A Taste of Heaven (Billionaires' Secrets Book 3) by Jennifer Lewis Read Free Book Online

managed to blurt out, “I’ll go to dinner with you.”
    She could hear his smile widen in the silence.
    “Great. I’ll pick you up at six.”
    “I’m at the Delacorte.”
    “I know.”
    “Oh.” Sam frowned, then decided she really didn’t want to know how he knew. She could wear the black Chanel dress with the white trim. That was probably the closest her wardrobe came to resembling a nun’s habit. “Just so you know, we’re not going to...uh...do anything, okay?”
    It didn’t make sense, but she could swear she heard silent laughter. “I promise we won’t do anything you don’t want to. I can be a perfect gentleman, when I try.”
    Sam heaved a shaky sigh. “Good.” Still, fears nagged at her. “No touching. Like, not even to shake hands.”
    “Don’t trust yourself, huh?”
    “Not really.” She swallowed and tried not to picture the light shining in those honey-gold eyes.
    Better not to touch at all. You never knew what could happen.
    Or rather she had some pretty vivid memories of exactly what could happen.
    “Well, you can relax. I’ll take good care of you. Be sure to wear something you don’t mind getting dirty.”
    “What?” Her question was greeted by the steady sound of a dial tone. Dirty? Weren’t they going to La Ronde? Unless it was under construction, she couldn’t imagine how you could get dirty there. Unless maybe lobster was involved. With a lot of butter.
    She closed her phone and put it back into her purse. Maybe not the Chanel, then.

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    S am was already in the dim, quiet lobby of the hotel, seated in a leather chair with her eyes on the door, when Louis arrived. Her skin pricked with a mixture of fear and anticipation. Part of her was terrified to even be in the same room with him.
    Another part of her was gloriously relieved to see him again.
    She hadn’t blown it. Yet.
    There was still a chance to welcome him into the Hardcastle family. As her son. And she was just fine with that.
    Or at least she would be if that’s how things worked out.
    She rose from the chair, smoothing wrinkles from her hastily purchased Calvin Klein pantsuit. She’d tried for casual elegance, so she’d look okay if they went to a restaurant or if they—
    “Hi, Sam.” A wide, warm smile lit up his face. His eyes shone with good humor.
    He approached with long, easy strides, as if he intended to put his arm around her and kiss her on the cheek. The way one normally would.
    But he slammed to a halt about a foot from her like he’d hit an invisible wall. His smile morphed into a wicked, challenging grin. “See?”
    His hands hung by his sides. For a split second, her body ached at the lack of touch.
    She bit her lip. “Hi, Louis.”
    “You decided to take a chance on dinner.”
    Sam glanced around, to make sure no one was in earshot. “I came here with a purpose, and I’m trying to get back on track.”
    He studied her for a moment. “Sometimes it’s a good idea to get off the track and reassess.”
    Sam shook her head. “Some days it’s all I can do to put one foot in front of the other. A track is reassuring for me right now.”
    He nodded slightly. “I won’t derail you.”
    The golden glitter in his eyes contradicted his reassuring message. But that was probably just her overactive imagination.
    “So, where are we going?” She glanced at his clothes. Khakis and a button-down shirt. Neutral, conservative attire. Yet somehow on hi m the generic outfit looked strangely hip and...
    No. Not sexy. She was not at all aware of this man’s sex appeal. Besides, the loose-cut cotton totally concealed the thick, strong muscles of his arms and chest. And his powerful thighs. She could see a hint of his slim waist and flat belly, but really, she wasn’t at all interested.
    She sucked in a breath. “Shall we get going?”
    Louis held out his arm to take hers, then whipped it back as if stung. “Follow me,” he murmured.
    He was taking this no-touching thing seriously.