loft above, Tahlia stared down at Maximus as he moved through the gallery like a sleek panther hunting his next game. And was that her? Was that why he was here?
He’d said it was because they were going to be partners at Knight Shipping, but Tahlia didn’t believe him—at least not entirely. The way he’d looked at her told her it might be something more personal. She wouldn’t mind if it were. Maximus Knight was a gorgeous man. And tonight she’d been made increasingly aware of that fact.
She’d been stunned when after finishing up with a customer, she’d noticed him in her gallery staring at one of her favorite paintings. Since he hadn’t noticed her, she’d been able to soak him in. Power radiated from the man—along with a killer instinct, which she was sure served him well in the business world. But there was a sophistication and polish to Maximus that came from being born into money. And his looks—he was well-groomed with a boldly handsome face that appealed to her. The tiny curling tendrils encircling his head made Tahlia want to reach out and finger them. He stood proud and strong in an arresting dark suit that outlined his shoulders and towering presence.
He was, however, deep in thought, and she’d wondered what could have him so perplexed. And so she’d stepped toward him, eager to find out. His compelling gaze made Tahlia nearly lose her breath, but she’d put up a good front. She knew he wasn’t happy about her new role in his company.
If she’d had her pick, it wasn’t the role Tahlia would have chosen, either. She’d have wanted Maximus to notice her because he’d found her attractive. And maybe he did, but she suspected he was spending time with her now only to try to figure out where she stood. And exactly where was that?
Tahlia wasn’t sure, but maybe she’d figure it out tonight.
* * *
Maximus watched Tahlia saunter toward him. His eyes roved over her figure, and he missed nothing. Not the way the drape of the skirt hugged her curves or how the sleek sweater showed off her naked shoulders. His tongue flicked out to moisten his parched lips. Tahlia was mighty fine. And Maximus had to admit, he would enjoy his dinner companion for the evening.
“Ready to go?” he asked when she made it to him. Her large expressive eyes were alive and glowing, and Maximus liked what he saw there. She was most certainly interested in him, which could play into his game if he decided to go there.
“Yes, let’s do it.” She headed through the doors. He stayed close behind her as she locked up, so when she turned around her face was mere inches from his.
“Oh.” She stepped back for a moment and nearly stumbled, so Maximus reached out and circled his arm around her waist.
“Careful.”
They stayed that way for several seconds, both of them staring at each other. Maximus looked her over seductively, and when his gaze went to her full lips, he felt her tense almost immediately and she stepped away.
“Where to?” she asked, moving toward the sidewalk. “I’ll follow behind you.”
“We should take my car,” Maximus said. “I don’t mind driving.”
“That isn’t necessary.”
“I insist.”
In the end, Maximus won out and he opened the passenger door for Tahlia to his Bugatti, and she slid inside. He came around to the driver’s side, hopped in and started the engine. Tahlia seemed uneasy beside him as he drove to dinner despite the fact that she looked damn good in the red leather bucket seat. After several long, excruciating silent minutes, Maximus patted her thigh. “Relax, Tahlia. I don’t bite.”
“Are you sure about that?”
He grinned. “What have you heard? Or should I say read?”
“You have a reputation for being determined.”
It seemed like she’d thought that word through very carefully. “You mean ruthless?”
“That word has been used.”
“And you’re wondering how it applies to you?”
“Shouldn’t I?” Tahlia asked. “I know I stand in the way of something you want.”
“Who’s to say you’re not what I want?” Maximus said as he pulled into the valet area of a well-known French bistro. He glanced at Tahlia and saw the stunned look on her face, just as he exited the vehicle and handed his keys to the valet.
He was at her door in no time, grasping her hand and pulling her from the vehicle. He liked touching her and that when he did, her reaction to him was purely physically. He planned to keep on touching her. With his hand at the small of her back, he led her inside the bistro.
“Jean George,” Maximus greeted the maître d’.
“Mr. Knight,” Jean George replied. “It’s a pleasure to have you dining with us again. Your same table, I presume?”
“If it’s available.”
“For you, of course. Please allow me.” He led Tahlia and Maximus to a quiet booth away from the bustling interior.
Tahlia slid inside the booth, and Maximus eased in beside her. When their thighs began to touch, Maximus felt his skin prickle and heat up in awareness. Or was it the playful scent of her peony fragrance that permeated the small space they shared? They both peered at their menus for several moments, but Maximus didn’t need to look; he knew what he wanted.
When Tahlia glanced up, she found his gaze was riveted on her. “What are you doing, Maximus?”
“Call me Max. All my friends do.”
“And is that what we are, friends?”
“We don’t have to be enemies,” he stated firmly.
“I guess that depends on you,” Tahlia stated, and his eyebrow rose. Tahlia wasn’t as naive as he imagined her to be.
A waiter came over and took their drink orders, a scotch for Maximus and a club soda for Tahlia. Once he’d gone, Maximus responded to Tahlia’s comment. “All right, I’ll bite. I didn’t anticipate having you or Lucius to answer to when running my company.”
“Don’t you mean our company?” she responded quickly.
He was about to correct her when he saw the smile in her eyes. She was teasing him. “All my life I’ve been groomed to run Knight Shipping, so imagine how you would feel if the shoe was on the other foot and interlopers came in to tell you how to run it.”
“I can only imagine that you feel slighted, as would I,” Tahlia said. “But this doesn’t have to be a battle between you and your brother, Lucius.”
“And how do you foresee this going, Tahlia?”
He liked how her name rolled off his lips.
Tahlia shrugged. “I’m not sure. We’ll have to make it up as we go along.”
At her words, he frowned. Maximus didn’t leave anything to chance. He was all about facts and figures and making a well-thought-out educated decision before proceeding in life as well as in business. It was why he’d been so successful.
“Listen, no one said this was going to be easy. I think your father put me in the middle to help negotiate a peaceful truce between the two of you.”
“You don’t resent that he’s put you in the middle of an untenable position?”
“At first, I did,” she answered honestly, “but then I began to see it as an honor and that I could make a difference.”
“Are you always this positive?” Maximus inquired, steepling his fingers and staring at her. “Because that’s sort of a Pollyanna way of thinking.”
“That might be so, but I’m here and I’m not going away.”
There was never a truer statement, Maximus