Page 9 of Conquered

There was something about her that strummed a chord in his sophisticated mind. Sure, she was gorgeous. The sheen of the chestnut hair that fell down in waves around her shoulder, the bronzed skin that reminded him of caramelized champagne truffles, the green eyes that shone when she laughed or blazed when she thought he was spying on her.

But Noelle seemed unaware of her beauty. She had a delicious ass, he admitted. The way she undulated her hips while dancing, innocently unaware she was being watched. The rise and fall of her chest when she became an angry tigress evoked curiosity. What would she be like, naked and in his arms?

He couldn’t get beyond how unaffected she was to the Blackwell name. Most women would fawn and simper. Noelle was more interested in his ideas for change. That was totally refreshing. Other women he dated would automatically lose interest, preferring to search for clues if he was interested in seeing them again.

What was it his dad use to say?You can’t go wrong with a woman who can cook.

She doted on her son and still managed to run a business. She had ambition. She was the ideal American girl and very genuine.

Instinctively he felt something was troubling her. He wondered what was on her mind. Meeting Noelle today was serendipity. Hers was the only café open at that hour. If it was one of his many business deals, he would have gone in for the kill, based on a sixth sense that there was something wrong, and come out with another business acquisition.

Thinking about her now made him restless, needy. He reached for his cell phone.

Idiot. She didn’t give you her number.He castigated himself.

Although her eyes did light up when he mentioned wanting to see her again.I wonder if it’s too soon to show up for lunch.He thumbed it down. It had barely been an hour since he left her. That and his exaggerated sense of manliness didn’t approve. Women did the chasing. Never him.

A movement by the door alerted him to Lisa’s presence. She was the only person in the entire building who entered without announcing her presence. Perks of the relationship, she often teased when he mentioned it to her.

Hunter pretended to be engrossed with his Mac. Lisa placed a check made out to the Governors Ball. He signed it not bothering to glance at the figure.

“Don’t forget the name. I need it for the RSVP,” she reminded him.

“Yeah,” he replied. Knowing Lisa, she’d remind him again before the day was over.

Unexpectedly a wild idea formed in his mind. He would ask Noelle to come as his date.