Chapter Twenty-Eight
The morning slid past. They ate on the terrace, enjoying the meal and the sunshine as they looked out over the city. It felt wonderful to have nothing to do but relax and enjoy each other.
As the time for the ball grew closer, Linc surprised her with a team of beauticians from a nearby salon. A woman named Heidi gave her an exquisite massage, a gray-haired lady named Betty did her nails and gave her a pedi.
Twenty minutes later, a makeup artist named Jonathan arrived to apply her makeup, followed by a petite hairstylist named Mandy who shampooed and arranged her hair, curling, then sweeping her blond locks up on one side.
Carly hadn’t felt so totally feminine since the days of her monthly spa appointments in San Francisco, which seemed to be a completely different lifetime.
Mandy helped her into her gown, a rich dark blue chiffon floor-length Oscar de la Renta with indigo beading on the narrow straps and across the bodice. The dress hugged her curves before falling to the floor in a simple but elegant line.
She would cut out her tongue before she’d admit she had bought the dress at a discreet little pre-owned clothing shop off the Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris. The dress, which originally cost six thousand dollars, had sold in the shop for three hundred Euro.
“Now the finishing touch.” Mandy presented her with a selection of perfumes in lovely crystal bottles, each of which had to cost a small fortune.
Carly dabbed on a Chanel fragrance called Misia that hinted at violets, then handed the bottle back to Mandy.
The woman just smiled and shook her head. “It’s a gift from Mr. Cain.”
Carly’s eyes burned. She clutched the expensive crystal bottle against her heart. It was a wonderful gift, one that would remind her of Linc and their elegant evening, and she would always treasure it.
Mandy took the rest of the bottles and quietly left the condo. Carly was slipping her feet into a pair of strappy dark blue satin heels when she heard a light knock and Linc walked in.
He looked gorgeous in black Armani, a white shirt with tiny tucks down the front. Just looking at him turned her on as she admired the way his towering height and perfect vee-shaped body showed the tuxedo off to best advantage.
“My God, you’re beautiful.” He began striding toward her as if he had just awoken from a trance. When he reached her, he lifted her hand to his lips. “Thank you for agreeing to come with me this evening. I couldn’t be more proud to have you by my side.”
Her heart was beating too fast. She tried to tell herself it was just a date, that he was her lover didn’t change things.
“Thank you for the perfume.”
Linc leaned over and inhaled the fragrance next to her ear. “I’m the one who gets to enjoy it. You smell as delicious as you look.”
Her face warmed into a blush, though she wasn’t a blushing sort of woman.
“I have something else for you.” He held a square blue velvet box up in front of her and opened the lid. A glittering marquis-cut diamond that had to be at least four carats hung from a thin white-gold chain. A pair of earrings, each a strand of smaller matching diamonds, sat next to it.
He took the necklace and walked behind her, draped the chain around her neck, and fastened the clasp. “I took a look at your dress so I knew these would work. I hope you like them.”
She touched the diamond pendant nestled in the hollow of her throat. “They’re gorgeous.”
“I knew what I wanted,” Linc said as she put on the earrings. “I phoned Cartier and had them sent over.”
Cartier. Unease filtered through her. “The diamonds are magnificent, but . . . You aren’t saying these are for me?” She had thought he’d borrowed them the way movie stars did. With his connections it would have been easy.
“Of course they’re yours. They’re a gift, just like the perfume.”
Her shoulders stiffened. “I’m not accepting these, Linc. How could you think I would? If you want me to wear them tonight, I will, but there’s no way I’m keeping them.”
“What are you talking about? I can afford to give you these and I want you to have them.”
“It doesn’t matter what you can afford. Don’t you understand? This makes me feel like a kept woman. I’m already living with you—at least for the time being. You’ve made me a loan for the business. Expensive gifts turn this into something it isn’t.”
His temper was heating, she could see it.
“If I kept these,” she doggedly continued, “I’d just have to sell them to help repay the money I owe you.”
His features tightened. “Dammit, woman, you are the most . . .” Linc took in a calming breath. “Since I want this evening to be special, I’m not going to argue. Wear the diamonds tonight and I’ll return them tomorrow.”
Relief trickled through her. “Thank you.”
A slow smile curved his lips. “You’re amazing. If I haven’t already told you, I’m telling you now. You’re also stubborn to a fault and way too damned independent.”
“And you’re domineering, controlling, and too used to getting your way.” Moving closer, she slid her arm through his. “Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s go to the ball, Prince Charming.”
Linc laughed.
They took the elevator down to the underground garage. Carly wasn’t surprised to see a big black stretch limo waiting to whisk them off to the charity ball.
Aside from their unsettling encounter with Agent Taggart, Carly had enjoyed every moment of the day. But as they neared the hotel where the gala was to be held, her nerves began to build.
This was clearly an important night for Linc. She was going to meet his business partner and best friend, Beau Reese. For Linc’s sake, Carly wanted Beau to like her. The Dallas Art Gala, a benefit for cancer research, was the most prestigious ball in the city. The elite of the elite would be there. She wanted everything to go smoothly, wanted Linc to be proud of her.
When the limo reached the front of the hotel, a white jacketed valet opened the door and helped her out, and Linc followed. Cameras flashed as she took his arm and they started up the red carpet to the door.
Her stomach fluttered, tightened. Her fiancé, Carter Benson, had earned an extremely high salary. She had dated wealthy men, but she had never attended an affair as prestigious as this. She had never been with a man as rich as Linc or so well-known.
Members of the media called his name as they walked past. Linc waved and stopped a couple of times so the press could get a shot. Carly’s chest clamped down as she realized how much of a celebrity he actually was, and suddenly it was hard to breathe. Brittany had mentioned his appearances in the tabloids, but Carly hadn’t completely understood until tonight.
This was the real Lincoln Cain, she realized, not the man in black leather who rode a Harley. This man wore a tuxedo with the ease of a pair of jeans.
As they walked into the marble-floored entry, her anxiety ratcheted up another notch. The Adolphus was old Dallas, done in an opulent French décor with rich dark woods, gilded ironwork, a sweeping staircase, and Renaissance paintings on the walls.
As they moved toward the Grand Ballroom, Linc paused several times to introduce her to people he knew. Carly smiled and struggled to remember their names, something she had always prided herself on when she had been a flight attendant.
Tonight she couldn’t seem to focus, couldn’t calm her raging nerves, and if she didn’t get herself under control, the evening was going to be a disaster.
They reached the entrance to the ballroom, where a line of elegantly dressed men and women waited to go in. She clutched Linc’s arm and hoped he couldn’t feel her trembling.
He looked down at her, an assessing look on his face. Carly managed to smile. Suddenly he turned and started striding back down the hall, forcing her along beside him.
“Where are we going?”
He didn’t answer, just kept walking. At the corner, he turned into another corridor, strode past the ladies’ room, the men’s room, paused in front of a door just beyond, reached down, and turned the knob.
Carly gasped as he swept her inside what appeared to be a linen closet filled with stacks of white tablecloths, napkins, and kitchen towels. The clean smell of soap and starch filled the cramped interior as the door closed softly, leaving them cocooned in darkness. She trembled as she felt Linc’s arm slide around her waist, pulling her back against his front. He lifted her hair aside, and his lips brushed the nape of her neck.
“What . . . what are you doing?”
“I’m going to help you relax.”
“In . . . in here?”
“Right here.” His warm mouth pressed against her bare shoulder, sending a wash of heat across her skin.
“What about your ribs?”
“I’ll be fine.” He nipped the side of her neck.
“How . . . how did you even know this room was here?”
He slid one of the beaded straps of the gown off her shoulder. “I’ve been in the building before.” His hand slid inside the fabric to cup her breast and heat washed into her stomach. “Have I brought a woman in here I wanted to fuck? No.”
Oh, my God. He lightly pinched her nipple and desire spilled through her.
“I promise I won’t ruin your makeup.” He kissed the side of her neck as he slid the other strap off and tended to the other breast, massaging, palming, sending pleasure out through her limbs.
Carly moaned.
“Brace your hands on that stack of linens in front of you,” he softly commanded, all the while toying with her breasts, making her wet and hot.
In the darkness, she found the pile of linens and bent forward, felt his big hands sliding her dress up around her waist. Linc moved aside the tiny silver thong she was wearing. She heard the glide of his zipper, heard the tear of a foil packet, felt his hardness nudging against her, then he was inside.
Need burned through her. Her mind shut down. She was blind in the darkness, able only to feel. Linc gripped her hips to hold her in place and started moving, slowly at first, then increasing the rhythm, driving her toward climax. The distant chords of the orchestra melted through the walls and nothing existed but the two of them in their small private world.
Faster, deeper, harder. Pleasure rolled through her in thick, saturating waves. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps.
She heard Linc’s deep voice in the darkness. “You’re close. Let yourself go.”
His words pushed her over the edge and sweet oblivion engulfed her, dragged her into bliss. Linc followed, his body tightening, his low growl rumbling through the pitch darkness.
As she began to spiral down, he drew her up against him and for a moment just held her. Then he pulled her straps back up, let her gown fall back into place over her hips, and she heard the buzz of his zipper. A crack of light appeared as he checked their surroundings. Linc opened the door and led her back out into the corridor.
Dazed, her body limp and her mind ridiculously at ease, she looked up at him. Linc pressed a soft kiss on her lips.
“We’ll take a moment to freshen up, then we’ll go inside.”
She glanced toward the ladies’ room. “’Kay.” Turning away, she disappeared into the bathroom.
By the time she took Linc’s arm a few minutes later and he started leading her back toward the ballroom, she was no longer shaking. Her entire body felt energized and at the same time completely relaxed.
Ready to face the evening ahead, she managed to ignore the faintly smug expression on Linc’s handsome face as they walked along the corridor.
A secret smile tugged at her lips. Maybe he was the man in black leathers after all.