Free Everlasting Desire by Amanda Ashley Page B

had hoped to distract herself with work, but everything reminded her of Rhys.
    She was straightening one of the shelves when a sudden ripple in the air sent a shiver down her spine. Lifting a hand to her neck, she went suddenly still. He was here. She knew it. Hardly daring to believe, she glanced over her shoulder. And he was there, as tall and handsome as she remembered. All her foolish imaginings and ridiculous fears took flight as he glided toward her. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. Everything about him appealed to her—the red silk shirt that clung to his broad shoulders, the black slacks that emphasized his long legs, the dark blond of his hair. His eyes, so brown they were almost black.
    â€œMegan.” As he murmured her name, he offered her a single blood-red rose.
    She looked up at him. Every female on the planet knew a single red rose meant “I love you.” Had that been his intent, or was he just partial to red roses?
    â€œIt’s beautiful.”
    His gaze moved over her face. “Your beauty puts it to shame.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œI hope you’ll forgive me.”
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œFor acting like a jealous fool.”
    â€œI think we both acted like a couple of idiots,” Megan allowed. “Let’s just forget it, shall we?”
    â€œWould you like to go out for a drink after work?”
    â€œYes, very much.”
    â€œI’ll see you then,” he said, and taking her hand in his, he kissed her palm.
    His lips were cool against her skin, yet they sent a shaft of heat straight to the core of her being.
    â€œTill then,” he murmured.
    Too stunned to reply, Megan could only nod. Oh Lord, the effect that man had on her senses was almost hypnotic.
    Â 
    He was waiting by the back door when she got off work. “Where would you like to go?”
    â€œI don’t care.” She had been counting the hours until this moment, when she would see him again, hear his voice. Whatever magic he possessed, she was helpless to resist it. Nor did she want to. Their separation, though brief, had made her realize she never wanted to be without him again.
    He walked her to his car, opened the passenger side door, then went around to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel. She had never known a man who moved with such innate power, or such effortless grace.
    â€œWhere are we going?” she asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.
    â€œHow would you feel about going to my place?”
    â€œThe club?”
    â€œNo. My apartment.”
    Her common sense told her it probably wasn’t a good idea to go to a man’s apartment, alone, at two in the morning, but her curiosity about seeing where he lived kicked her common sense under the rug. Smiling, she said, “Let’s go.”
    In minutes, they were on the 101 Freeway heading toward Hollywood. Forty minutes later he pulled into the driveway of a tall, glass-fronted building.
    â€œYou live here?” she asked, staring out the window.
    He nodded. “On the top floor.”
    Her heart was racing a mile a minute when he pulled into a space marked PRIVATE in the underground garage.
    After opening the car door, he took her by the hand. Her heels echoed loudly off the cement floor as he led her to an iron-barred door. He unlocked it and ushered her inside. Overhead lights came on when she crossed the threshold.
    Giving her hand a squeeze, he led her down a wide corridor inlaid with black and white tiles to a bank of elevators. It was creepy, being in such a large building when everything was closed. Her heartbeat kicked up a notch when they stepped into the elevator. What was she doing here? No one even knew where she was.
    When they reached the tenth floor, they took a private elevator up to the eleventh floor. Moments later, the elevator opened, revealing yet another door, this one made of what looked like solid steel.
    Flashing a reassuring smile, Rhys