Of course he could have been more modest than to leave his shirt unbuttoned when he was working outside in his yard. On the other hand, he might not have been wearing a shirt at all. What if he'd been shirtless when the emergency with Baby occurred? What if his arms and their bunching biceps had been bare when he reached up for her and encircled her waist with his strong hands? What if she'd had to touch his naked shoulders and be pressed against that broad, hairy chest and flat, corrugated stomach? What if —
"Mrs Burke?"
Elizabeth jumped as though she'd been shot and whirled around to see that a group of people had congregated just inside the door of her shop. They were staring at her curiously and she wondered how many times the man had spoken her name before rousing her.
"Yes?" she said, breathless with embarrassment.
"Hello. I'm Adam Cavanaugh."
The dark-haired, dark-eyed man who was crossing the plush carpet, hand extended, was heart-stoppingly handsome. Impeccably dressed in a well-tailored three-piece pin-striped business suit, he still managed to look as dashing as a Caribbean pirate. That reckless flare was in his smile, which was wide, white, and friendly, and in his coffee-colored eyes, which twinkled with amusement, as though he knew he had caught her red-handed in a naughty daydream. He clasped Elizabeth's hand in a firm handshake.
"Mr Cavanaugh, it's a pleasure to meet you in person." She congratulated herself for not stammering, which, under the circumstances, was a real feat.
"The same goes for me." He released her hand and looked about the shop. Turning to his entourage of yes-men, who respectfully lurked in his aura, he nodded with apparent satisfaction. "The photographs I was sent didn't do Fantasy justice." His dark eyes swung back to Elizabeth. "I love it."
"Thank you."
"Wherever did you get the idea?"
She shrugged self-consciously. "I've always liked beautiful things. Feminine things. When I decided to go into business for myself, that's what I wanted to sell. I tried to think of a suitable location for such a shop, where there would be men buying presents for their… ladies. At that time, Hotel Cavanaugh was still under construction." She smiled up at him. "It seemed a natural."
"Very intuitive."
"I'm glad you saw the same potential that I did and accepted the proposal I sent you."
"Actually I can't take the credit for approving your idea. I have lessee managers who handle that. However, I couldn't be more pleased that they decided in your favor."
She was appalled at her naïveté. Adam Cavanaugh was far too important and busy to concern himself with each and every lessee. She felt herself blushing.
"I'm sure your appearance boosts your sales, Mrs Burke." Without compunction, Cavanaugh studied her face and hairdo. The chignon was loose and wispy enough to suggest that it had been mussed. Perhaps by a man's caressing hands. "You certainly look the part."
Elizabeth grew warm beneath his appraising stare. "I brewed some spiced tea." She hoped to remove his attention from her by indicating a simmering silver pot and a collection of porcelain cups sitting on a small round table covered with a lace tablecloth. "Would you like to sample some of the chocolates I sell?"
"I'll pass on the tea, but the chocolates, by all means," he said with a brilliant smile which was almost boyish.
Not only was Adam Cavanaugh incredibly handsome, he was likable. He chatted with Elizabeth while the lackeys in his entourage sipped tea and munched down almost fifty dollars' worth of chocolates. The entrepreneur seemed genuinely interested in her. When she mentioned her children, he quizzed her about them at length and paid close attention to her answers. It was little wonder why this man was so successful. He was a good listener and made the speaker feel that what he had to say was important, interesting, and entertaining.
He took her hand again and pressed it between his. "I'll be in and out of the city for the next few weeks," he told her. "I want us to get together for a private meeting. Can that be arranged?"
"Certainly," Elizabeth replied with more composure than she felt. His touch was that of a man who touched women frequently, who knew how, and who enjoyed it.
"I'll look forward to it, then."
He retained her hand for several seconds before saying good-bye and turning toward the door. He was brought up short at the sight of the woman standing on the threshold. She had on tight black leather pants tucked into knee-high boots. A long fringed paisley shawl had been tossed over a black turtleneck sweater. Gold disk earrings dangled from her ears, nearly brushing her shoulders. One had a feather in it.
It was Lilah. Elizabeth's heart sank when she saw the mischief dancing in her sister's eyes. Lilah was so unpredictable, one never could guess what she was going to say or do.
"Hello, Adam." She flashed Cavanaugh an audacious and dazzling smile. At the familiar use of his first name, several members of his entourage blanched. "I recognize you from your pictures in the newspaper."
Though she would rather undergo oral surgery, the responsibility of making introductions fell to Elizabeth. "Mr Cavanaugh, this is my sister, Lilah Mason."
"How do you do, Ms. Mason?"
Lilah's shoulder settled against the doorjamb in a relaxed posture that matched her lazy voice and half-mast eyes. "How do I do what?"
One of Cavanaugh's subordinates cleared his throat. Another gasped. From behind Adam's back Elizabeth glared unspoken threats at her sister. But Lilah was undaunted. "If you were on your way out, don't let me keep you."
"I don't intend to." Cavanaugh turned his head and gave Elizabeth a curt nod good-bye, then brushed past Lilah who was still indolently leaning against the doorjamb. The Cavanaugh thanes scurried out in the wake of their angry warlord.
"Lilah, how could you?" Elizabeth hissed as soon as the group had cleared the door.
Lilah laughed easily. "Relax, Elizabeth. You had him eating out of your hand. I was watching through the window. I behaved so badly that you'll seem like an angel by comparison. In essence, I just did you a big favor."
"Well, don't do me any more! You embarrassed me half to death. Mother and Father would be aghast."
Lilah twirled off her shawl with a matador's flourish. "I doubt it. They know I'm the black sheep. Can I have this last chocolate? I didn't think those buzzards were going to leave a single one." She popped the piece of candy in her mouth and chewed with vigor.
Elizabeth rubbed her forehead. "I have a headache."
Lilah took sympathy. "How was it going before I made my entrance? It looked good from where I was standing."
"He's positively charming."
"I could afford to be charming, too, if I had his zillions."
Elizabeth ignored the crack. "I didn't expect him to be so sincere, so human. I thought he'd he brusque and all business. Intimidating."
"Honestly, Lizzie, you take the cake. He's as slick as a billiard ball, but it's all an act. Don't you realize that? Enjoy his charm, but don't fall for it."
"I liked him."
"You're supposed to like him."
"He asked me to meet with him in private sometime soon.
"Oh, really?" Lilah sipped at a cup of tea, made a disagreeable face, and returned it to the table.
"Don't say 'Really?' in that tone of voice. It will be a business meeting." Lilah's expression reeked with skepticism. "Strictly business."
"I'm sure it will be." She said it in a tone that indicated she didn't believe it for a minute.
"I don't see why you're so suspicious of him."
"Then I'll tell you why. He's gorgeous, granted. But I'm always leery of men who are that debonair. I just don't trust them. There's got to be a worm in an apple that shiny."