“You’ve made a wonderful choice, Mrs. Howard. Your mother will enjoy the Bavarian chocolate cream mints, and each time she reuses the crystal dish she’ll think of you.” Handing the young woman the white shopping bag with SWEET TEMPTATION in bold red script, Julia held the shop’s glass front door open for her.
“Thank you, Julia, for gift-wrapping it for me.” The model-thin woman laughed and adjusted the strap of her Fendi bag on her shoulder. “She’ll take forever trying to unwrap the lilac paper without tearing it. Then she’ll store it and the lavender ribbon and silk orchid in her closet saying she’ll use it, but she never will.”
Julia smiled warmly. “I believe I’ve made the same prediction myself a time or two.”
“So have I,” the shopper agreed. “Thanks again.”
Closing the door, Julia glanced around the shop to see if anyone needed help. When she was assisting a customer she always gave them her full attention. Nothing annoyed her more than a salesperson’s impatience or curt dismissal if they saw the potential for a bigger sale.
An older couple browsed contentedly in Aladdin’s Cove, a corner of the store that was devoted entirely to interesting and unique containers for the store’s confections. A little boy of about four
stared thoughtfully through the glass case, trying to choose which candy he wanted. At the register a well-dressed gentleman was checking out with a two-pound box of assorted chocolate creams. Since all the customers appeared content and taken care of, Julia decided she could go to her office for a few minutes.
Discreetly signaling Georgette, her assistant manager, who was patiently waiting for the little boy to walk down the twenty-foot glass candy case, Julia went to the back. She took special pride in everything in her shop and always saw that it came first. It had taken her a long time to finally decide in which direction she wanted her life to go, so she didn’t treat her business lightly.
Two years after college, most of her friends had already started to make their mark in the world while she’d wandered aimlessly from job to job. It hadn’t helped that her older sisters never seemed to have any doubts about their career choice. Suzanne was a lobbyist, and Amanda worked for the State Department.
The idea for Sweet Temptation had sprung from filling in for a sick friend for two weeks as a volunteer in the gift shop of a hospital. Julia had always been fond of people and soon learned she had an eye for detail and the unusual. Nine months and a small business loan later, she had opened Sweet Temptation. Her parents had been upset that she hadn’t wanted them to help financially, but she had wanted to do it on her own. And she had.
She truly enjoyed being around people and helping them pick out just the right gift, whether the reasons were personal or business. Because she strongly believed it was equally important to please the eye as well as tantalize the taste buds, she was always looking for unique ways in which to package her goods. Thus the occasional buying trips.
Her wrapping paper changed with the season and never repeated itself; her baskets and containers, from paper to brass to crystal, came in an array of colors and shapes and prices. For those who became confused when offered so many choices, Julia, Georgette, or
one of her assistants was there to gently guide them. This afternoon, however, Julia was the one in need of guidance.
Sitting behind the neat desk in her office, Julia stared at the five messages from Chase. She was more than a little puzzled. There had been five on her answering machine when she arrived home from her business trip last night as well. Of course, there were other messages from friends and family, but for some unexplained reason she felt the pull of Chase Braxton’s messages more.
A manicured pale pink nail tapped the notes lying on the antique Chippendale desk. Never in her wildest imagination had she expected the distant, impatient man of three nights ago to try so hard to contact her. He certainly wasn’t turning out to be what she had initially thought.
Leaning back in her chair, she bit her lower lip and felt somewhat guilty for putting him through so much trouble in trying to locate her. Since she lived alone, she never wanted the general public to have knowledge of when she was out of town. Her gated condo had security guards on-duty at all times, but it never hurt to be careful.
She had sent Chase the basket to make up for her less than cordial behavior when she returned his phone call. The bottom line was that regardless of her initial unflattering impression of his brash impatience, he was a friend of a friend. More important, just because his behavior was suspect, there was no reason for her to follow suit.
Besides, she’d learned long ago that first impressions could often be influenced by variables the other person wasn’t aware of. Mabel Johnson was as kind as they came, but she wouldn’t put up with a rude, arrogant man, nor would she subject Julia to one. The logical answer, she had concluded after a good night’s sleep, was that there was another reason for Chase’s abruptness.
Looking at the messages spread out on her desk, Julia was glad she had sent him the basket. Not many men would be that
persistent in trying to contact a strange woman. It seemed Chase wasn’t a man who gave up.
A smile lifted the corners of her mouth. With a name like Chase she should have guessed. Leaning forward, she flipped through her Rolodex until she found the phone number for Chase’s hotel. She listened incredulously as the hotel’s message center clicked on. Figures , she thought and blew out an exasperated breath.
This was ridiculous. She wasn’t playing phone tag another day.
“Mr. Braxton, if you’re as tired of talking to machines as I am, I’d like to offer a solution, if your schedule permits. I have a late appointment at Leo’s, a supper club here in the city. I should be finished by nine, and then you and I could have drinks. I’ll wait for you until nine-thirty. If you’re able to come, just ask Erin, the hostess at Leo’s, to direct you to my table. Good-bye.”
Julia hung up the phone and sat back in her chair. She didn’t make dates with men, certainly not with men she had never spoken with, but someone had to take action and since he had tried to contact her so many times, she felt it was her responsibility.
Leo’s was perfect. The elegant supper club was a fabulous place to wine, dine, and unwind. Movers and shakers, working-class and corporate types frequented the restaurant. Maybe, just maybe, she’d finally get to put a face with a voice.
Chase wasn’t coming.
Julia took another sip of the white wine she had been nursing for the past thirty minutes. She glanced again at the tiny eighteen-karat gold watch inlaid with diamonds on her wrist. Nine-forty-five. She had given him plenty of time if he planned to show up.
Her meeting with Noah Hardcastle had gone extremely well. He liked the idea of Sweet Temptation supplying him with special desserts during the holidays, starting with a chocolate cranberry upside-down cake topped with cognac whipped cream for Christmas. In the meantime they would partner on a gift basket. She
would supply the basket and giant chocolate-covered strawberries, Leo’s the vintage wine, crystal glasses, and signature linen napkins. Leo’s would be the exclusive outlet.
The popular supper club was already known as the happening place to meet, relax, and have fun, so why shouldn’t it, Julia reasoned, also be known as the place where romance begins? Glancing around the room bathed in soft light, the smooth sound of jazz flowing over the intercom, couples snuggled next to each other, their rapt expressions illuminated by the Tiffany lights on the round tables, or dancing on the intricately patterned parquet floor, she didn’t doubt for a moment the success of the baskets.
People fall in love every day. And one day, when my business is solidly successful, I might let myself fall in love, too. But for now, Sweet Temptation is my only temptation, she mused. Smiling at her little play on words, Julia ran her finger around the rim of her wineglass. Across the room, the double mahogany front doors opened. She straightened, then sat back in the chair. An elderly gentleman crossed to the elongated rosewood bar and slid onto one of the tall, padded stools.
Groans emanated from the four women at the table directly behind Julia.
“It’s certainly slim pickings tonight.”
“He’s old enough to be our grandfather.”
“There’s a football game on tonight.”
“It was drizzling when I came in.”
Julia listened to the four women and tucked her lower lip between her teeth. Was that where Chase was, watching a football game? Married and single female friends had told her, “Never try to compete with a football game. Even if you win, you lose.” Perhaps she should have scheduled their meeting later in the week.
The front door opened again and she glanced up sharply, unaware of the hope shining in her brown eyes. A tall, broad-shouldered man stood poised in the doorway. His black Stetson-covered head moved in a slow arc as he searched the room. His gaze paused briefly
on her, then moved on. A sudden gust of wind pressed the long black rain slicker to his athletic body, then away. Julia got an immediate impression of strength and leashed power. A little shiver raced up her spine.
Jeans lovingly encased muscular thighs and long legs. His skin was the color of burnished teak. The white shirt emphasized his wide chest.
“Mercy, look what the rain drove in.”
“Now there’s a man who looks like a man.”
“If any of you are wondering what to give me for my birthday, you can stop.”
“Since I’m your friend, why don’t I make sure he’s in good working condition first?”
Laughter drifted from the table behind her. They were unabashedly man-watching but until now Julia hadn’t paid much attention to their rating scale. This time she did and wholeheartedly agreed with them.
This man was spectacular, and for some reason, she thought, dangerous. Perhaps it was the way his gaze encompassed the room in a single all-consuming glance. She could almost feel the intensity from across the room.
Finally, he let the doors swing shut and came farther into the restaurant. Erin stepped forward to greet him, then moments later turned and looked in Julia’s direction. Julia felt her breath catch. Tipping his Stetson to Erin, he started toward Julia.
“Oh, goodness, he’s heading in this direction.”
“If he passes us, I may grab his leg.”
“If you grab one, I’ll grab the other one.”
“Just make sure that’s all you grab.”
The women erupted into bawdy laughter. Julia briefly wondered why their laughter sounded muted, as if from a long distance away. She didn’t seem capable of anything except watching the man’s slow, purposeful stride toward her. The brim of his hat shaded the upper half of his clean-shaven face, but she easily distinguished the strong
jaw, broad nose, mobile lips. His eyes were hidden from her, but for some odd reason, she felt their pull.
Another tiny shiver raced up Julia’s spine. Instinctively she wrapped her arms around her. The long-sleeved red suit jacket did little to help. Moistening her lips, she reminded herself it was always on the cool side in Leo’s and continued to watch the stranger who was creating such disquiet within her.
With each step that brought him closer, she hoped the man heading straight for her wasn’t Chase Braxton. She had asked to be seated near the back of the restaurant because she hadn’t wanted to appear conspicuous while she waited for Chase. There were three other tables behind her besides the one where the four women were seated. Maybe he was going to one of them.
Her hope died when he stopped directly in front of her and removed his hat. She almost groaned. The women behind her did.
No man should be that handsome. His lush black eyelashes were longer and thicker than hers. His eyes were black and entirely too intense. His mouth was full and sensuously inviting. Worst of all, he had a charming and irresistible dimple in his stubborn chin.
How could Mabel have done this to her?
“Julia Ferrington?”
Her throat went dry. This man was nothing like she had expected and everything that could make a woman act very, very foolish. “Chase Braxton?”
He nodded, his handsome face unsmiling. “You’re not what I expected.”
“Neither are you.”