Her One Night Consequence, page 6
“Listen, I’m not trying to crowd you, but I do like you, Asia,” Blake said. “And I know my behavior was appalling, but I’d like to redeem myself, if you’ll let me.”
Asia couldn’t move, because she couldn’t believe he was here again. He wasn’t letting his foot off the gas in his offensive to win her over. Blake took a step toward her, closing the distance. She wanted to push him away—that’s what she told herself was the wise move—but then her traitorous body allowed him to touch her.
It was the merest stroke of his palm to her cheek, but it was enough. That feeling she’d gotten when they’d first met—that he was someone special—came rushing back. It didn’t hurt that she found him immensely attractive and devastatingly appealing, with his lean shoulders, dark curly hair and smoldering ebony eyes.
“Asia,” he said in that deep tone she liked.
Asia could feel her heart rate increasing, especially when his long fingers tilted her face up and her eyes met his. She drowned in them just as she had that night. Helpless to break his gaze or step away, she knew with every female instinct what was about to happen next. And she let it.
As if in slow motion, Blake’s head lowered and his mouth touched hers. Her eyes fluttered closed. His kiss was velvety soft, like silk, and she sighed when his mouth lingered several seconds. Asia didn’t want the kiss to stop, but Blake drew away from her. Her eyes sprang open and she met the glint in his. Blood was roaring through her veins and her pulse had quickened from just that single kiss.
“It’s still there, Asia,” he whispered, looking down at her. “You can feel it, too, can’t you? Have dinner with me Friday night and I promise the evening won’t end as it did before.”
“I...” Asia didn’t get to finish because Yvette interrupted them.
“Asia, my darling, I was about to ask how my store became overrun with flowers, but I see you have company.” Yvette gazed at Blake questioningly.
“I, uh...” Asia stammered, so Blake stepped forward.
“Blake Coleman, ma’am.” He offered his hand and Yvette shook it.
“Yes, I remember you. Pleasure to see you again, Mr. Coleman,” Yvette replied, “But I don’t allow socializing during business hours and certainly not with grand displays of affection.” She motioned around the room at the flowers.
He nodded. “My apologies for the interruption. I’ll ensure the flowers are removed.” Then he turned to Asia. “Are we on for dinner?”
Blake, and even Yvette, looked at her expectantly. He deserved for her to say no, but there was a part of her—the curious part that had to know if what she felt was real—that was eager to accept. “Yes.”
His succulent lips curved into a smile and Asia’s stomach dipped. She’d let Blake get to her again. She was in trouble.
“I look forward to it.” Blake bowed his head and then he was gone.
“That young man has it bad for you,” Yvette said. “Twice in one week, and now this over-the-top gesture? You’d better grab him up quick before another woman scoops him up.”
* * *
It was Friday. Asia had thought about calling Blake and canceling several times throughout the week, but she had too much to do. She’d texted Egypt to let her know that the bank had turned her down. Egypt had offered her sympathy and told her not to give up. And Asia wasn’t going to. She’d reached out to another local bank and set up a meeting for early next week. Her biggest appointment was this morning, when she met with her gynecologist, who confirmed she was indeed ten weeks pregnant. She gave Asia a prescription for prenatal vitamins and set up Asia’s next appointment.
Asia was just wrapping her head around the confirmation of her pregnancy when she received a text from Blake asking for her address. She didn’t want to give it to him. Didn’t want him to know where she lived in case things went south and she needed to make a quick getaway, but Blake was insistent he pick her up and bring her home like a proper date—as if this was going to happen again.
It wasn’t.
This was a onetime thing to clear the air between and put aside any lingering feelings that might be between them. Asia needed to get the man out of her system once and for all. She didn’t tell Shay about the date because she didn’t need a lecture or to hear she had to tell Blake about the baby. She would make her decision based on how the evening went.
When it was time to get ready, Asia made sure not to wear anything over the top. It was warm out for early June, so she settled on a mustard sheath dress that left one shoulder bare. The bodice was plain and cut across her cleavage, and the hemline fell right at her ankle. She added brown strappy sandals and simple makeup. She kept her hair in soft waves around her face.
Her doorbell rang right at 7:00 p.m. sharp, and Asia had to remind herself to breathe as she opened the door. Blake was on the other side looking resplendent in a superbly cut and tailored suit that showed off his impressive six-foot-plus height and lean masculinity. Asia found herself remembering what he looked like without any clothes on. She flushed immediately and glanced up to find Blake watching her.
He took a step back to admire her. “You look amazing, as always.”
“Thank you. Let’s go.” Asia didn’t need more pleasantries and suppressed the rush of heat in her veins when Blake placed his hand on the small of her back and allowed her to precede him out of the apartment.
Several minutes later, they were at the curb, and this time, unlike their first date, there was a hired car waiting for them. “I hope you don’t mind,” Blake said when she hesitated. “I wanted uninterrupted time with you.”
Asia flickered a glance over her shoulder. “Of course not.” She climbed in even though it was the opposite of what she wanted. If Blake were driving his attention would be divided, but now they had to share the confined space of the rear of the car with nothing but inches to separate them. She sat on the far side of the back seat so they didn’t touch. She couldn’t afford any slipups. She wanted to get through this evening as quickly as possible so she could figure out what she would do next about the baby and the man she had to get out of her system.
Seven
Blake eased back into the rear seat as Denver swirled around them. He was having a hard time sitting beside Asia without touching her. Her delicious scent, a hint of vanilla, flowers and coffee, intoxicated him, but he had to control his impulses. Tonight, he was taking Asia to his favorite French restaurant. The ambiance there was classy and the menu combined French and Mediterranean cuisine. When he had made the reservation, he’d requested one of the few booths available—the best table in the house.
He spared a fleeting glance at the woman at his side, who appeared to be engrossed in the passing scenery. Her averted gaze allowed him a view of her profile, and it arrested him. She was beautiful and sexy. Memories of their earlier kiss assailed him—her dark brown eyes gazing up at him when he cupped her face and tilted her face to his. How sweet she tasted when he placed a soft kiss on her lips. He’d wanted so much more, but they’d been in her place of business and he was still in the doghouse after his behavior months ago.
He had to prove to Asia that she could trust him; only then would she let down her guard and give him a chance. He wanted the Asia from his aunt’s party, when she’d been open, warm and receptive to his attention. Right now, her expression was guarded and she was wary of him.
When they arrived at the restaurant, he cupped her elbow and led her inside. She’d softened at his touch, and he felt a satisfying ripple that she’d reacted that way. At least she wasn’t as unaffected as she appeared to be.
“Mr. Coleman, so great to see you again,” the svelte redhead hostess said when they approached the reservation desk. “Allow me to show you to your seat.”
“Thank you,” Blake said.
Asia swiftly walked in front of him, not allowing him to touch her again. She could act as if she wasn’t interested in him, but her body said otherwise.
Once they were seated, he accepted the menu from the hostess and focused on the woman he’d been thinking about all afternoon. “Le Roux has a great menu. You can’t go wrong with anything you order.”
“Good, because I’m ravenous.”
He remembered from the party that Asia wasn’t one of those women who picked at salads, hardly eating when he was around. She was a real woman with a real appetite, and she wasn’t afraid to show it.
The waiter arrived and Blake ordered a bottle of Dominus cabernet sauvignon, 2017, to go with their baked Brie and escargots.
“No wine for me,” Asia replied quickly.
“Are you sure? They could fix you a cocktail.”
“Yes, I’m very sure. Sparkling water is quite enough.”
Blake nodded and the waiter returned with her water and the bottle of wine. After Blake tasted the selection, he poured himself a glass.
“Tchin tchin.” Blake held up his glass and Asia did the same.
“I’ve never had escargot,” Asia said after she’d sipped her beverage.
“Trust me, you’re going to love it,” Blake responded.
Her brows raised at the word trust and it made Blake realize how deeply he’d hurt her by his callous actions.
“I hope to change your opinion of me,” Blake said.
“I’m not sure you can,” Asia responded.
“Then why did you agree to dinner?”
“Because...” she began and then paused, “because I’m trying to figure out if the person I met that night was real or a figment of my overactive imagination.”
“He’s very much real and wants a second chance with you.”
“So you say, but I don’t know anything about you,” Asia said.
Blake hated this part of a date. The dreaded talk about family and friends, of which he had very few, but if it took dredging up the past to change the guarded expression Asia wore, he would do it.
“All right,” he sighed. “My parents, Daphne and Gil Coleman, were wonderful parents and I had an amazing childhood until I was twelve years old and a drunk driver plowed into their Mercedes-Benz, killing them both instantly. What most people don’t know was that I was in the back seat, but yet somehow, I survived and was pulled from the wreckage.”
“Omigod!” Asia’s hands flew to her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
“You never looked me up?” Blake was surprised. Women nowadays tended to do a thorough background check online.
“It mentioned the accident, but not much more. I didn’t delve too much,” Asia replied. “I’m truly sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. And what about your parents?”
“What about them?” she asked a little too quickly.
“I dunno. I shared about mine. I thought you might want to reciprocate.” He sipped his wine and regarded her over the rim. She was clearly uncomfortable at the mention of family. Was she hiding something?
The waiter came back with their hors d’oeuvres and, instead of answering, Asia cut into the delicate puff pastry and added some Brie and apples to small pieces of toast that accompanied the dish. When she slid a bite into her delectable mouth and made a tiny little moan of appreciation, Blake felt his trousers tighten in response.
Easy boy, he told himself.
After she finished chewing, she wiped her mouth and finally answered him. “There’s not much to tell about my family. My mother is a mess who can’t keep a job, an apartment or a man, and not necessarily in that order. As for my father, I have no idea who he is and neither did my mother because she was the neighborhood hottie and hooked up with several men.”
He put down his wineglass. “Asia, I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “I’m used to cleaning up after Ava. You see, my mother has trouble taking care of herself. I had to grow up quickly and learn how to fend for myself.”
“You shouldn’t have had to.”
“Yeah, well, that shows how different we are, because there’s a lot of Avas where I come from.”
He frowned. “Are you trying to pick a fight?”
“I’m just explaining that we don’t mesh.”
“Except in bed.”
The minute he said the words, Blake knew he’d overstepped, because her eyes narrowed. “And you’re looking for a redo?”
“No,” Blake replied. “Well, yes, but not right now. Jesus, I’m making a mess of this. Asia, we don’t have to be on opposite sides. There can be common ground between us. Like the fact that you want to be a businesswoman and I own my own business, or, rather, my family’s company.”
“I want my own store one day,” Asia said, “but it’s not been easy to get there.”
“Your designs are amazing!”
“The bank doesn’t care about that. They see it, or, rather, me, as a risk they’re not willing to gamble on.”
“Then they’re wrong,” Blake said. “And who cares what one bank says. There’s many out there, and if that doesn’t work, you get investors. In no way do you give up on your dreams, Asia Reynolds. If you do, you’ll always regret it.”
She stared back at him, and for the first time that night, Blake felt as if he’d made a breakthrough. Asia seemed genuinely surprised that he was encouraging her dreams. And he would continue to because she was talented.
* * *
Asia was more than a little bit stunned at Blake’s impassioned speech. When she looked into his face, all she could see was honesty. No one had ever thought that highly of her. Back in high school, her teachers had always looked at Teagan and Wynter as the smart ones.
Asia had always lagged behind, probably because she wasn’t sure what she would be coming home to. Would there be food? Would the lights be on? Or would there be a notice from the landlord for late rent posted on their door for the entire neighborhood to see? Either way, Asia had always felt less than. But not tonight; Blake made her believe that anything was possible.
“Thank you,” she said.
He frowned. “For what?”
“For believing in me.”
The waiter brought their entrées, interrupting their conversation, and they tucked into their respective dishes, coq au vin for Asia and duck à l’orange for Blake.
Asia glanced in Blake’s direction. She felt gauche for never having tried duck, either, and glanced at his plate. He must have sensed her desire to taste the dish because he cut off a piece of meat and held out his fork. Asia leaned over the table and, never taking her eyes off Blake, slid the morsel into her mouth. The orange flavor burst on her tongue.
“That’s delicious,” she said.
He grinned. “Glad you like it.”
Their conversation morphed from food into Blake telling Asia how his aunt had held the reins of her brother’s company until he graduated college. “Sadie is a remarkable woman.”
Blake nodded his agreement. “She isn’t the only one.”
His gaze met hers and held. His expression was intense, and Asia braced herself as his eyes raked over her face. The physical attraction between them was electrifying, like a live spark that sizzled over her skin. Asia’s tongue darted out to wet her suddenly dry lips and Blake’s eyes narrowed, his pupils dilating. Asia nearly stopped breathing, but then he cleared his throat and blinked because the waiter had returned to the table.
“Dessert, coffee?” the waiter inquired.
“No,” Blake said, shaking his head. “I have something else in mind, but I’ll take the bill.”
And there it was. He wanted to take her bed. The look he’d given her told Asia he hadn’t changed. Why had she thought otherwise? She watched Blake close out the bill and then rise to his feet.
“Ready?”
Asia nodded. She was furious with herself for thinking tonight would be different. But could she blame him? By looking at him as if he were a double scoop of chocolate fudge ice cream, she’d sent mixed messages that she was ready for anything on offer. And she was. Her body was saying yes, she wanted this man in any way possible, but her head warned her it would be a mistake. He had no idea of the secret she was carrying, and Asia didn’t plan on filling him in anytime soon. Although Blake had said and done the right things throughout the meal, she still wasn’t sure she could trust him. She didn’t know when the time would be right, but it wasn’t tonight.
Once back in the car, she was silent as she thought about how best to tell Blake nothing was going to happen between them, when she realized they weren’t on the way back to her place.
Asia glanced at him. “Where are we going?”
Blake turned to her. “There’s a great little speakeasy in town. I thought we could listen to some music and talk some more.”
As she looked into Blake’s molten chocolate eyes, Asia was stunned. She’d assumed that after the lustful glances he’d given her at dinner, he was going to try to take her to bed. Was she demonizing him to avoid repeating their illicit fantasy, which they’d turned into real life one night two months ago?
Lord, she was so in over her head.
* * *
Thirty minutes later, after giving the special code, they were shown through two doors, up to the speakeasy, where the staff were all dressed in period attire. The decor was dark, yet included unique vintage furnishings.
The ceiling of the bar displayed art deco murals and the barstools were wrapped in leather. Behind the counter, there was every liquor imaginable and nothing Asia could partake in. That was the hardest part about being pregnant, including the weird cravings. She’d thought there was no way on God’s green earth she would ever try snails, but she had and liked them. Then there were the intermittent bouts of morning sickness, which weren’t a joy.
The host directed them to an area with curtains, which she opened to reveal an enclosed booth. It was private and romantic and exactly what Asia didn’t need, with her wayward hormones telling her to rip all of Blake’s clothes off and have her way with him.
