on the table. “My editor wants me to add sex scenes to my stories.” She grimaced and looked up at him, trying to gauge his reaction to her awful statement.
“Are you morally opposed to writing sex scenes?” He knew the policy well, since he’d established it and even announced it to his executive team only last week once the takeover had been announced.
Lana thought about that for a moment. “No. Not at all as long as the scenes enhance the story and help the plot.”
“But you can’t write about something you don’t believe.”
“Exactly.” She was impressed that he’d grasped the situation so easily. No one of her acquaintance would have put the pieces together so quickly. Weren’t gorgeous men supposed to be stupid as well? This man sitting in front of her definitely broke all the rules, she sighed.
“Well then find another lover and learn to like sex.”
That made her laugh out loud. “That’s not my style,” she answered and pushed her now-empty glass away. “I really should get back home. I have to figure out what I’m going to do for a career now.”
Victor stood up with her, tossing several bills down onto the table to cover the tab. “I’ll drive you home,” he said and steadied her with his hands at her waist when she swayed.
Lana had had no idea how potent the drinks had been until she stood and couldn’t seem to get a good grip on the room. Everything seemed a little off center. “Goodness!” she laughed lightly. “I guess I can’t really handle martinis very well, can I?”
He smiled down into her tipsy face, amused at her surprised expression. “You handled them just fine. Come along,” he said.
He put a hand to her back and led her out of the relatively empty restaurant. Since it was mid-week, there would only be a few small groups of people stopping by for happy hour cocktails. More than likely, the restaurant would fill up with high powered executives on power dinners. Or did they only have power lunches, she wondered. She had no idea how to gain or maintain power, so she simply enjoyed the feeling of Victor’s hand at her back, the heat spreading through her body that had nothing to do with alcohol and the bubbly feeling inside her tummy was excitement, a feeling so new, she almost had trouble identifying it.
It was late afternoon by now and the autumn air was starting to cool down significantly. She pulled her sweater closer around her, not having a coat since she’d been assuming she’d be home well before the afternoon sunshine had faded.
“Cold?” he asked and pulled his soft cashmere coat off to wrap around her shoulders.
She looked at the expensive coat, immediately engulfing her in warmth but couldn’t accept it from him. “No, you’ll be cold now,” she said and tried to shrug the coat off her shoulders and hand it back to him.
Victor laid both his hands on her shoulders, effectively stopping her from taking the coat off. “Hold on to it for just a moment,” he said and guided her forward. “You look sexy as hell in my jacket,” he said and winked before pulling open the door to a long limousine for her.
Lana stared at the splendid car and stepped back. She was suddenly intimidated by this obvious sign of wealth. The thought of getting into that gleaming car terrified her suddenly. “Thank you but there’s no need to drive me home. I can catch a cab. We’re probably heading in opposite directions.” She didn’t want to admit, even to herself, that she was intimidated by this latest example of his wealth. She preferred to think of this dynamic, amazing man as more on her level. Him being wealthy only put him out of her league. Not that she would do anything about her attraction to him anyway, but it was nice to dream.
He wouldn’t allow her to step back from the curb. His hands held onto her waist and he moved in slightly as he shook his head. “I can guarantee that we’re not. Get in. I won’t take no for an answer. I don’t get a beautiful woman tipsy and then leave her to the potentially cruel New York City streets and subways. It isn’t safe.”
Lana couldn’t argue with that. She really was feeling the effects of the drinks since she couldn’t find a coherent argument against getting into the car besides being intimidated by this kind of wealth and not