Sensual Chocolate (3 page)

Using the small card to fan herself, she squirmed in her seat. Since he’d come into her house and met her gaze, making her feel as if the wind had been knocked from her lungs she’d been feeling overheated. She’d chided herself on the decision to wear a sweater dress and tights. She’d been thankful when they left the house and walked out in the cool February air. There was no wind out today so the North Carolina air was crisp, chilly but not cold. However, she wouldn’t have minded a few snowflakes deciding to fall from the sky and dropping down the collar of her dress.

That was the reason why she’d agreed to this one night of lovin’. She had to prove to herself that it was just lust. Nothing more. Even though no other man had turned her inside out just by looking at her. Trenton Rayner did.

Her heart reminded her that she was a romantic. A believer of soul mates and midnight moonlight walks holding hands with the man she loved. She wanted all the things she’d sung about as a child. “Jolie and some man sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g”, love marriage and the baby carriage. But Trenton Rayner was not that guy, so why risk it, her heart warned.

Stiles, the blond one, thought and believed just like she did. She could see it in everything he selected for him and his wife’s anniversary weekend next month. However, Trenton was the opposite. She’d caught the many times he’d rolled his eyes or grunted at the different services offered. How could two men with the same father be so different? She could tell there was a deep history and story behind them. There was no mistaking that Stiles was an All-American boy just as easily as it was to see by Trenton’s accent and reserved manner he was all European male.

Staring at the rectangle cardstock paper in her hand, she surmised that he was not the big picture she wanted but he was definitely the extraordinary frame that sat empty on the shelf awaiting the picture. Pretty to admire and hope for something more.

Could I give myself to Trenton and simply walk away?

“Yes.” He would be a memory for her to hold on to until Mr. Permanent showed up.

She set the card down and reached for the phone to make the call.

“I’m back, Jolie. I picked you up some Florentine ravioli from the Italian spot you like beside the mall.” Tasha walked into the room.

Jolie set the office phone back in the cradle. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”

Smiling as she pulled the small aluminum bowl out of the bag and set it on the desk, Tasha said, “It was no problem, I had to swing by there and check on Ricky and my reservations for Tuesday.” She followed up her words with a little happy dance, a wiggle shaking type movement.

Laughing, Jolie stared at the tall white girl with her long red hair. Tasha and her husband had been married for eleven years and they had three boys. Her assistant often said any time she and her husband had away from the rambunctious trio was worth a dance or two.

“I still say you two should have let me book one of the houses for you for a couple days.”

“No need. You know I’m trying to lose ten more pounds, I’d be eating more of the chocolate than I put on Ricky’s body.”

Tasha always talked about losing weight over the last year and a half she had worked with her. Even though her assistant was a little thick she carried it well. Besides, Tasha’s husband seemed to enjoy every one of her curves. To Jolie that was all that mattered.

“Ha-ha, so true. It is very tempting. However, you know we have several products that only have an essence of chocolate so there would be no calories in those.”

Tasha frowned. “What’s the fun in that?”

Shaking her head, Jolie allowed the scent of the cream sauce, spinach and tomatoes to relax her. The decision regarding Trenton was still playing in the back of her mind and had her coiled inside tighter than a cobra.

“How did the appointment go? Did Mr. Rayner complete his reservation?” Tasha folded the now empty carry-out bag.

“He did. Matter fact he went with the ultra deluxe lovers’ packet,” Jolie informed her as she pushed the open folder with the signed contract across the desk so Tasha could see it.

“Oh, man, the spa treatment and the catered champagne dinner. Hot damn! Lucky lady.”

“I know, right.” Jolie pulled the folder back and rose from the desk. “I’m going to take this to the kitchen and bury my face in it. Can you call and check that the florist will have the flowers delivered Sunday for next week. Also contact Renault at
Amoureux
au
Palais
and place the order for the Rayners? Their dates in March are annotated in the folder. They would like the meal on Sunday night.”

Rounding the desk Tasha took up the place she’d occupied. “Will do, boss lady.”

Jolie headed out of the reservation room knowing the booking was in good hands. Tasha was just as efficient as she was lively. They had become good friends as well as co-workers.

“Um, Jolie, does this business card go with folder?” Tasha called out.

Jolie’s heart stopped along with her feet. Damn it. Turning she hustled back to the desk. She could see the confusion evident on Tasha’s face as she looked from the name on the card to the name on the folder. Jolie knew they wouldn’t match, except for the last name.

“Sorry, that’s mine.” Jolie reached across the desk for the card.

Her assistant, a quick study said, “Another Rayner? Is he related to the guest?”

Rubbing the side of her neck, Jolie waffled, “Um, yeah, he is. His brother.”

A wide smile broke out on Tasha’s face. “Awesome. He planning to book a stay too?”

“No, no… This is not really his thing.” Jolie could feel the heat creeping up her neck. “It’s for something else.”

“Oh. What does he do?” Tasha sat there expectantly.

Damn
. Jolie wished he was a construction worker. This would have been a lot easier. She could’ve than simply said he was going to do some work around the property. Glancing at the card it said “Corporate Head Hunter”. She only had a vague understand of what that entailed. “Business stuff. We were chatting about things. Kind of the business. Not really. He came with his brother. Stiles Rayner is his brother.” Duh, her mind screamed. She was talking in circles but couldn’t figure out what to say, besides the truth.

Tasha was still sitting with her hands folded, clear evidence she wasn’t understand a thing Jolie was babbling about.

Jolie sighed. “Actually, Tasha we sort of talked about maybe…a date.” Honesty was the best policy. Sort of. There was no way she was going to confess to arranging a one night stand.

“Oh, that’s great.” Tasha’s face brightened again. “I tell you all the time you need to get away from this place more and see about your non-existent love life.”

“I don’t know. This isn’t that serious. It probably won’t even amount to anything. We see the world from two different sides of the coin.” Jolie shrugged. For that reason alone she probably should just stay away from Trenton.

“Well when it comes to love it’s worth a try. I met Ricky on a blind date, look at us now.”

Love? Yeah right.

“Maybe.” Jolie backed out of the room. “I’m going to go eat this food while it’s hot.” Turning, she headed to the back of the house where the kitchen was before Tasha could stop her.

****

“Spill it, Stiles.” Trenton cruised down the back roads headed toward the interstate that would take them back to City Center. His brother had been relatively quiet since they left from the lover’s resort.

“You’re a grown man, Trenton. Far be it for me to put my two cents into a bank it doesn’t belong.”

Trenton glanced at his brother for a moment then back at the road. “I know you saw Jolie in my arms and I could tell that you have been itching to say something. Even now I can practically hear the wheels in your head turning.”

“Fine.” Stiles hands lifted then dropped. “You’re a love ’em and leave ’em type of guy.”

“I won’t argue with that.”

Stiles’ exhale was loud, filling the car. “I know you’re interested in Jolie. Hell, what man wouldn’t be? She’s hot as well.”

“Your point?” His brother could be downright long-winded at times.

“I don’t think she’s the kind of woman you can toy with and toss to the side. I don’t know her accept what the reports say about her business and meeting her now. However, I’d hate to see her get hurt.”

“Duly noted. However, Jolie is just as much an adult as I am. You know I don’t mislead women.”
Shit
. Trenton could feel himself getting agitated. The last thing he needed was his brother playing conscience for him. “Look, I left the ball in her court. No pressure. If she calls she’ll know what she’s getting into.”

“So, if she decides to get in the tank with a shark she better prepare to be eaten?”

“Hell yes! For hours.”

They both started laughing at the double entendre. Trenton knew his brother was far from a prude. They had spent many days in their first two years of college in and out of several co-ed beds before Stiles met Celeste and fell in love.

As their humor subsided, Trenton said, “I hope you know I do everything I can to be honest with the women I’m with so they don’t get hurt.”

Stiles glanced at him. “I know. I guess I just wish to see my older brother find a special woman and be as happy as I am.”

“No one can be as elated as you.” He purposely stayed away from the talk of him settling down.

“You may have a point.”

As they continued into the city their conversation turned to business. Something Trenton was a lot more comfortable discussing. He would leave matters of the heart to his brother and the kind of people who stayed at chocolate houses.

****

“Rayner here.” The husky timber came through the line.

Jolie swallowed. All of a sudden her mouth went dry at the sound of his English accent. “Hello, Trenton. It’s Jolie Tymber.”

She had debated with herself all day whether to call Trenton or not. Every time her heart talked herself away from calling him, her body countered with images of his body, face and voice. A man that dark natured had to be wicked and delicious in bed.

“What are you wearing?” he asked.

“Excuse me?” Maybe he had forgotten which woman he’d given his number today. She didn’t fool herself in believing she was the only one he was attempting to get with. But she at least wanted to be remembered.

“I asked what you were wearing. Was that not clear?”

Sitting on her couch in her plush living room with the fireplace roaring, her shoulders tensed. She was getting pissed. “I’m sorry, I think you have me mistaken with another woman.”

“Jolie Rayner, a beautiful black lady who probably stands about five-seven if she wasn’t in sexy four-inch heels. Jolie Rayner, the owner of an ass that should either be thoroughly licked or fucked. Jolie Rayner, the woman who smells like oranges and summertime. Anymore questions about if I know who I’m talking to?”

Hell, she couldn’t even breathe, let alone think of a question. The fire in the room that had originally made it feel warm and toasty now with her temperature elevated to the point of boiling her blood, the fire was too much accompanied with his words. She pulled her large T-shirt away from her body trying to cool down.

“No,” she croaked, still attempting to get herself together.

“Just because I enjoy having uncomplicated sex with different women, doesn’t mean I just go around handing out my card every minute of the day.” There was a slight edge to his voice as if he were aggravated about something.

She felt like apologizing for offending him, but held her tongue. He was the one offering a one night of pleasure arrangement, so she wasn’t going to feel bad if people read him wrong.

“Back to my original question, Jolie.”

She had to smile at his persistence. “Why do you want to know how I’m dressed?”

“Or not dressed would be my preference,” he volunteered. “Normally, when I invite a woman to a rendezvous and they call me after the dinner hour they usually want me to come over.”

“Maybe it means that they’ve been debating the wisdom of calling you.”

“If you’re having second thoughts, then why did you ring?”

Settling deeper into the couch, she stared through her curtains at the star-speckled sky. With the lights out in her house the stars were vivid. “I don’t know.”

“Let me help you out, Jolie.”

She heard the sound of a chair squeezing and she wondered if he was still at work.

“You desire me just as much as I desire you. We are both clear about that. However, if you don’t want to do this I won’t make you. Neither will I make this easier for you by telling you lies to get into your panties.”

She bit down on her bottom lip. What he was saying was similar to what he’d told her earlier in the day. “I appreciate that.” Taking a deep breath, she let it out and confessed, “I want to be with you.”

“Then make us both happy and invite me over.”

She laughed at his eager boldness. “Oh, no. We’re not going to make this a late-night booty call. If we’re going to do this then it will be on my terms. You said you wanted me to show you the more romantic side of sex. I need time to set it up.”

“Hmm. A woman who takes control of her own sex life. You are turning me on more, Jolie.” His voice lowered. “How about if I give you a few days.”

“That’s good. When are you free?”

She heard him flipping through pages as if he were going through a schedule of some sort. Another hint that he was possible still at work at seven o’clock at night.

“I have to fly out of town tomorrow afternoon to meet with a prospective client. I’ll be back late Monday,” he rattled off. Sounding as if he were speaking more to himself then her. “How about Tuesday. I could probably get away from work around three.”

She wondered if he realized that Tuesday was Valentine’s Day. For a man who didn’t believe in romance, he was truly setting himself up.

“I have a few things to take care of around here that day. How about you come by my house around seven thirty?”

“Seven thirty it is,” he confirmed. “You live in the main house correct?”

“That’s right.” There was nothing left for them to talk about, but Jolie found herself reluctant to get off the phone.