Free No Reservations by Lilly Cain Page B

The desire she’d never indulged, at least not with him. Wide shoulders and a trim waist balanced the urban flair of his Hugo Boss suit so that he still looked more like a jock than the shrewd businessman he’d become. A strong jaw line emphasized a hint of five o’clock shadow but his short brown hair had been expertly cut. He leaned against the bar with a beer in hand, a travel bag at his feet. He scanned the room, probably looking for her. The moment his gaze fell on her, a flush of heat spread from her breasts all the way to her fingertips and toes. Some things never changed.
    Stay calm. You’re ready for this. They’d already agreed on a trade, and if he didn’t realize the cards were stacked against him, well, too bad. He should know that there was often more than one agenda in any negotiation. She was dressed to kill and ready to go. Her tailored suit was a deep sapphire, businesslike, almost severe, except that the skirt left her legs exposed to mid thigh. She wore no stockings; her feet were bare in her black open-toed heels.
    She was used to power now. She’d pushed herself hard and garnered enough support, and a partner, to finance her private passenger and shipping business. Owning three small jets at this point in her life was proof of her strength, her talent. She was not giving into nerves now.
    She strode toward him, felt his gaze flicker over her. They’d never finished things at Michigan State. The one time she’d made an approach, he’d ignored her completely. His lack of an answer, one way or another, left things…incomplete. Since her divorce, she’d made a point of finishing things, and of staying on the winning side.
    “Alicia. You haven’t changed a bit. Still beautiful as ever.”
    “Travis.” She swept her eyes over him.
    He grinned, the expression reminding her of how many times he’d won one of their friendly competitions and how much she’d wanted to wipe the smirk right off his face. Half the time she hadn’t been sure if she wanted to smack him or kiss him; in the past she’d done neither. Time to take control, keep him off balance.
    She shook his hand briskly and took charge of their meeting with a sweep of her hand. “Let’s have a seat. Have you got something for me?”
    “Boy, that sounds like something out of a spy novel, don’t you think?” His words held a teasing note and she held back a grin of her own, and the desire to lick her lips.
    Damn, he’s sexy when he teases.
    “I don’t have any secret papers,” he continued, “but I do have, right here in my briefcase—which is not chained to my wrist, I might add—two tickets to the Andrew Wyeth Exhibit. Or at least two electronic receipts. You’ll have to pick up the real tickets when you get there.”
    “And yet, you couldn’t get a plane ride booked a few weeks ago when there were seats available.”
    “ Touché . Care for a drink?” He waved a waiter over. When the man arrived, Travis ordered a double screwdriver.
    A little alcohol sounded like the perfect idea. Liquid courage. She lifted the corners of her mouth into a passable smile and asked for the same.
    Two drinks later and her grin was real, and much more relaxed. The deal was complete. She’d given him a family pass for the chartered flight to Boston departing in just a few hours, and he’d given her two tickets to the art show, now safely tucked inside her purse. Time for step two. Her heart beat a little harder inside her chest. For an instant she wondered if she could go through with the plan that had popped into her mind after she’d agreed to meet her old nemesis. It was a naughty idea, downright bad and not her usual style. But her business partner had encouraged her to go for it. No surprise there—Selene really was a bad girl to the core.
    “I shouldn’t have let you talk me into this. I’m only supposed to invite immediate family members on these flights. It’s a rule I set myself.” She leaned forward and half-whispered,