“Wow. A modern-day Robin Hood,” Willow said. Instantly, she regretted sounding so patronizing.
Gloria started to speak, but someone summoned her. “Excuse me. Got to go earn these zeros,” she said. “I’ll leave you two to catch up with one another.”
A beat of awkward silence lingered between Willow and Lauder. At least, awkward for her because his eyes fixed on her as if trying to read her mind. Oh, he really didn’t want to read her thoughts right now.
Deciding she’d be the bigger person, she said, “The Robin Hood comment... I didn’t mean to sound so—”
“Condescending?”
“Yes.” Another string of silence played between them, Lauder’s gaze never leaving her. “A Hope for Home is a great organization. How long have you been involved?” she asked.
“Since its inception, so a little over two years. Gloria can be very convincing, but when she told me the foundation intended to furnish the first permanent home for foster youth who’d aged out of the system, she had me. I’m too familiar with the struggle of trying to survive after foster care.”
The sadness that flashed in Lauder’s eyes stirred Willow’s curiosity. Had he gone through something? If he had, he’d clearly gotten through it okay.
“I usually never attend these things,” Lauder said.
They had that in common. Not that she was keeping a tally. “So how did you end up here tonight?”
“Something drew me here.”
A similar thing had happened to her, but she would never in a hundred years share that with him. The smile melted from Willow’s face, her stomach fluttering from the way Lauder eyed her. Was he insinuating she had led him here? How ridiculous. Lines like that probably worked on his other women, but it wouldn’t work on her. “Uh-huh. Well, if you’ll excuse me.”
Lauder flashed a half smile and gave a single nod. “It was nice seeing you again.”
Willow walked away without mirroring his sentiment, because it wasn’t nice seeing him again. In fact, she’d prefer to never see him again. Unfortunately, he seemed to keep popping up.
Not wanting Lauder to believe he’d run her off, she forced herself to stay at the event a little while longer. Despite her attempts to maintain a safe distance from the man who made her body hum, everywhere she turned Lauder was there. Looking like a ripe apple straight out of temptation’s orchard.
Was she crazy or did he seem determined to be near her? The fact that she found the idea faintly endearing angered her. What was he doing to her? And why in hell was she allowing it?
Lauder joined her at one of the fabric-draped highboy tables. “If we keep bumping into each other like this, I’m going to call it fate.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, some people would call it stalking.” She flashed a low-wattage smile.
He laughed a sweet, sexy sound that made her stomach quiver. Why? Why couldn’t she simply ignore him? Ignore his delicious scent, those hypnotizing eyes, that gobble-you-all-the-way-up mouth, the way he filled out that suit. What kind of sorcery was this man? Shaking some sense into herself, she dispelled the idea he’d cast some sort of seduction curse on her.
“Do you want to get out of here? Grab a coffee or dessert or something?”
Willow glanced to the overabundance of desserts on the long table several feet away, then to the coffee bar next to it. Eyeing Lauder again, she said, “I should really get home. I have—” she searched the depths of her brain “—church in the morning. Early in the morning. Like seven o’clock.” Lying on the Lord. Yep, she’d just secured herself a nice, hot front-row seat in hell. “Good night, Lauder.”
When she turned to leave, Lauder captured her arm. She gasped at the onset of tiny lightning bolts striking through her system. The raw intensity of his touch overtook her. And had she not placed a hand on the table, she was sure she would have toppled over.
Lauder’s tone was gentle when he spoke. “Willow, wait.”
He was in luck. She couldn’t budge, despite desperately wanting to sprint away from him, from this—the insanely powerful connection that had her rooted to the floor. Maybe he was the energy she’d felt earlier. Not the entire room. Just one man.
Drawing in a deep breath, she spoke over her shoulder. “What do you want, Lauder?”
“You.”
That was the last answer in the world she’d expected and not one she wanted to hear.
* * *
It was a long while before Willow turned to face him, but when she did, Lauder could tell he’d stunned her. Hell, he’d stunned himself. Yes, he’d been thinking the word you, just hadn’t meant to say it aloud. Or had he?
Truth be told, he did want her. Wanted her in the best and worst ways imaginable. Wanted to yank her into his arms and kiss her like a madman. Wanted to strip her out of that curve-hugging dress that made the sexually deprived beast inside him ravenous with desire. Wanted to explore every inch of her with his tongue. Wanted to taste and savor her essence. And after all of that, he wanted to make slow, passionate love to her. All. Night. Long.
But right now, he had to push that want aside and focus on need. He needed her, because like he’d told Chuckie, no other woman would do. Seeing her tonight, experiencing this unexplainable tug toward her, made his desire to get close to her even more urgent.
Confusion replaced the shock on Willow’s beautiful face. A thousand scenarios had to be rushing through her head. At least she hadn’t taken off across the room. She seemed pretty good at running. Mainly from him.
“Can we talk?” he said, holding out his hand for her to take.
Willow eyed his hand like it was a snake that would strike if she made the slightest of moves. Apparently, she determined the serpent wasn’t poisonous because she slid her trembling palm against his. Why was she so nervous?
His palm sizzled from her touch. He clasped his fingers around her delicate flesh and led her from the crowded and noisy ballroom. Passing the bay of public elevators, they ventured to the private one that would take them to his residence located on the upper level of the De Lore Hotel.
Willow didn’t budge when the door opened. Reclaiming her hand, she stared at him as if she were totally confused by what was happening.
“Where are we going?” Her tone was quiet and guarded.
“To my place.”
“You live in a hotel?”
That seemed to concern her more than the fact that he was leading her there. He nodded. “The upper levels are residential.”
“Oh.”
When the elevator doors started to close, Lauder stepped between them. “We can talk here if you’d prefer.” He didn’t want to scare her off.
After a second or two, Willow shook her head and brushed past him. Lauder pressed the button, and the doors closed. The ride to the twentieth floor was a quiet one. He used the time to admire how damn gorgeous Willow looked. Her hair was in a tight bun positioned on the top of her head, exposing that neck he craved to lick, nip and kiss.
Her sweet scent filled the close space. The fragrance only made him want her more.
Inside his place Willow surveyed her surroundings before moving to the floor-to-ceiling window and staring out. “This is a fantastic view.”
Lauder shrugged off his suit coat and joined her. “Thanks.” He studied her profile, unapologetically admiring the woman she’d become. Being here with Willow felt right