Chapter 2

"We have a new visitor," Genny whispered. "To your right, and he is gorgeous."

"You keep forgetting that you are married." Tessa pointed out.

"Married, not blind. He is coming this way. I will leave you two alone."

"It's not a date."

"It can be." Her friend said with a grin as she hurried away. Turning away from the painting she had been repositioning, Tessa felt her heart slowly dive before settling. Genny was right.

The man was gorgeous and no doubt had been told that often. His thick dark hair was immaculately styled, short on the sides, with a few waves in the front, and he had the greenest eyes she had ever seen.

"I was told you were in charge." He was British! Just the damn icing on the proverbial cake.

"I am." Smiling, she held out a hand. "Tessa Chambers. How may I help you?"

"Landen Chapman, I am very pleased to meet you. I am from out of town."

"I never would have guessed."

"You- oh!" He grinned, revealing very white teeth. "That was a joke. Of course, you would know I am out of town because of my accent."

"You are still holding my hand." She pointed out.

"Can I keep it just a little longer?"

"You are flirting with me. How long have you been in the States?"

"I arrived yesterday." Turning her hand over, he stared at the palm. "Very beautiful."

"Can I get my hand back now?"

"I will if you decide to have dinner with me."

Tessa's eyebrows lifted. "Why should I?"

"Because we will both be hungry by then, and I am new to this country. You are supposed to be nice to me and show me that good American courtesy."

Dragging her hand away, she tilted her head to look at him. "We are characterized as being loud and very rude."

"And I am certain you would want to change that."

"Not particularly." She turned back to the painting. It was positioned perfectly, but something about the man beside her bothered her.

"Lunch then?"

"I am busy. Is there something you came here for? This happens to be a gallery."

"I never would have guessed." He teased, using her words against her.

Turning around, she stared at him. "Mr. Chapman?"

"Please call me Landen. I have a feeling we will be the best of friends."

"I have enough friends."

"Lovers then?"

His boldness gave her a start. Ignoring the uneven beating of her heart, she gave him a polite smile.

"I am not in the habit of picking up strangers."

"Hence the invitation to have lunch or dinner. I am staying at a flat a few blocks away."

"Apartment."

"Pardon?" He quirked a thick, dark brow at her.

"We call them apartments in the US of A."

"Ah, yes. It's going to take me some time to get used to that. So, what do you say? Lunch or dinner, and then we go back to my fl- I mean apartment?"

Shaking her head, she turned to walk away when he stepped into her path.

"What are you doing?"

"Isn't it considered rude in every part of the world to walk away in the middle of a conversation?"

"I thought you were through spouting your nonsense, and since it seems like you have no intention of purchasing anything-"

"That painting you were hanging. It's a Jackson Colby, is it not?"

"Yes."

"What if I told you he is a personal friend of mine?" He sent her a charming smile that did funny things to her stomach.

"Are you trying to impress me?"

"Is it working?" He asked hopefully.

"No. If you would excuse me-"

"I would like to buy the painting."

That stopped her. "Would you like us to ship it to your address in the UK?"

"No. I have been staying here for a month, and the walls of my flat are bare. I would like to spruce things up a bit."

"You said you know Jackson Colby."

He nodded.

"Why don't you go to him and purchase something directly from him?"

"Then that would prevent you from getting the very hefty commission." He glanced at the bold splash of colors on the canvas.

"And you are concerned about me receiving a commission."

"Absolutely." His green eyes wandered over the exquisite face, and a feeling of intense lust swept over him. It must have been fate that had him walking into this particular gallery.

"It's costly."

"I can more than afford it. I can also discuss how much I can afford it over lunch or dinner."

Her tapered eyebrows lifted. "You think you can flash your supposed wealth around to get me to go out with you?"

"Is it working?"

"No."

"I can also testify that I am dynamite in bed."

That startled a laugh out of her and had the lust inside him increasing. Her complexion was what he could call caramel and very flawless. Her dark brown eyes reminded him of the Hershey's chocolate he loved as a child. And her lip - bloody hell! He had to have her.

"Can you produce that in writing?"

He shook his head, struggling to ignore his intense attraction. "That would be in inferior taste. I could give you a demonstration after dinner."

"I am afraid I will have to pass."

He looked crestfallen. "You are turning me down."

"I am sure that's a novel experience for you, but yes."

"Might I ask why?"

"You are a stranger."

"That can be remedied. I offered you dinner and sex. We could get to know each other in between."

"You live in - where do you live?"

"London."

"Thousands of miles away, and I don't indulge in casual sex."

"It would not be casual."

"I have work-"

"First, let me purchase the painting and then go on."

"Do you want the painting? Or is this a way to prolong our encounter?"

His eyes twinkled. "It might be both. Shall we?"

*****

He tried to linger over the paperwork, but she was swift. He then tried to get her to tell him something about the painting, and she did it quickly, which brought him out of her office in just a few minutes.

"The offer still stands."

"Which one? For a meal or sex?" She asked mildly as she verified his credit card. Everything about him screamed money and not just new wealth, but old and established. Working at the gallery, she had learned to tell the difference.

"Both." He was smiling at her charmingly, green eyes watchful.

"No to both."

"You know, I will keep coming until I break down your resistance." Something occurred to him. "Unless you are being so persistent in saying no because you are married." He glanced at her left hand. "Or involved."

"Neither."

"That's a definite relief. I would hate to think I am poaching someone's property."

Her tapered brows lifted.

"Perhaps where you come from, women are viewed as properties, but here in the good old US of A, we are considered to be people."

He grimaced at that. "I just fell a notch down in your admiration of me."

She laughed, white flashing against the coral lipstick she was wearing. "You do have an elevated opinion of yourself."

"Dare I term it as an attraction?"

"You may term it whatever you want." Handing him the painting, she stepped towards the door. "As entertaining as this is, I have work to do."

"I just spent a fortune with you so that you can receive a hefty commission."

"And for that, I thank you." She stepped outside and forced him to do the same.

"What will it take for you to take me up on my offer?"

"Nothing." Smiling at him, she turned and walked away. "Goodbye, Mr. Chapman."

"I will be back." He called after her.

He had lingered a little more, pretending to look at more paintings, but some people had taken her up, and he had reluctantly left.

Now, he was inside the flat or loft as the flirtatious realtor had called the place. It was very pricey in the middle of the business district, but he did not mind. And now that he had met the woman he was going to have a fling with, it was proving very convenient.

Putting the painting in the corner of the sunken living room with the sweeping and spectacular view of the entire city, he went to a recessed bar to pour himself a drink. The smile faded from his lips as he recalled the events of the last week.

He had dropped the bomb on his family about his leaving over the phone, and they were understandably upset.

Taking the drink back with him, he sank on the tan leather sofa and stretched his legs out, crossing them at the ankles.

"You are a Chapman, and we have meetings that need your attention. You cannot just up and leave Landen. You have responsibilities."

"And we have excellent managers to take care of all of that. I just need to get away."

"You were away a month ago; before that, you went away for two weeks in Italy."

"That was business. This is personal. You and my mother want me to settle down. I am saying that I need this break to forget that I am Landen Chapman."

"Where are you going this time?" The question had been rigidly phrased, and Landen had imagined the forbidding expression on his father's face.

"Somewhere in the US. I am not sure where yet." He had lied.

"I hope you realize that the private jet will not be available for this whim of yours."

"I am aware. I am taking a commercial flight."

"How long will you be gone?"

He had hesitated before responding, knowing the fireworks or the cold war that would accompany his response. "Likely for a month. It could be less."

He had waited as the silence stretched into minutes. He knew the trick, which had been used on him and his sister for years. Elizabeth could not withstand the pressure, but Landen had mastered just waiting it out.

"You are being unreasonable."

"I am looking out for myself, Father, and you cannot fault me for doing so."

They hung up on him. After that, he received several more calls from people trying to persuade him to change his mind.

But he had been determined to do this, and now he was pleased he had made the trip. He had not been in touch with his friends yet. He was also planning on going to his club while he was here. He had told her that he was acquainted with Jackson.

With a chuckle and a shake of his head, he pondered that he had name-dropped Jackson just to impress her. It was something he approved of and an action that would have made his family cry, but he did not regret it.

He was also astounded at how much she had impacted him. When the sign caught his attention, he had been walking along the boulevard on his way back from a quaint little tearoom a few blocks away.

The moment he stepped inside the place, the setting caught his attention, and he saw her. She had been talking to someone and had turned her head to the side, and he had caught a glimpse of her profile. That was when he had asked to speak to her.

He still could not believe she had propositioned her. Draining the glass, he put it on the table next to him and spent the next few minutes remembering her flawless complexion, the way she looked when she smiled.

Shaking his head, he rose and made his way toward the kitchen. He did not know one end of the stove from the next but did not want anyone in his space. He had taken this trip to figure things out, and that was what he would do. He would now have to factor Tessa into his plan, but that would be the trip"s highlight.

*****

"You're back."

"I figured that since today is a brand-new day, I would have more success getting you to feel sorry for me and let me take you out." He said jauntily. This morning, he had been so excited that he had spent ten minutes deciding what to wear. He had finally picked out tan trousers and a thin green cashmere sweater.

"I happen to be new to this country-" He stopped and grinned as she cocked a tapered brow at him.

"Well, I"m not exactly new since I have been here several times. But I am still a foreigner. I would think you would want to sell your country to me."

"Are you planning on moving?" She admitted she was pleased to see him and hoped he would return.

"I just might. What do you say?"

"No."

He let out a beleaguered sigh and stepped forward to stand beside her. "What if I paid you?" He shook his head with a chuckle at her furious look.

"That came out completely wrong."

"I would say it did. Care to rephrase?"

"Absolutely." He said sincerely. "I am rich-"

"Okay, that's it. This conversation is over."

"Please-" Snatching at her arm, he stopped her from leaving. "I am not usually so daft. It must be because you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and I feel like an awkward schoolboy."

She eyed him skeptically. "More lies."

"I happen to be telling the truth." He still had his hand on her arm. "What if I purchased another painting?"

"Have you hung the one you bought yesterday?"

He shook his head. "I was hoping you would come over and show me the best place to put it."

"You are nothing if not persistent." She said with a sigh. "There is a showing tonight-"

"And you want me to be your date. Afterward, we will, of course, go back to my place. We make love, and then in the morning, I order breakfast, and you hang the painting for me."

Tessa could not stop the smile from curving her lips. "You are good."

"You have no idea. Do we have a date?"

"You are invited to the opening and nothing else."

"I am going to keep trying."

"Up to you. I must take my leave if you are not a buying patron."

"How do you like your coffee?"

"What?"

"Coffee? I am assuming you drink the beverage?"

"I- Why?"

"I am offering to buy you coffee and a croissant."

"You don't have to."

"I want to. I am fascinated with you, in case you haven't figured that out by now. I already purchased a painting; now I will buy you breakfast."

"How do you know I haven't already eaten?" She asked him curiously.

"Then you eat again." His eyes wandered from her face to the slender curves encased in a bright blue woolen skirt suit that showed off her shapely legs. "It is not going to do any harm at all."

"Fine."

"Thank you. I will be back shortly. Shall we eat at one of those tables?" He gestured to a group of tables and chairs in the corner.

"We don't encourage eating in the gallery."

"I understand that you are the person in charge."

"And?"

"And that affords a certain amount of privileges." His fingers caressed her arm slowly. "I will be back shortly."

Tessa watched him leave, long legs taking him further away from her. The man was lethal, she thought, shaking her head. And she would do well to stay away from him.

"Quite a dish."

"Oh." She started and turned to look at her friend, who had come upon her unawares. "You scared the crap out of me."

Genny merely smiled. "That's because you were so hung up on that gorgeous Brit." She sighed theatrically. "He is back."

"Yes." She picked up the stack of paintings she had taken off the wall and put them on the table there. "We have to get ready for tonight."

"Almost done."

"The caterer-"

"Already booked, and you are avoiding the subject. You should go out with him."

"He wants to have sex with me."

Genny stared at her with a grin. "So, he means it."

"He does. And I value myself too much to have a fling with a man from out of town."

Plunking down on the table, she looked at her friend. "That might be exactly what you need." She whispered. "Something meaningless, and the man is hot and British."

Tessa looked amused as she rolled the canvas. The opening was not as big as the last one, but some VIPs would be attending, and of course, Ronald would make an appearance to show them that he was still in charge.

"I don't have time for this."

"From what I gathered, he is going to keep trying."

"He will give up after a while."

"Tessa-"

"We have work to do. And this is the end of the discussion."

*****

"Did you buy out the entire cafe?" She asked in amazement as she took in the boxes of pastries and the containers of coffee cups.

"I wanted to get on your staff's good side." He grinned at her and took his seat across from her.

Gesturing to Jerome and another staff member, she handed them the boxes and the cups of coffee.

"I figured it would be a way to sway your decision."

"It just made me realize you have nothing better to do with your money." Twisting the cover of her cup, she sipped the latte.

"The owner knows you quite well. She knew how to make your coffee even before I told her."

Tessa nodded. "I am a regular."

He tilted his head to look at her. "I want to be a regular."

Tessa almost spilled her coffee as she stared at him. "That's funny."

"It was meant to be witty." He told her with a grin.

"Who are you?"

"I told you my name-"

"And nothing else. Why are you here?"

"I am here to woo you into going to bed with me."

"Here as in the country."

"Do you think I am a spy?"

"Are you?" She opened the pastry box, took a delicate croissant, and bit into it.

"If I said yes, would that get you into bed with me?"

"No. I am just curious."

"I am just a simple businessman. My life is completely boring, hence the need to spice things up a bit by having sex with you."

"You think having sex with me will accomplish that?" She had to admit that she was fascinated with him, and he made her laugh.

"I don't think so; I know it. You see-" Propping his elbows on the table, he forced her to meet his green gaze. "From the moment I saw you, I knew we would make delightful music together."

For a few seconds, Tessa was mesmerized by the intense look on his handsome face and the sultry look in his eyes. Shaking away the aura of magnetism that seemed to cling to him, she picked up her cup and took a fortified sip.

"You have a way with words. Is that how you do it? Say the right words and have women tumbling into bed with you?" She asked lightly.

"Despite my looks and the vast number of resources I have, I am surprisingly shy."

"Of course. Thanks for the coffee and pastries."

"Wait. You are leaving?"

"This happens to be my place of work, and you have already taken up a lot of my time.

You would not want to get me fired, would you?"

"I could throw my money in your face, but that will not work."

"You are smart."

"I hate to see you go."

"I will see you tonight."

"And hopefully, we get to go back to my place."

"Hope springs eternal," she said obliquely before walking away. Turning to the side, he spent a pleasurable few minutes watching how her slender curves were molded by the suit she was wearing.