarded right now because of her ex-fiance." Her eyebrows lifted.
She sort of likes me? Not what he expected to hear. Actually, he thought she hated him with every fiber of her being. But this ... this was the best news he could expect. What was better than that nugget of information? The thought energized him. "She"s very guarded." He glanced to the restrooms again. Toni was nowhere in sight, and he was feeling bold. Where the h.e.l.l was she?
"Go to the VIP section. My friends are hanging out there." He left Melina at the bar with the idea that she "sort of likes him" fueling his next move.
Of all the bars Toni could have gone to, why did she choose the one he chose? There were thousands of bars in Houston. What were the odds? His presence took her off kilter. Completely ruined her Zen, again. Okay not Zen, but he did ruin her girl"s night out. She closed her eyes, recalled the moment he came up to her at the bar. The jerk. Who also happened to look amazing in his jeans. Men should look like that in jeans. Ugh. Stop thinking about his perfect a.s.s in those jeans. She realized what he was doing there. Babe hunting.
Toni slipped a fifty-dollar bill into the bathroom attendant"s jar, promptly turning away. On the other side of the door was the short dark hall feeding into the dance floor. She stepped into the darkness, legs shaking under her. She was about to give Fabian a piece of her mind, and save Mel from his moves.
"Come dance with me, love."
The familiar hand grabbed her arm, leading her to the dance floor. She couldn"t find the strength to pull away after she confirmed who it was.
Stephan.
She was completely taken off guard. Again. The two men she didn"t want to see couldn"t leave her alone. In seconds, Stephan was gripping her hips as he moved erratically. Normally, he was a decent dancer. What he was doing now was embarra.s.sing and clearly the result of too much alcohol. He leaned over-reeking of gin-and pressed his lips to her ear. Her skin crawled.
"I missed you, Antonia."
His hands rode up her rib cage. The horrible dream didn"t stop there.
"I want you. I want to try again. Do you?"
How could he think this was acceptable?
She attempted to say one single word-No!-but nothing came out of her mouth. Any verbal skill had left her, and she could only focus on keeping the vodka and champagne down. The situation was dire at best. Toni stared at him, all the memories coming back to her at once. Loving him. Hating him. Wishing he was dead. Wanting him again. Hating him even more. Kicking him out of her office.
He spoke instead when she didn"t. "Just dance with me."
She pushed away, though he caught her hand before she could free herself. "I don"t want to."
"Come on, love." His face creased with his sloppy plea. "You don"t mean it. I know you. You want to be with me."
Six months ago, she might have said yes. h.e.l.l, two months ago she might have. Not this month. And not ever again.
She shook her head, pulling hard with a surge of energy that ran through her. "Let me go." Blue eyes iced over-the man didn"t like rejection. His grasp tightened.
"You don"t mean that." A few dancers turned their way as she yanked again, causing a scene.
"Let me go, Stephan!" Just as she yanked again, someone came up behind her. A large hand reached over her, gripping Stephan"s shoulder.
"You want to let her go?" Oh G.o.d. She knew that voice.
Fabian. Relief flooded her as Stephan dropped his hand.
Stephan pressed his lips together, nostrils flaring. He pulled back from Fabian"s hold. Red-faced and furious with the intrusion, Stephan growled, "This isn"t your business, Pallis."
Though she couldn"t see Fabian, his body warmed her. When she turned, she faced Fabian"s broad chest and fell into him. Against him, she found the strength she needed to fight Stephan.
"Get away from my girl," Stephan snarled, pulling her back to him, though she resisted. He"d been too strong for her. Fabian, on the other hand, remained calm, despite the vein throbbing at his neck.
Her gaze met Fabian"s. He"d done it again. He came to her rescue.
Chapter Ten.
Fabian could kill Stephan. No woman deserved to be treated the way he treated Toni. Fabian would never hurt a woman physically. He watched Toni shift in her dress, as she got herself together. Was she okay? Had she been hurt? If she was, Stephan had another problem on his hands. "Toni, come and have a drink with me and my friends."
"She doesn"t a.s.sociate with the help," Stephan snapped, pulling her close again. Couldn"t he keep his hands off her? If she was any closer to him, she"d be inside his shirt.
"Yes, thank you. I will have a drink with you." She surprised them both.
"What?" Stephan"s disbelief brought a smile to Fabian"s face. "You can"t be serious."
She broke free from Stephan. "Oh, I"m very serious." The strength Fabian knew she had finally showed. "I already told you I don"t want you. Nothing you can do or say will change my mind. Got it?" She didn"t wait for his response. Stephan wouldn"t have a response for a while by the look on his face. She grabbed Fabian"s sleeve. "Let"s go."
Fabian shrugged, no words needed. They left Stephan paralyzed on the dance floor, still a.s.sessing what had just happened. Fabian himself hardly believed it. He followed her, but not to the VIP nook where his friends were. Releasing his arm as they approached the bar, she looked at him. Her eyes welled up.
So many thoughts ran through his head. He didn"t know what to feel. What did it mean?
"Thank you for that." Her gaze dropped for a moment, but lifted once more to meet his eyes.
Again it was just her in the bar, and him. Everyone else went away. "I didn"t like the way he treated you." He stepped closer to her, close enough to hear her breath. "I would never treat a woman that way. Especially not you. You didn"t deserve that." There, he said it.
"How do you know what I deserve?" She was completely breathless.
"I know you deserve better than that d.i.c.k." She looked away. With a finger under her chin, he lifted up her face. "I mean it."
Gulping, she wrapped her fingers around his wrist. "I should go."
Toni didn"t move a muscle though, and neither did he. Seconds pa.s.sed, yet they stayed that way. His finger under her chin, her fingers wrapped around his wrist. Each taking in the other and the predicament they found themselves in. Her lips tempted him. He zeroed in on them. G.o.d, he wanted to kiss her. It was the perfect opportunity. She"d dropped her stonewalls for him and putting on his playboy act was the furthest thing from his mind.
"I really want to ki-"
"Will you dance with me?" Her eyes were wide, thundering with emotions. Mel had been right. He could feel it in his bones. But Toni didn"t sort of like him, she liked him. No denying it.
Fabian"s heart pounded in his ears. "Of course, I"ll dance with you."
Nothing could take Fabian off his high. Not the prospect of Stephan waiting in the wings, ready to strike. Not the notion of his friends carrying on like maniacs at the sight of him so close to Toni on the dance floor. Nothing. Toni wanted to be close to him. Touching him. Moving with him to the music. He hoped this wouldn"t be the last time she felt that way. He would do anything he could to maintain their connection. The need for her attention-any crumb of attention-was strong enough to make him feel unsure of himself. Insecure even. Vulnerable was the better word for it. That was a new feeling for him. He guessed women he"d dated might have felt that way about him-waiting for his crumbs. What a s.h.i.tty feeling. Control-less feeling. Yet, there he was waiting for more attention from her.
He spun her just as they stepped on the dance floor. He pulled her close by her shoulders, careful not to touch the parts he really wanted to. A wrong move and he could be kicked to the curb. No way in h.e.l.l would he end up like Stephan. Her body waved to the beat, hips moving against him. While he"d been known for some smooth moves, he had nothing on her. He kept up with her nonetheless.
Her smile grabbed him. s.n.a.t.c.hed him completely. His body pulsed with the throbbing music. When she pulled him close, he wasn"t sure he could keep his hands only on her shoulders anymore. Her lips moved against his ear. "You"re a good dancer."
"Just following your lead."
"Shouldn"t I be following your lead?"
They locked gazes. All movement stopped. Her smile faded, but her eyes sparkled. The anger toward Stephan resurfaced. He needed her to know how good she was. "You"re way too good for Stephan. Did you know that? Do you know that?"
Everything they just had slipped away. It was too much for her. For him, it wasn"t nearly enough. She looked away from him, the coldness he"d felt before returned. Antonia Robuchon, acting CEO had emerged. No, he couldn"t accept it after how she just danced with him. After the way she looked at him.