Leo (Members From Money Season 2 #144)

Chapter 6

Leo sat around the conference table, half listening to the discussion going on. The bid for the Parisian hotel had reached a stalemate, part of the reason he had to make a personal appearance.

He had sent a team over to study the architecture and design and they had come back with a full report. The two brothers who owned the elegant and antique building were at war with each and could not bloody well make up their minds. His company had plans for the place, big ones and those plans need to get under way.

He was looking at undertaking a winter grand opening. The hotel was situated in a prime location and promised to make a quick turnover.

But his mind was not on the heated discussion. When he left the house, she was still sleeping. He had knocked first and then eased the door open to see her curled up on the bed.

The quilt had slid off at some point during the night to reveal her skimpy t-shirt. Her hair was steaming on the pillows, and he stood there with a yearning that was making him angry and frustrated.

He needed her, and yes, it had come to that. What she had said last night in that off-handed way of hers had wounded him.

He knew that her honeymoon destination with that bastard had been Paris, because Michael had cornered him with that information. “You might want to change the destination.”

“What the hell for?” The man had cornered him just as he was coming out of the guest powder while they were at the reception.

“She didn’t tell you that was where she and that son of a bitch planned to spend their honeymoon?”

“No!” He bit out. “What the hell difference does it make? This is not a real wedding as you well know.”

The man had given him a knowing smirk. “Want to continue telling yourself that? Anyhow, it is bound to bring back some nasty memories.”

“Or she might be over him.”

The man had nodded. “Possibly. I hope for your sake that she has.” It had sound cryptic. He had forgotten about it until she had remarked about him having someone here. He had or did.

Sophia would love if he called her up, but he was a one-woman man and no matter how frustrated and hopeless he felt, Sherrian was it for him. Why she could not see what the hell was in front of her was beyond him.

Stirring himself, when a question was thrown at him, he leaned forward and entered into the discussion.

*****

The sensational aroma hit him as soon as he opened the door, and the feeling of warmth and coziness permeated the air.

Leo had been hoping Sherrian would be waiting up for him, a stubborn hope that had not faded despite his long day.

The meeting had dragged on longer than anticipated, with the brothers’ bickering turning into a full-blown argument that needed his intervention. He had finally managed to broker a temporary truce, enough to keep negotiations alive and his hopes for the hotel's winter grand opening intact.

He shook off the tension as he stepped into the house, appreciating the welcoming atmosphere. The warmth was a stark contrast to the cold frustration that had clung to him during the meeting.

He hung up his coat and took a deep breath, savoring the delicious scent that filled the air. It was a blend of something sweet and spicy, something that spoke of home and comfort.

He found Sherrian in the kitchen, her back to him as she stirred a pot on the stove. She wore an apron over her t-shirt and jeans, her hair tied up in a messy bun.

The sight of her, so at ease and domestic, sent a pang of longing through him. He wanted to cross the room, to wrap his arms around her and bury his face in her hair. But he held back, unsure of his welcome.

She was so absorbed into the task that she did not realize he had arrived. Taking the opportunity to study her, he leaned against the frame and felt the worry and despair fading away.

He had whiled away the time by having lunch with some associates and taking in a few sights. At one point, he found himself wandering into several boutiques, tempted to pick up a few things for her.

He had stopped at a local Bistro and sat there brooding in his liquor before he decided to come home. To hell with it, if he was going to allow her to make him stay out in the bloody cold when he could be in the warmth and comfort of a place that he owned.

As if sensing his presence, she turned her head towards the doorway. The quick flash of what he wanted to think of as pleasure flashed across her expressive face and her smile was wide and welcoming.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” He remained where he was, blue-green eyes searching her face.

“So, I’m making Coq au Vin.” She turned back to the stove, giving him an enticing view of her taut butt outlined in the faded jeans. “In the spirit of our being in France, I decided to prepare the dish. Your maid, Maria, was getting on my nerves.” She glanced over her shoulder to see him still leaning against the doorjamb and wondered if he was still mad.

Aside from a terse text message during the day, she had not heard from him. “She was chattering like a damn magpie and mostly in French, which as you know, it’s not half as good as yours.” She paused for breath, and he waited. “I spent the day exploring the various cafes.

My request to go back to the kitchen to watch how a meal was being prepared was not taken kindly.” She turned towards the table tucked into the corner of the room and turned over the plates. “Then I had two gorgeous French men hitting on me.” She flashed him a smile, unaware of the tensing of his shoulders.

“What did you do?”

“About what?” She sent him a vague smile as she bustled back to the stove to remove the pot.

“The flirting?” His face was a mask of irritation and impatience as he watched her flitting from stove to table.

“Oh, I told them I was married, and my husband would not take too kindly to me spending an unforgettable day making love. Their words, not mine.” The fact that she called him her husband, sent emotions washing through his body.

Remaining neutral was no longer possible. Pushing off the doorframe, he came towards her and took the wine. “Let me help.”

They spent the next few minutes putting the meal on the table in silence.

She sat across from him and stole glances as he took his first bite.

“Well?”

He took his time chewing and she had to resist the urge to reach across the table and shake the answer out of him. It annoyed her that she was on tenterhooks waiting for his approval. It also confused her that she had enjoyed cooking for him. When she looked up and saw him standing there, she had felt the acute sense of something akin to longing spearing through her body.

“Oh, come on!”

"Don’t keep me in suspense," she urged, her voice tinged with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

He swallowed deliberately, his eyes never leaving hers, and placed his fork down with a measured grace. "It's perfect," he finally declared, and a slow smile spread across his lips. The tension that had been coiled within her unwound, replaced by a flourish of relief.

“Are you usually this impatient?”

“When it comes to my cooking, yes.” She took a bite and savored the meal, closing her eyes in delight. “I managed to muddle my way through a remarkably interesting time at the market when I stopped to pick up the ingredients. Oh,” she pointed her fork at him. “I made dessert.”

“I am looking forward to it.” He dug into the meal and admitted that she was quite the cook. “You should think of opening a restaurant as well as expanding the pastry shop. You are very good.” She looked pleased at his compliment and rewarded him with her dimpled smile.

“I prefer to stick to my strength.”

He frowned at her. “Are you saying cooking is not one of them?” He pointed to the almost empty plate. “I have been around the world and have eaten at several excellent restaurants, and this is unequivocally the best Coq au Vin, I ever had.”

She stared at him in wordless surprise and seem to be at a loss for words. It took a few minutes for her to gather her composure enough to respond.

“That means a lot coming from you.”

“I meant it. This is sensational.” He reiterated gruffly. “But you do not have to cook. We did not come so that you slave over a stove. Let Maria do the cooking, or we could go out to dinner.”

“I wanted to apologize.” She told him softly. “For last night. I offended you again.” She sighed deeply. “I seem to be constantly putting my foot into my mouth. I did not mean anything by that statement. It is just that, this is all weird to me. Here we are in this beautiful and romantic city and there is nothing romantic going on.”

He wanted to ask her if she wanted it to happen and stopped himself just in time. He had a feeling she was not ready yet. As much as he wanted to feel her against him, wake up to her in the mornings, he had to bide his time.

“Apology accepted.” He inclined his head gracefully as he polished off the meal. “And this more than makes up for it.”

“Wait until you taste dessert.” She enthused, happy that they were in harmony again. His face was difficult to read and had her wondering if he really meant it. But she had never known him to lie or be dishonest. “I also made coffee.”

“Why don’t I take the tray into the living area. I noticed that a fire was lit.”

“Maria did that before she left. She really is not a bad person, but she talks nonstop. Like a fricking magpie.”

His chuckle warmed her heart and eased the tension between them.

While they sat at the table and ate the chocolate souffle she had spent hours making, she filled him in on what she had done the rest of the day.

“You bought supplies?” He asked her curiously, as he savored the delicate dessert. She really was quite good.

“Yes, I did. I know it can be shipped, but there are several new pastries I would like to experiment with.” She waved her spoon, before dipping it into her dessert and scooping up vanilla ice cream along with the chocolate. He could not help but notice her lips and the shape of them. Forcing his gaze away, he took a fortifying sip of his brew.

The week was going to be a trial and test to his endurance, he thought grimly as he listened to her plans.

“I am tired of listening to myself talk. What about you? How was the meeting?”

“Frustrating.” He admitted with a rueful laugh. “At one point, I was tempted to walk out and say to hell with everything. Acquiring that particular hotel was certainly not worth the damn headache.”

She eyed him closely. “Only, you don’t think so.”

He gave her a surprised look at her intuitiveness. “No, I do not. The place is elegant, the structure old and graceful and has withstood a number of hardships. It is like an aged duchess holding onto her grace with both hands.” A smile flitted across his lips, making her even more aware of him as a man, not just someone who had come to her rescue.

“It had been a chateau back in the days and has been around for several hundred years. There has been some considerable restructuring but not enough to take away from its elegance and grace. It is ideally located and with some fair amount of work, would turn out to be a stunning work of art.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The bloody Barreau brothers are feuding and are having a grim time agreeing to the terms. They are not in the position to hold onto the place but are still causing a lot of distress and time by being as ornery as possible.”

“I have a feeling you’re not going to let that stop you.”

The admiration and faith in his ability gave him pause and had him staring at her for a minute. “Absolutely not.” He murmured. For a minute, they sat there staring at each other, the tension mounting, the air thick with it.

To her surprise, she felt her hands trembling and had to put the cup down. Clearing her throat, she passed her hands over her thighs and avoided his eyes.

“Will you sell it?”

“What?” His throat was so tight, he wondered how the words managed to pass through his esophagus.

“The hotel. Will you sell it after you fix it up?”

He swallowed and took a sip of the coffee before responding. “Usually, that is what we do, but this time, I am thinking we keep it. You should see the place. It is a little broken down at the edges but, it still manages to maintain its dignity.”

“I would like to see it.”

“You would?”

“Yes.” She nodded, a smile curving her lips. “We should make a day of it. Sightseeing, including taking in your building and restaurant hopping.”

He sent her an amused look, completely enchanted by her. “Why do I get the feeling that the latter suggestion was what you were aiming for?”

“That’s because you know me so well.” Her laugh sent heat straight to the core of him. “But seriously, I would love to see the place. The way you described it had piqued my curiosity.”

“All right. I have another damn meeting in the morning. But right after, I will see to it that we meet up somewhere. How does that sound?”

“Great.” She finished the coffee and rose to clear the stuff away. He left his chair at the same time with the intention of helping her. Their hands touched just as she was picking up his cup and for a second, he let it remain.

His eyes left their hands to journey to her face and felt an electric jolt at her expression. She looked like she wanted to run but had no idea how to go about it. They were near enough for him to see the black mole near her left eye, one he had noticed before. Her breath became shaky and his thickened as his gaze drifted to her parted lips.

He was not certain what he would have done if she hadn’t dragged her hand away and stumbled back. Without saying a word, she gathered up the things and headed towards the kitchen.

He stood there and closed his eyes briefly, trying his best to quiet his rioting emotions. He had no idea if he should follow her into the kitchen and apologize. For what? For touching her and letting the touch linger.

He was not going to damn well apologize for that. He was a man, albeit one in excruciating agony of course, but a man, nonetheless. And he was yearning for her. It might be prudent for her to remember that.

She did not come back for the rest and coming to a decision, he took them up and brought them in. He found her at the sink with her hands in the sudsy water.

“I brought the rest,” he told her unnecessarily. He did not know whether to be annoyed or amused when she shifted away as he came up next to her.

“Need help?”

She shook her head and refused to look at him. “I’ll just finish this and head on up to bed.”

“I was thinking of turning in, too.” He stayed where he was, enjoying the warmth from her body. And maybe staying longer, just to make her uncomfortable. “I had no idea it was quite so late.”

“It is.” She had stopped washing and just stood with her hands in the water.

“Well, goodnight then.” He touched her lightly on the arm and caused her to jump.

“Are you afraid of me?”

She turned to face him then, her eyes huge, face strained.

“No.” She swallowed. “Of course not.”

“I would like to think you knew me well enough to realize that I would never do anything without your clear approval.”

She tilted her head to look at him, exposing her long and graceful throat. One that he wanted to kiss.

“I know.”

“Good.” He said briskly, stepping back from her. “I will see you in the morning.” He turned on his heels and left.

She waited until his footsteps had faded away and let out a breath. To her consternation, she realized that she was shaking. Her knees were literally wobbling, and she could swear she still felt his touch on her arm. Her arm covered by the wool of her sweater.

Which was crazy! The entire thing was out of control. Closing her eyes, she inhaled and exhaled. Her thoughts veered to what Michael would make of this.

“There is no way on earth you are going to be that close to a man like that and not want to jump his bones. Unless there is something absolutely wrong with you. Unless that son of a bitch you were engaged to took your feelings along with him when he succumbed to his damn injuries, and I know that is not possible.”

But she was not in the market for a relationship. This was just a charade, one that he had agreed to. She had made her position clear enough. No sex.

She had had enough of getting her heart broken. And besides, Leo Coleman was a fricking multi-billionaire and an extremely attractive one at that. He could have any woman he wanted and probably had.

“Enough!” She whispered harshly. “It’s not going happen and that’s that.”

Upstairs, in the bedroom he had always chosen, Leo was prowling the length of the blue and green room restlessly. A shower had not helped a damn bit. He wanted her. And want was too mild a word for what he was feeling. He had almost kissed her.

If she had not jumped back like a scared rabbit, he would have gone for it. Dragging his fingers through his hair, he realized that his hands were trembling.

How in the hell was he going to get through the next few days? They were going to be in Paris for three whole days and then were heading to Italy. He had a few minor businesses there of course but had planned both trips specifically for her.

And had hoped to extend it for much longer. Perhaps a week and a half or even two weeks.

Was he supposed to dance around her? Avoid touching her? To hell with that. Suddenly, he went from agonizing to furious. He was a man, and she knew that. She surely could not expect him to meekly stand by while she was in the room with her, did she?

And how na?ve could she be to think that this was just going to be a neutral agreement. If that was the bloody case, she should have asked her gay friend for the favor. He had blood running through his veins, did he not?

And he had not had sex in several weeks. Granted that was his choice, but still. She was here, was she not? Right here in the room a few feet away.

He had spent last night even though he was battling anger, and pictured her curled up in bed, wearing something slinky or even a plain t-shirt. It did not matter what she used to cover herself with, he could still imagine what she looked like naked. All that soft and flawless caramel skin. Her breasts… He groaned and wheeled around to sit on the sofa.

Clasping his hands between his thighs, he cursed the flesh throbbing against the sweats he had donned after taking a shower.

He was bloody thirty-two and was not lacking in female companion. Right now, he could call one up and she would be happy to accommodate him. Sophia was still waiting to hear from him even though he told her he was married.

“If you change your mind, Cherie, I am here.” She had assured him in that throaty voice of hers.

He could call her and go on over to her flat. Leaning back, he closed his eyes wearily and realized that he just could not.