Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,40

it, though?”

“Yes.” She nods her head and smiles. “I do.”

“I’m glad that’s out the way. Enough of all this negative talk. The others should be here any minute.” I look at my watch. I specifically got here a little early to make sure everything was ready. I wave to the waiter who has been hovering nearby. He gets a distinct look of relief as he rushes towards us with the champagne. A few minutes later, the wine is poured into crystal flutes. The bottle is in a silver ice bucket to the side of our table.

“I can’t believe you ordered real champagne,” she murmurs, her eyes on the glass.

“This is a celebration. Only champagne would suffice.” I see our hostess walking towards the table with a couple, more than likely one of our party, so I talk quickly. “Congratulations on your new position with The Zeus Group. I sincerely hope you will be happy and fulfilled in your role as my personal assistant and…um…bodyguard.” I hold the glass out to her.

She laughs, and we chink glasses.

I certainly plan on working hard to make that happen. Especially the fulfilled part. I want Miss Shaw fulfilled in every way.

“Thank you,” she says. We sip just as the couple reaches our table. I stand, and Miss Shaw follows suit.

“Bolt,” the man says. “Good to finally meet you in person. I’m Teddy Standerton, and this is my wife, Kelly.”

I shake both their hands. “This is my personal assistant, Ashley Shaw. She’s my right hand. She handles everything for me,” I say to them.

“It’s so lovely to meet you.” Miss Shaw also shakes their hands.

“Ted,” I say. “I’m glad you’re still with us. It was touch and go there for a while.”

“It’s been tough,” he says. “I won’t lie. This has been the toughest week of my career.” He starts going over some issues he’s been having with senior management.

“Are you already talking shop, dear?” his wife asks, but she’s smiling, which takes the edge off her comment.

“Why don’t you come and sit next to me, Kelly?” My PA suggests. “Teddy can sit next to Bolt so that they can catch up on work stuff.”

“Great idea,” Kelly says. “Oooh…is that champagne?” she asks.

“It is indeed.” Miss Shaw calls the waiter over. “Call me Ashley…” I’m listening to Teddy with half an ear. For someone who’s supposedly not a people person and shy, I think she’s already doing great. I need to get hold of Legal in the morning. The sooner I get that proposal in front of her, the better.

13

Ashley

It’s a little past ten, and we’re already en route back to the hotel. I’m tired. That was completely out of my comfort zone, but I enjoyed myself. I’m buzzing a little from the champagne. What a treat!

My stomach grumbles. I put a hand to my belly. I’m also hungry, even though we ate six courses. They were delicious but tiny. Two bites and they were done.

“Hungry?” Bolt asks, I hear the shock in his voice.

I don’t know what to say. He must have paid a small fortune for our meal, and the truth is, I am still hungry. It seems wrong, somehow. “I’ll grab a snack in my room.”

“Room service?” he asks.

“Either room service or, I noticed some snack items in the minibar.” In my room. I have a fully stocked minibar in my huge hotel room…which happens to be fabulous. Huge. Beautiful and utterly fabulous! I noticed that the cashews cost a small fortune. I wonder what actual room service would cost. More than I’m willing to spend. I shouldn’t even have the cashews, but I’ll make an exception just this once and treat myself before bed. I shouldn’t, but I will. “I saw some nuts in there.”

“You like nuts?” He sounds amused and flirtatious. I swear, he’s too good-looking for his own good. That’s why everything the man says sounds like an innuendo.

I need to get over myself. “Um…yes…I like them. I guess I am a tad hungry, and they’ll fill the gap nicely.” Now I sound flirtatious. I don’t mean to.

“If you want, we could stop and pick something up?”

“I’m happy to eat nuts.” Did I just say that? I didn’t mean to say that. Or, I didn’t mean to say it like that. “We could stop too,” I quickly blurt out, trying to cover up all this nut-eating talk.

There is silence for a few very long seconds. I think I see his shoulders shake for a second or two, but I