Noelle took special care to prepare herself for the evening ahead. After the shocking ordeal of the morning she needed the time to relax before mingling with the guests.
Her attempts to subtly locate Cole Richards had proven to be fruitless. He’d apparently left the villa earlier in the day and had yet to return.
She sighed as she sat before her mirror applying her makeup to the flawless copper skin. She felt certain that Cole Richards held the key to some information about Jordan and the fatal plane crash. What it was she couldn’t be certain, but she would have to find a way to gain his help.
Satisfied with her polished look, she crossed the room and selected a fitted gown of black lycra. The off-the-shoulder neckline was dotted with tiny rhinestones. She slipped the gown over her nude body. The simple act wrought steamy visions of how Cole Richards looked at her the previous night and how sensual he’d made her feel.
Unconsciously, standing before the full-length mirror, her hands involuntarily stroked her heated body. Briefly she shut her eyes as powerful flashes of long unfulfilled desire ripped through her.
What would his hands feel like, his mouth, his…Her eyes flew open. Her breath came in short, choppy waves. She stared unbelievably at herself in the mirror, her hands still cupping her full breasts.
She flung her hands to her sides. With a shuddering breath she spun away from the telltale image.
Forcing herself to concentrate, she stepped into her strapless black heels, picked up her rhinestone purse and walked purposefully from her room.
The glass enclosed dining room, situated on the rooftop of the villa, had already begun to fill with eager diners. Part of the policy of Liaisons was to cater to the guests’ every dietary whim. Upon arrival, every guest filled out a complete guide to their special requirements and the Liaisons’ chef met their requests with verve. The immense kitchen was stocked with everything from Nathan’s hot dogs to exotic Far East cuisine.
Momentarily, Noelle stood at the threshold of the dining room quietly observing the guests, and hoping to catch a glimpse of Tempest and Braxton, to no avail. However, she was totally satisfied that her fantasy hideaway had become her reality. Maybe now the gossipmongers would begin to take her seriously. There was no way that anyone could doubt that Liaisons was a huge success. And she’d only just begun.
“Checking on your guests again?”
The decidedly intimate voice came from behind her.
Noelle stole a glance over her shoulder to see Cole Richards standing a mere breath away. Her pulse shuddered as her brief glance told her that he was even more handsome than when she’d last seen him. If that were possible.
He stepped around to stand at her side.
“It’s my responsibility to make sure that everyone at Liaisons is well taken care of, Monsieur Richards.”
His slow smile taunted her. “I’m sure that everyone appreciates your conscientiousness.” He paused, noting the seriousness of her expression. “Please call me Cole. I’m sure we’ll be seeing enough of each other to be able to drop formalities.”
Her expression slowly relaxed. “I suppose you’re right. You must excuse me if I seem…”
“Anxious?” he said completing her sentence.
Her smile was tremulous as she nodded.
“It’s just that I’ve worked so hard for so long to—” she spread her hand in explanation “—make this all happen. I just want everything to be perfect.”
He saw the shadow of doubt flicker in those beautiful brown eyes and he had to reassure her.
“Believe me, I can’t imagine anyone thinking otherwise.” He lowered his gaze and then looked directly at her and added gently, “I’m sure Jordan would be very proud of what you’ve accomplished.”
“You knew my husband well?” she asked, smoothly sidestepping the compliment.
“Yes. Very well.”
Noelle recognized her opportunity. She straightened her shoulders and tilted her head.
“Would you care to join me for dinner—Cole?”
He took her elbow and grinned. “I thought you’d never ask. I’m starved.”
Dinner conversation was easy, unstrained and at times filled with laughter. They talked about old movies, the economy, hobbies, places that they had been and found that they had a lot in common. The unspoken realization was tantalizing.
“Your chef is magnificent,” Trent complimented, pushing slightly away from the table. “I can’t remember ever having poached salmon that could compare to this.”
Noelle smiled appreciatively.
“Jordan and I met Paul, the chef, when we were in Paris,” Noelle explained. “I decided then and there that if I were to ever have this dream of mine come true, I would make sure that Paul was my chef.”
Trent brushed his lips with the linen napkin then tucked it beneath his empty plate. “So you thought about Liaisons for a while?”
Noelle nodded. “All of the years that I worked at my aunt’s café in New Orleans, I envisioned a place of my own. Something unlike any other,” she added wistfully,
“You’ve outdone yourself.” He looked around the elegant dining hall, then back at Noelle. When his dark eyes settled on her, she felt her insides flutter. “I can’t imagine all the time and work it took to put this all together.”
She sighed. “I had a good teacher.”
For several moments they sat in companionable silence, sipping the last of their wine, each caught in momentary memories of Jordan Maxwell.
“Would you like to take a walk with me around the grounds?” Trent asked. “I haven’t had a chance to see very much.”
Noelle smiled. “I’d like that very much.”
They talked softly as they strolled across the grass covered slopes, with Noelle pointing out her favorite spots and explaining where some of her ideas had arisen.
“I wanted to try to recreate some of the wonderful things that I’d seen in my travels and bring them all together in one place.
“Like the fountains over there.” She pointed in the direction of the enormous marble fountains. “I’d seen those in Greece. The ideas for the pillars came from seeing the ruins in Rome. The hieroglyphics on the stone wall in the steam rooms came from my visits to the tombs in Egypt.”
Trent was visibly impressed, Noelle noticed with a touch of pride.
“You’ve obviously traveled a great deal. Not many people are that lucky.”
“Jordan tried to make sure that the whole world would be an education for me.”
Noelle slowed down and stopped walking. Trent halted his step and turned toward her. His expression registered concern.
“Is something wrong?”
She stood still for several moments framing the questions in her mind. “How well did you know Jordan? When did you see him last?”
He knew the questions were inevitable, and had dreaded this very moment from the time he mentioned that he’d been with Jordan at the purchase of Liaisons. Careless. He hated having to lie to her. She was so beautiful, so sincere, nothing like the person that he’d envisioned. But he felt he had no other choice.
He stepped cautiously closer. She looked so fragile and vulnerable. Her luminous brown eyes were wide with expectation.
“We worked—together,” he began, “on several projects.”
Noelle’s brow creased. “I