***
Evan hated coming to these parties, but he didn’t have anything better to do since his slot to speak at the convention had been moved up an hour earlier. He looked across the room to the intriguing woman who had caught his eye the minute he arrived.
He watched as she raised the champagne to her mouth, running the smooth glass across her full bottom lip, hesitating to take a drink as if she was in deep contemplation. A simple act, but eye-catching all the same, making him curious as to what she was thinking.
He deliberately bore his stare into hers, commanding a response from those hungry brown eyes once more.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving us right before the trial starts.”
Jim’s words snapped his attention from the woman in the form-fitting dress that hugged every curve of her body like second skin.
Looking over at his trusted associate, he let out a discontented breath. “I’m afraid there’s a situation back home that needs my immediate attention. I’m not certain, but I think my father’s health may be on the decline. It’s out of character for him to summon me home on short notice unless something serious is going on. But I know I’m leaving things in good hands. Besides my replacement is a savvy attorney, unfortunately he’s quite the ladies man,” he finished giving Emma, another trusted associate of the firm, an amused grin.
As usual, Emma only laughed at his mock concern. “You don’t have to worry about me, Evan. I’ve handled sharks in the form of clients who were far more threatening than any partner could ever think about being.”
Evan glanced at her slender frame, but knew not to let appearances fool him. Although pretty, Emma was a tough lawyer and he pitied any man asinine enough to think she could be persuaded by foolish emotion and petty attempts at schoolboy rhetoric.
“Like I said, I’m leaving the firm in good hands.”
Movement out the corner of his eye caught his attention once again. Looking straight ahead, he now saw the woman in black now moving in his direction.
He had planned to go over and introduce himself, but her coming to him was even better. The way her long legs moved eloquently in the black high heels as she walked across the burgundy carpet tightened the already mounting pressure in his gut.
He couldn’t help but watch with appreciation as she neared.
Never had he felt such a strong, instantaneous desire for a woman he’d never even seen before. Sure he had felt instant lust before, but this feeling moved far beyond physical attraction. It felt more like a need to possess something that he instinctively knew belonged to him.
Automatically his chin lifted and he braced himself for her approach.
He loved the way her long chestnut curls glistened beneath the warm glow of the chandeliers as she moved.
He loved the hint of pink in her cheeks and the determination in her steps.
Women had always come easy to him, but the way she kept avoiding his eyes earlier made him think she would be a challenge like no other. Now he knew he wouldn’t have to work so hard after all.
His smile deepened.
Mentally he started counting her steps as she neared. Three... two...and...one.
For an instant her eyes met his, her lashes dipped, her lips quivered in an attempt to smile, and then to his complete disappointment she walked right on past.
A slender hand reached for the polished door handle beside him, and without so much as a backward glance, she disappeared onto the terrace and closed the door securely behind her.
“Wow. I think the lady likes you,” he heard Jim say.
“You think?” Evan asked, pretending to be amused. But deep down, and for once in his life, he wasn’t sure. How odd.
“Do I think? Oh yea. She gave you the look, buddy.”
Yes, she definitely gave him a look alright. If he had to evaluate the look his first response would be shy... uncertain. But then he thought back to when he had caught her eyes from across the room the first time. He felt her look hungry then, and saying, take me away from all this...
Now he found himself second guessing his usually spot-on intuition.
“Okay,” he heard Emma saying. “As much as I would love to stand around all night and hear the call of the jungle, I have to get my beauty rest. I booked the first flight out in the morning because I have a deposition to prepare for on Monday. Not to mention breaking in a new boss to boot.”
Emma placed her untouched glass of champagne on a nearby table, and said, “I’ll see you on Monday, Jim. And enjoy your conquest, Evan. If you get to L.A. and find you need my help with anything, give me a call.”
With a simple smile, she was gone.
Taking her cue, Jim followed with, “Yea, well I guess I’d better call it a night myself before the Ice Princess gets a jump on things come next week.”
Evan couldn’t help but laugh. Emma had a way of bringing out the competitive side in Jim, and it was no secret they were both vying to make partner by the end of the year.
“I don’t think you have any fear. You’re just as valuable and I depend on you to keep me in touch with everything going on for the short time I’m away.”
Jim's entire body seemed to now relax at the vote of confidence. “No worries, Evan. I’ll carry on with business as usual.”
Then a playful smile appeared on Jim’s lips. “You are going outside to check on her, aren’t you? I mean, if you’re not interested, I could go for you.”
Evan felt the belt of possessiveness tighten around him like a sheet of body armor. The thought of another man holding the woman he hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting was out of the question.
“No thanks, Jim. I’ve got this one covered.”
He gave his friend a firm handshake, and then bid him goodnight.
Staring hard at the closed door, Evan had to wonder why he felt such a strong desire to meet the woman waiting on the other side. She wasn’t his usual type and he certainly hadn’t come to Vegas looking for a distraction.
It probably emanated from a deep, subconscious need to release some of the tension he felt from having to leave New York right before a big case he’d been working on for the past three months went to trial. That coupled with the fact he hadn’t had any romantic entanglements of late.
The last woman he had dated had turned out to be a complete disappointment, as had all the women before her.
A frown tugged the corner of his mouth when he thought about Nikki. Extremely beautiful, but once you got past her looks, there wasn’t any substance beneath. No intelligent conversations, nothing to challenge him. He was tired of dating women like the Nikki’s of the world.
Not that he thought this woman would be any different, but for some strange reason she had certainly aroused his interest.
“May I offer you a fresh glass of champagne, sir?” A waiter interrupted his deep thought.
“Yes, thank you,” Evan said,
Then accepting the glass, he ran his hand smoothly down the front of his silk tie before reaching for the door.
A half smile curved as he thought... maybe tonight wouldn’t be so dull after all...
