I Can Make You Love Me. Karen White-Owens

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      “Hi,” she whispered.

      “How are you this morning?” he asked.

      “Good. And you?”

      “Busy. As usual. But let’s not talk about that,” he dismissed. “I want you to know how much I enjoyed Saturday night.”

      Wynn couldn’t help smiling at his remark. “Me, too.”

      “Glad to hear it.”

      There was a moment of stiff silence and then Adam asked, “So, why did you call? Do you need something?”

      Instantly, Wynn’s thoughts returned to Saturday night. The feel of Adam’s lips on hers. The heat of his body pressed against hers. You, she thought.

      “Wynn?” he prompted, snapping her from her wonderful dreamy state.

      Shaking her head, she replied, “I’m sorry. I wanted to thank you for the lovely flowers. They’re beautiful.”

      “You’re welcome. I’m glad you liked them.”

      “Maybe I could repay you.” She swallowed loudly and pumped up her courage.

      “How so?”

      “Dinner. This Friday night at my place.”

      Another long, uncomfortable silence followed. Maybe she’d misinterpreted the signs and body language. Her nerves screamed for him to say something, anything.

      “That would be nice. But I’ve got another commitment.”

      “Oh,” she muttered softly. Helen was wrong. He wasn’t interested in her that way. Who could blame him? Wynn was so caught up in her own misery, she almost missed Adam’s next comment.

      “My secretary just received her bachelor’s degree and is moving into a new position. We’re having a celebration for her at Flood’s. I have to go. Why don’t you come with me?”

      “You want me to go to the party with you?” she asked.

      “Yes. Tia’s great. She worked hard to get her degree. I think you’ll have a lot of fun.”

      Her heart lightened and a smile spread across her face. “I have to check on a babysitter. Let me call my mother. I’ll let you know this afternoon.”

      “You do that. I really want you to come with me.”

      And I really want to be with you, Wynn thought. “I’ll give you a call later today.”

      Chapter 6

      The driver parked the long, black limo on the corner. He jumped out of the driver’s seat, rushed around the hood of the car, and opened the rear passenger door of the limousine. He extended a hand to Wynn. She took his hand, stepped gracefully from the backseat, and stood on the sidewalk of St. Antoine and Lafayette Streets. Flood’s Bar and Grill loomed large and foreboding in front of her.

      Wynn giggled, remembering the shocked expression on her mother’s face when the chauffeur appeared on her doorstep and rang the bell. Peg Evans wasn’t easily impressed. The society queen prided herself on being in the middle of everything and knowing how to handle herself in every situation. This scenario stopped her dead.

      On the other hand, Wynn didn’t know what to make of Adam’s invitation. Had she made the right choice in attending this party? Should she be here? Did she and Adam have enough history for her to be invited to company parties? She stood under the Flood’s sign, watching the passing traffic as the glittering lights from Greektown Casino winked suggestively at her from the opposite side of Lafayette Street.

      Wynn smoothed a nervous hand over her outfit. “Thank you,” she said to the driver, reaching inside her purse to remove her wallet.

      The man took a step away from her, shaking his head. “No, ma’am. That’s been taken care of. It’s my job to make sure you arrive in good order.” He extended his arm.

      “Okay.” She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and allowed him to escort her through the bar’s front door. Once inside he bid her good night and left the club.

      I hope this works out, Wynn thought, clutching the strap of her purse in a death grip as she studied the crowd. Where should she go? The bartender might know something.

      Music hummed through the club, creating a low buzz. Dancers moved to the primal beat of the live band. Tables were packed with customers, hooking up and separating, forming new alliances. Young business professionals populated the place on a Friday night. They mingled, danced, and merged into social groups. The dance floor lay beyond the central room.

      With a gentle stroke of his finger along her arm, Adam drew her attention away from the crowd. Her skin tingled as her pulse raced from his touch. He kissed her briefly on the lips, sending her thoughts into a million different directions.

      “Hey,” he muttered close to her ear. His warm breath caressed her cheek, sending a shiver of delight surging through her.

      Sighing with relief, she smiled and answered softly, “Hi. I was just thinking about you.”

      “Good thoughts I hope,” he said.

      “Oh, yeah.”

      Wynn felt the warmth of Adam’s gaze as it skipped along her frame, lingering on her breasts cupped in an empire style top in hot pink. He glanced lower, checking out Wynn’s black Capri pants. Dark leather sandals covered her pink-painted toes. His heated gaze returned to her face and Adam gave her a sexy smile of approval.

      “You look wonderful,” he whispered in a husky drawl.

      “Thank you,” Wynn replied shyly.

      “How was your ride?” Adam asked, brushing away the silver lock of hair falling into her eyes.

      “Good. Riding in a limo is exciting. Thank you for the opportunity.”

      “You’re welcome. I really wanted you to come. Plus, this way works out better for me. I got you downtown without leaving my meeting, and I get the pleasure of taking you home.”

      She examined the goings-on for a beat. “Where is everyone?”

      “Private room in the back.” He intertwined his fingers with hers and tugged her away from the doorway. “Come on.”

      Following him, Wynn strolled along the edge of the bar. “You like those private rooms, don’t you?”

      He grinned. “They can be handy.”

      Her eyebrows lifted suggestively. “Really?”

      “Here. Let me show you.”

      Adam and Wynn picked their way through several rows of occupied wooden tables across from the main room to the back of the club. They moved down a long hallway and stopped outside a closed door.

      “This is the place,” Adam announced.

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