pianist was seated at a baby grand, effortlessly providing muted background music, and the drinks stewards were groomed to the nth degree.
Refined class, Rebekah conceded as a steward enquired if he could assist locating her friends.
He succeeded with smooth efficiency, and she followed in his wake.
‘Mr Dimitriades.’ His acknowledgement held deferential respect, and she had a ready smile in place, polite words of gratitude on her lips as she tilted her head.
Only to have the smile freeze as she saw it was Jace, not Luc, who had moved forward to greet her.
‘Rebekah.’
In one fluid movement he came close, lowered his head and brushed his lips to her cheek. The contact was stunningly brief, but it robbed the breath from her throat for all of five seconds before anger hit.
‘How dare you?’ The words escaped as little more than a vehement whisper.
One dark eyebrow slanted, although his eyes held a watchful expression. ‘You expected formality?’
She didn’t trust herself to respond. Her attention was held, trapped, by the man standing within touching distance.
Tall, so tall her eyes were on a level with the loop of his impeccably knotted silk tie, and his breadth of shoulder was impressive sheathed in exclusive tailoring.
In his mid-thirties, his broad, chiselled facial bone structure gave hint to his Grecian ancestry, and there was an inherent quality in those dark grey, almost black eyes that took hold of her equilibrium and tore it to shreds.
No one man deserved to exude quite this degree of power…nor possess such riveting physical magnetism.
Sexual alchemy at its zenith, she acknowledged shakily as she attempted to gain a measure of control over her rioting emotions.
One look at him was all it took for her to remember how it felt to have that mouth close over her own with diabolical finesse. Exploring, coaxing…and staking a claim.
She was suddenly aware of every breath she took, every heightened pulse-beat, and the way her heart seemed to thud against her ribcage.
It was crazy, insane to feel like this. In the name of heaven, get a grip. To allow him to see just how deeply he affected her was impossible.
Why, suddenly, did she feel as if she’d walked into a danger zone? And that it was he, and not she, in command of the situation?
Dammit, she’d accepted Ana’s invitation, and she owed it to her sister and Luc to be a pleasant guest. Hadn’t she dressed accordingly, and given a promise to sparkle?
CHAPTER TWO
PROJECTING joie de vivre required effort, and there was a very real danger she’d verge towards overkill.
A glass of wine would help dull the edges, but she’d had nothing to eat since lunch. Consequently iced water seemed a wise choice, especially as she’d need all her wits to parry words with Luc’s inimitable cousin.
The restaurant’s chef was reputed to be one of the city’s best, and numbered among the country’s finest. Hence, the selection offered was meant to tempt a gourmand’s palate.
Rebekah ordered soup as a starter, requested an entrée-size meal as a main, and deferred a decision on dessert.
She settled back in her chair and glanced towards Jace. ‘You’re in Sydney on business, I believe?’
There was nothing like taking control and initiating conversation.
‘Yes.’ He met her level gaze, held it, and wondered if she had any idea how well he could read her. ‘Also Melbourne, Cairns, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.’
‘Interesting. Presumably matters which require your personal attention?’
How would she react if he revealed she was one of them? He inclined his head. ‘I’m unable to delegate in this instance.’
Property he wanted to sight? Yet in a high-tech age, it was possible to scan digital images at the speed of light, and as he shared some investment interests with Luc, why couldn’t Luc act on his cousin’s behalf?
The waiter delivered their starters, and Rebekah toyed with the soup, spooning the contents automatically without affording it the appreciation it truly deserved.
‘Tell me something about floristry.’ Jace’s voice was pure New York, and she waited a beat before countering,
‘An idle query, or genuine interest?’
His eyes held a humorous gleam. ‘The latter.’
‘The art, or a day in the life of…?’
‘Both.’
‘Floral artistry comprises a good eye for colour and design, shapes appealing to the customer’s wants and needs, the specific occasion.’ If he wanted facts, she’d supply them. ‘Which blooms suit, room temperature, the effect the customer wants to achieve.’
She lifted her shoulders and effected a light shrug. ‘Knowledge where exotic out-of-season stock can be bought and how long it takes to air-freight it in. And the expense involved. Unfortunately there are always those who want the best at minimum cost.’
‘I’m sure you manage to apprise them that quality comes with a price?’
‘Don’t be fooled by Ana and Rebekah’s petite stature,’ Luc drawled. His mouth curved into a warm smile. ‘I can assure both sisters pack a powerful verbal punch.’ He turned towards Ana and brushed light fingers down her cheek. ‘My wife, especially.’
‘It’s a defence mechanism,’ Ana responded sweetly. The waiter removed their plates, and Rebekah’s gaze shifted to Jace in a deliberate attempt at dispassionate appraisal.
Superb tailoring emphasised an impressive breadth of shoulder, and the deep blue shirt with its impeccably knotted silk tie accented his olive textured skin.
All she had to do was look at him, and warmth flared to uncomfortable heat as her mind spun into overdrive, remembering how it felt to have his mouth on hers. From there it was just a step away for her mind to spiral out of control, imagining what lay beneath the trappings of his conventional attire.
Don’t go there. Dear heaven, what was wrong with her? No one, not even her ex-husband in the heightened throes of pre-marital passion, had been able to arouse such an intense reaction.
She was conscious of every breath she took, and co-ordinating cutlery with morsels of food and the actual eating process was fraught with nervous tension.
Was Jace aware of her inner turmoil? Dear God, she hoped not.
Oh, for heaven’s sake, she mentally chastised. You’re only sharing dinner with him, and acute vulnerability could be conquered…couldn’t it? Or at least successfully masked. Besides, Jace Dimitriades was only a man like any other man, and hadn’t Brad been charm personified in the beginning? Only to turn into a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Except instinct warned comparing her ex-husband to Jace Dimitriades was akin to associating an ill-bred canine with a powerful panther.
There was a part of her that wanted to replace her cutlery, stand to her feet, and leave. Retreat to the safety of her car, return to her apartment with her sanity intact.
Except such an action was a cop-out, and besides, what excuse could she present? Act, she commanded silently. You deal with people every day in the shop and utilise psychological skill to handle difficult customers. How difficult could it be to deal with Jace Dimitriades for a few hours? There was the added advantage of Ana and Luc’s presence to provide a buffer. It should be a breeze.
Fat chance! She felt about as relaxed as a cat on hot bricks!
Why hadn’t she listened to her initial instinct and remained adamant at not doing this?