Dream Lover (9 page)

Quinn stood very still while his fingers gently brushed against her skin, the moment he moved she took a step back, this was definitely a new side to Maxwell she had not seen before. A small finger of concern stabbed at her, they were working well together and she prayed he would not do anything to spoil things.

The waterside restaurant was beautifully furnished, the lighting soft and romantic, the views stunning. It was as they entered that Quinn realised Maxwell had obviously booked a table and that he had been there before because the moment they entered the Maitre de was beside them escorting them to their table.

Quinn could understand a little French providing it was spoken slowly but the two men spoken so quickly she could hardly catch a word of their conversation, but did get the impression that she was mentioned.

‘Have you ever tried frog’s legs?’ Maxwell asked while studying the menu.

‘No,’ Quinn replied and gave a delicate little shudder, ‘I’d be sick at just the thought.’

‘Okay,’ he turned his attention away from her again and back to the menu. ‘Do you trust me to order for you?’ he asked peering at her over the top of his menu while pulling hers from her fingers.

She pressed her lips together for a moment and gave his question some thought, ‘Yes, just nothing horrid,’

‘Promise,’ he replied his eyes resting on her lips for a moment.

When the waiter came to take their order Max spoke in quick fire French, not giving her a chance to work out just what he had ordered. Once the food arrived he insisted in feeding her the first mouthful of each of the five courses.

Each time he would tell her, ‘Close your eyes and open your mouth,’ while he slipped the morsel of food between her lips, ‘now open your eyes and chew,’ he instructed her. He watched her intently as she tasted the food, his eyes moving between her eyes and mouth.

Obediently she did as he bid and found herself looking into his smiling, seductive blue eyes. Quinn’s heart did a strange flutter, she blinked when she realised he was speaking to her.

‘Chew,’ he repeated, ‘nice?’

‘Very,’ she murmured still looking into his eyes, while thinking whatever food he had put in her mouth was disgusting, she swallowed quickly and reached for her wineglass.

‘Quinn are you alright?’ he asked when she gulped down her wine.

‘Yes, sorry I didn’t like that,’ she took another sip of wine in an effort to rid her mouth of the taste.

‘You said you did,’ he told her looking to her soft golden eyes.

‘Did I?’ she shook her head when he smiled. ‘I... I changed my mind,’ she told him while taking another sip of her wine. What was nice, no a whole lot more than nice, was looking in to his eyes and listening to his deep voice. Immediately a tiny voice popped in to her head warning her not to go down that road, he’s the boss and never forget it she warned herself.

The next time he placed the food in her mouth she made sure she knew what she was saying, so when he asked if she liked it she could tell him truthfully, ‘Yes, what was it?’ When she saw the twinkle in his eyes she knew it was the frogs’ legs, besides the snails the meal was a success.

In fact the whole evening was a success, Quinn realised her boss was nothing at all like the man she worked for of a daytime. He laughed easily, told her silly jokes making her laugh; when they stood up to leave the restaurant he slipped his arm around her shoulders as though it was the most natural thing to do and Quinn accepted leaning slightly into him.

As they strolled back toward their hotel he stopped under the shelter of a bridge that crossed the river, and looked down into her eyes, he rested his hand against her shoulder pulling her closer, while he ran other hand through her hair then cupping her face he tilted her chin to him and lowered his head.

For a long moment Quinn stayed still, mesmerised by the way his eyes darkened and the way his tongue moved from behind his perfectly white teeth across his lips.

‘What are you doing?’ she asked him, stupidly.

Maxwell looked down into her eyes, ‘Kissing you.’

Then before she could stop him his lips were on hers, and she knew even before his lips touched hers his kiss was going to be something special. And it was, so she ignored the warning voice in her head and encouraged his mouth against her own. Quinn felt a moment’s disappointment when his lips left hers but only for an instant because then she sighed as he started to kiss her throat and neck then slowly toward her ear where he murmured soft breathy words. She turned her face toward him for another of his devastating kisses; there was something strangely familiar about his kiss, like the way he ran the tip of his tongue across her lips before sliding gently into her mouth. Even the taste of his skin and the way he held her she recognised. When he deepened his kiss any attempts to recall who had kissed her this way were scattered to the wind. But deep down inside some sixth sense told her; only Maxwell Cordell kissed her this way. Her heart beat hard against her ribs, a million voices in her head called out to ask her
‘what the hell are you doing?’
Quinn closed her ears to the sensible side of herself, lifted her hand and ran her fingers through his thick dark hair.

‘Max,’ she murmured softly when he ran his hand down her body moulding her closer to his own, she was sure he had forgotten they were in a public place.

‘Of course,’ he released her from the tight hold, ‘we should go,’ he whispered softly against her throat, but still kissing her one more time, while running his hands through her long soft hair.

Maxwell wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they started on their way back to their hotel, but every so often when there was no one around he would pull her into his arms and kiss her passionately.

‘Max,’ she whispered as she pulled her lips from his, ‘I... I’m not sleeping with you.’ She recognised the desire in his eyes, in his kiss in the way his body pressed against her own.

‘That wasn’t why I said we should go,’ he said smoothing down her long hair, ‘it’s late, I wasn’t presuming you would.’

Quinn was glad it was dark she could feel her face burn with embarrassment; hopefully it was too dark for him to see.

‘Sorry I would rather you know... so there’s no miss understanding,’ she looked up into his face she had to know if he was angry with her, to her relief he was smiling, ‘I didn’t mean to presume…’ she finished lamely.

He was still smiling, ‘No neither did I,’ he wrapped his arm around her shoulders kissed her gently one more time before heading off toward their hotel.

Quinn declined when he offered her a nightcap, ‘I’ve had a lovely evening thank you,’ they were outside her room now and she was still concerned about what he expected from her.

‘Will you have breakfast with me?’ he asked taking her key from her fingers and unlocking her door. He smiled when she nodded, ‘Just one more thing,’ he said pushing her into her room, ‘can I kiss you good night?’

Quinn stepped into his arms, wrapping her own around his neck, running her fingers through his thick dark hair. If she thought he had kissed her passionately before, those kisses paled into insignificance with the way he kissed her now. He swept her into his arms, moulding her body tightly against his own until there was no part of them that didn’t touch. Sliding his hand down her back until he covered her shapely bottom he held her tightly against his hard arousal.

She couldn’t have moved if she had wanted too, he held her so firmly, turning her so her back was against the wall he ran his hands down the length of her body. Touching lightly here firmer there, until her legs trembled and she could hardly hold herself upright.

Maxwell only released his hold when her breath caught and she gave a soft gasp, ‘I’ll give you a call at eight for breakfast,’ he said, as he spoke he took her hand resting it against his chest, she could feel his heart thundering against his chest muscles, against her palm.

She nodded dumbly unable to speak, it was only as he started to move away she realised she had opened his shirt and one hand was still caressing his bare chest. Maxwell smiled then pressed his lips gently against hers once more and disappeared from her room.

CHAPTER SIX

Quinn had never found it necessary to contemplate having a cold shower before in the whole of her twenty-four years of life, but at that moment an ice-cold dip was just what she needed. The man should carry a hazard warning she was ready to burst into flames!

Long after Max had gone, long after she had got into her bed she was still thinking about him. Why should she recognise his kisses? Why should she know he would do a certain thing just before he did? But the main thing she pondered was just why had she allowed him to kiss her in the first place? In one sweep she had gone against all of her rules; don’t get involved with anyone you work with, especially the boss.

Quinn lay her head down on the pillows, but this time instead of trying to blank the dream which had puzzled her for weeks from her mind she allowed herself to remember.

She saw herself in their hotel lounge, then by her bedside where Max took her in his arms. She was afraid of something, closing her eyes tightly she tried to recall what it was but couldn’t. Still trying to remember she eventually fell asleep but this time she dreamt a new dream.

Right on eight o’clock Maxwell knocked on their adjoining door, dressed to perfection, as always, this time he was wearing a slate grey business suit, a snow white shirt and a dark blue tie.

When she opened the door he took a step forward, she one back as she realised he was about to kiss her. While showering and getting ready she had thought of nothing except how their relationship had moved from employer and employee to possibly lovers. Quinn had sat at her dressing table for over a minute trying to pinpoint the moment her feelings for him changed so dramatically. It would have been hard not to be attracted to Maxwell Cordell; he was a stunningly handsome man but and it was a big but he was still her boss. Rule number one never get involved with the boss.

If Maxwell was troubled she avoided his kiss he took it well and smiled, ‘Good morning, I’ve had our breakfast brought up to my room. We can eat on the balcony if that suits you,’ he stood aside for her to pass into his room.

His room like hers enjoyed a view of the River Seine, ‘This view is too good to miss,’ she smiled as he held her chair out for her. This time she couldn’t avoid his kiss; he held onto her shoulders and gently caressed her lips with his own.

‘You didn’t really think I was going to go without a ‘
good morning’
kiss did you?’ he smiled into her eyes while pressed his lips against hers.

She returned his kiss and his smile but said nothing until after they had finished eating.

‘Max,’ she said softly, ‘I’ve been thinking,’ she wasn’t afraid of Maxwell Cordell all he did was shout, so why was she so nervous now?

‘Yes,’ he prompted.

‘About last night,’ she moved her hand away as she realised he was reaching for it.

‘Quinn,’ he said her name so softly her eyes flew to his.

‘It’s a mistake, us. I’m not into
‘flings’
with the boss,’ she took a deep breath before her courage failed. ‘It’s not that I don’t find you attractive, it’s just I make it a personal rule never to date anyone I work closely with, especially with the boss.’

She missed his raised brows as she admitted she found him attractive, she was one of the few women he had met that didn’t make eyes at him at every opportunity. Not that he was vain about his looks it was just something he was aware of that happened.

‘What if it wasn’t just a ‘
fling
’ as you so tastefully put it?’ he leaned back in his chair and watched her through his half-lowered lashes.

Quinn shook her head, ‘Until yesterday you yelled at me every chance you got. I don’t understand what happened…’ she started.

‘I’ve also been nice to you, lots of times,’ he cut in and looked hurt when she raised her brows. ‘What about on the plane, I held your hand. I took care of you when Giles hit you and I didn’t bill you for ruining my suit and two shirts,’ his mouth curved into a generous smile. ‘And I introduced you to frogs legs,’ he added with another smile.

She shook her head and ignored his humorous banter, ‘It would never work, not while we work together,’ she said seriously.

Maxwell fell into the same serious mood, ‘Okay, so what about when Paul returns to work?’

Quinn shook her head, ‘I will still be working for your company,’ she argued but only half heartedly.

‘I could sack you,’ he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Quinn couldn’t help herself and laughed, ‘What for?’

He shrugged her shoulders, ‘Oh I could probably think of something.’ He tapped his brow with his finger while pretending to think, ‘I could say you…. you seduced me while I slept!’

Quinn knew he was teasing but it didn’t stop the colour draining from her face, his joke was a little to near to the bone. Before she could stop herself she leapt up and ran from his room and in to her own locking the door behind her.

‘Quinn,’ he shouted as she ran across the room, ‘I was teasing…’