Free Can't Buy Me Love by Elizabeth Powers Page A

while since they’d been to an
actual dinner together, but Lena remembered far too many events where he had
left her on her own after finishing the main course, only returning in time for
a quick bite of dessert and coffee before heading off again for yet another
business discussion. Lena was used to it, and was comfortable talking with
other people at the table, so while it bothered her on some level, it never truly
disturbed her since she knew that she had no feelings for Chase, and he had
none for her.
    But
tonight was different. He stayed at the table, made sure her water glass was
filled when she took a few sips, passed the butter or the salt or pepper before
she even knew she needed it, and made small talk with everyone else seated with
them. It was like dating a whole new Chase, Lena thought. And she was finding
the new Chase infinitely more appealing than the old Chase.
    How
had she not realized before that his right cheek dimpled when he smiled? Or
that the grey in his eyes turned darker when he was intensely focused on
something that interested him. Or that his sense of humor aligned closely with
her own? Or that his hand, resting on the back of her chair, could cause her to
shiver, just in anticipation that he might move it to her shoulder.
    She
reached carefully for her water glass and drained it, needing the icy cold that
she felt as she swallowed. He looked at her with amusement and refilled her
glass, almost as if he knew what motivated her.
    “Thirsty
tonight, aren’t you?” His voice in her ear was low, his breath tickling the
side of her neck.
    “Yes,”
she replied. “Perhaps the food was a bit saltier than usual,” was her feeble
excuse, and she heard him chuckle in response.
    As
the waiters cleared the plates and offered coffee, Lena shook her head. Chase
requested decaf, and it was quickly served. He drank it with his left hand,
keeping his right arm firmly planted on the chair behind her back.
    “Why
aren’t you socializing and putting together all sorts of business deals
tonight?” Lena asked, half-irritated that he wasn’t giving her space to
compartmentalize the evening, half-pleased that he chose to stay with her.
    “I’d
rather be with you,” he said softly, his hand moving to lightly caress her
neck.
    “Chase…”
    “Dance
with me?” he asked, smiling mischievously over at her, as if knowing exactly
what his touch was doing to her.
    She
sighed. “I’m not sure that’s a great idea,” she said softly, turning her face
so her gaze caught his. The look in his eyes was searing in its intensity, but
he just held out his hand.
    “Come
on. It’s no worse than sitting here. And I’m finding that I badly want to touch
you,” he added softly.
    Lena
felt the ripples in her belly – the butterflies were taking flight again, and
she was stunned at how intensely she felt their presence. “Chase,” she started
to say, but he had stood up next to the table, and was holding out his hand.
Short of rude refusal, she had no choice but to accept his hand and his offer.
    He
drew her out onto the dance floor, his thumb rubbing gently over the back of
her knuckles before using his grip to pull her firmly into his arms. “Relax,”
he whispered as his other hand landed firmly on her lower back, his fingers
spread widely, pulling her decisively against him, their joined hands clasped
firmly between them.
    “Chase,”
she tried again, feeling a long quiver take root. He would feel that, she knew,
and he would understand exactly what he was doing to her.
    “Lena,”
he whispered in her ear, his fingers wrapped around hers, her lower body
pressed firmly to his.
    “Chase,
stop,” she said quietly. “People will see.”
    “There’s
not really anything to see, sweetheart. It only feels like there is. Just dance
with me, Lena.” She lowered her head to his shoulder, willing her feet to move
in time with his. Goosebumps, she thought. As warm as she was, she felt them
break out all over her