Read Online Attraction (Love & War, Part I) by Katrina Liss - Free Book Online Page B

the far end. He was
thankful there were a half a dozen tables already occupied by other
early diners. Eating in a deserted restaurant lacked atmosphere, he
couldn't stand it.
    He picked up
the wine list and before he could open it she announced, “Not for
me, I've a party to go to. I don't want to be plastered before I
arrive.”
    “ It certainly wasn't my intention to get you plastered. What
would you like instead?”
    “ A sparkling water, please.”
    Well I'm
having a bottle of the Villa San Martino, You're welcome to have a
glass of that if you wish.”
    “ Perhaps I will, but just a very small one.”
    The waiter
arrived and they ordered their drinks, starter and speciality pasta
and salad.
    He leaned
forward, projecting more intimacy, and attempted some light hearted
complimentary conversation.
    “ Nicole is such a beautiful name, it's French. Isn't
it?”
    “ I believe so. But I'm named after my Grandmother, who's
Irish, and who now lives, coincidentally in Paris. I was born and
raised in Devon, actually,” she replied.
    “ Mmm, clotted cream teas. One of my favourites.”
    “ I've had enough clotted cream to last a lifetime, besides
it's so unhealthy.”
    “ But we all need a naughty treat now and then, don't we? It
makes life worth living.”
     
    “ I guess so, my naughty treat tends to be chocolate
related.”
    “ Oh, so you're a chocoholic are you?”
    “ Yes, and on the wagon.”
    “ Shame. You ought to indulge yourself.”
    “ Sadly I can't just indulge, I always OD,” she
laughed.
    “ I understand completely. I'm the same for whisky. I can't
have just the one, the whole bottle's gone before I know it and I'm
blind drunk.”
    “ I love whisky myself.”
    “ I have a really rare single malt at home. Perhaps we could
open it together, later this week. I'd love to share it with
someone who appreciates it rather than glug it all down
myself.”
    “ I'll have to pass. Your case aside, I have a lot on for the
next few weeks.”
    He was
surprised at her immediate refusal of his unsubtle offer to visit
him. Women very rarely turned him down flat. In fact he couldn't
remember one instance of it, ever.
    The wine
arrived and they each had a glass. The starter arrived immediately
afterwards.
    They began to
eat their meal. Ashton loved watching women eat. How they ate gave
him an insight into their nature. And Miss Devon was the most
sensual of eaters. He couldn't take his eyes off her mouth. He lost
his appetite for a moment, caught up in her spell.
    “ Mmm, these are so gorgeous,” she murmured, and closed her
eyes in oral rapture. Her tongue flicked over her red lips, slowly
licking off the slick of butter sauce that has been drizzled over
the tiger prawns.
    Her eyes
opened, catching his open stare and she raised her eyebrows at him,
silently and coolly.
    He was more
than stirred. In self preservation, he dragged his eyes from her
and speared a prawn, stuffing it in his mouth and chewing it to
distract himself. She was right, they were very tasty, and thank
God for that. He needed something else to think about in sensual
terms. His tongue tingled pleasantly with chilli.
    He ate a
couple more and the evidence of his excitement faded a little. He
looked up to continue their conversation to find her watching him
with an unwavering gaze. He'd noticed she was exceptionally good at
holding eye contact. She took a few sips of her wine, continuing to
watch him over the top of her glass. She was taunting him. Teasing
him like a temptress. And he was enjoying it like nothing else.
    She didn't
know it yet but she was going to get some extra special attention
from him in the near future. When Ashton pursued something, he
never failed to get what he wanted, and he'd have Nicole Wright.
He'd make sure she wouldn't forget him in a hurry.
    “ So, Ashton...”
    “ Please call me Ash,” he interrupted.
    “ And you must call me Nikki.”
    He grinned
with pleasure at the sound of it on her lips.
    She was rising
up