Free Seducing the Wolf by Maureen Smith Page A

hotel?” she asked Aidan.
    “Yeah.” Hearing the ding of the arriving elevator, he asked curiously, “Where are you?”
    “Um”— Taylor glanced back at Manning —“I’m just heading out to get some breakfast.”
    “From where?”
    “Oh, um, I haven’t decided.” Taylor stepped into the elevator with Manning close behind her. He smelled so good, she felt slightly intoxicated. “Somewhere nearby.”
    “Sounds good. And speaking of good,” Aidan added, his voice dropping to an intimate register, “I really enjoyed last night.”
    Taylor swallowed. “Did you?”
    “Thoroughly.” Aidan chuckled. “Didn’t you?”
    “Of course. Always.” Taylor met Manning’s eyes, then quickly looked away.
    “I didn’t want to leave you this morning,” Aidan told her. “I miss you already.”
    Fresh guilt swept over Taylor, stinging her cheeks. “I miss you too.” The lie sat heavy on her tongue, and she hated herself for that. “Listen, I’ll call you when I get back to the hotel.”
    “All right,” Aidan said. “Enjoy your breakfast.”
    “Thanks, baby.” Taylor hung up and put away her phone, then trained her gaze on the electronic panel above the elevator doors.
    “Why didn’t you tell him the truth?” Manning murmured.
    Taylor reluctantly turned her head to meet his dark, knowing gaze. “What?”
    “Why didn’t you tell your boyfriend you were having breakfast with me?”
    She blushed, biting her lip. “I…I didn’t want to upset him,” she admitted.
    “You don’t think he’d approve?”
    “Would you?” Taylor countered.
    Manning lifted his eyes from her glistening bottom lip and slowly shook his head. “Not a chance in hell.”
    They stared at each other.
    The space between them was so thick Taylor marveled that she could breathe the air.
    When the elevator doors opened onto the lobby, Manning placed his hand at the small of her back and gently steered her forward. The heat of his touch sent shivers down her spine. She’d never been more acutely conscious of her body, of the delicate skin between her thighs. As she walked she could feel the plump folds of her sex, warm and moist. She’d worn a thong to prevent panty lines, but she might as well have been naked beneath the snug skirt.
    Aidan never made her feel naked. Not the way Manning did.
    When they emerged from the hotel, there was a Bentley limo waiting in the circular drive. An older black gentleman in a crisp black uniform held the back door open.
    “Taylor, I’d like you to meet Mr. Haley,” Manning introduced the driver.
    Taylor smiled warmly. “How do you do, Mr. Haley?”
    He bowed gallantly. “It’s an honor to finally meet you, Miss Chastain.”
    Before Taylor could wonder what he’d meant by finally , Manning gently helped her into the backseat of the limo.
    She looked around the luxurious interior, stunned into speechlessness.
    Sumptuous black leather bench seats curved around a romantic table set for two. The table was draped in white linen and adorned with fresh-cut white roses and candles flickering softly in small glass bowls. There was champagne on ice, and a delicious mélange of aromas wafted up from an assortment of covered dishes.
    “Wow,” Taylor whispered as Manning slid into the seat beside her. She shook her head dazedly. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
    “No?” Manning’s eyes twinkled. “What were you expecting?”
    “I don’t know. I thought we’d just—” She broke off as the melodious notes of a violin concerto began playing softly in the background. A thrill of pleasure ran through her when she realized that the original piece was her own.
    Observing her delighted expression, Manning smiled quietly. “I love all of your recordings, but ‘Transcendence’ is one of my personal favorites. It’s beautiful...evocative...triumphant.” He shook his head. “I get chills every time I hear it. Which is often.”
    Taylor stared at him, awash with memories of him sitting in the front row