They hadn’t kept up a running conversation but she didn’t feel uncomfortable. She felt cocooned. The leather car seat conformed to her body; the soft jazz issuing from the speakers murmured to her.
As they got closer to the city, her attention focused solely on Tyler. She watched his lips as he spoke, watched his hands grip the wheel. Felt her body tense as she thought about those hands caressing her.
The amount of traffic in the city at ten at night amazed her, which then made her feel like a real hick. Adamstown rolled up its sidewalks by nine at the latest, no matter what was going on.
When they finally pulled up to the hotel and Tyler drove down the ramp into the underground parking facility, she thought she had a handle on her uncertainty.
After he’d parked in a gated area, he threw the keys to a young attendant who came rushing out of the booth.
Kate waited as they exchanged a few words, then Tyler got her bag from the trunk before he walked around to open her door and help her out.
He would have released her but she twined her fingers with his and watched his gaze narrow and his expression sharpen with intensity.
A shiver of need worked its way up her spine and she couldn’t help but think how he would look at her when he took her to bed.
That was exactly what she wanted and she wasn’t going to give up the opportunity.
No matter what happened in the future, she was grabbing hold of tonight and not letting go until she got what she wanted.
Tyler. In a bed. Making her scream.
Okay, she might give up the screaming for a simple orgasm that she didn’t have to work so damn hard for.
Arnie had never—
No. No thoughts of Arnie tonight.
“Would you like to see your room or should I have your bag sent up so we can go to the bar?”
“Do you think I should change first?”
The elevator opened seconds after he pushed the button and they stepped inside. As the doors closed, his gaze trapped and held hers. “Absolutely not. You look stunning.”
She didn’t attempt to hold back her smile and was rewarded by one of his in return. “Thank you, Tyler. But this dress is probably a little much for a bar.”
“Trust me, the only thing anyone will notice is how good you look in it. Besides, I have a reserved booth in the back. We won’t be in the crowd. And . . . I really love the dress, Kate. Leave it on. Please.”
He stole her breath with that soft “Please.”
When she nodded, he turned to face the doors. And continued to stare at her in the reflection.
When the elevator stopped, Tyler ushered her out into the refined elegance of Haven’s lobby.
She remembered the first time she’d been here New Year’s Eve. Remembered thinking she was so far out of her league.
Her parents had never been wealthy. Well-off, yes, but they’d never spent money extravagantly. Haven qualified as extravagant and catered to a crowd that would expect it. The reception desk was cream marble, for cripes sake. Brown leather chairs and couches were grouped in small seating areas. Modern art by names even she recognized decorated the pale blue walls.
The hotel had a sleek, modern vibe without being cold and unwelcoming. The ballroom had been exquisite.
Kate hadn’t been to Frank’s Bar on her previous visit so she wasn’t sure what to expect, but she knew it would be nothing less than amazing.
They entered the bar from a small, private door behind the registration area, after Tyler had given her bag to a bellman. A small stairway led them to a nearly invisible entrance at the back of the bar and to an elevated, u-shaped booth.
As she slid onto the black leather banquette, she had a perfect view of the stage if she sat in the center. But if she moved to either side, no one would be able to see her.
You could do all sorts of wicked things in here and no one would be the wiser.
Putting that thought aside for now, she took in the décor, which reminded her of something out of the ’50s. The meticulous attention to detail would’ve made Sinatra and the Rat Pack feel right at home.
On stage, a quartet perfectly accompanied the singer’s sultry voice.
Kate could almost imagine she’d stepped back in time.
As Tyler slid in beside her, she leaned over so she wouldn’t have to raise her voice to be heard. “I love this place, Tyler. I feel like it really is the ’50s.”
“That’s exactly what we were going for. Jed and I agreed that we wanted the bar to be swanky. We’re both fans of Mad Men and this allowed us to play with that feeling.”
“Well, you certainly achieved your goal.”
Tyler started to reply but a thirtyish man in a crisp dark suit, pristine white shirt, and skinny red tie stepped up to the booth, eliciting a smile from Tyler as they shook hands.
“I figured we’d see you tonight,” the man said. “I know how much you enjoy Sally and the band.”
“Hey, Mike. I’m glad I could catch them. Mike, this is Kate. Kate, this is Mike Valenti, the bar manager.”
Mike took her outstretched hand and gave her a dazzling smile that transformed his almost stern features into rakish handsomeness.
This one probably left a trail of broken hearts behind him though he played the perfect gentleman with her. Probably because she was with his boss.
“Nice to meet you, Kate.” Then he winked at her before turning back to Tyler. “What can I get you tonight?”
“Just ginger ale for me,” Tyler said. “Kate?”
Since she already felt a little drunk, she probably shouldn’t push her luck. Then again, a little loosening up never hurt anyone. “Whiskey sour, please.”
His smile widened. “Ah, you must have been here before to know that’s the bartender’s signature drink.”
Tyler answered before she could. “Ignore his clumsy attempt at prying. Mike likes to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“And yet I’ve managed to keep it in one piece all these years.” Mike looked unrepentant. In fact, his smile seemed even wider. “I’ll be back with your drinks, boss. Kate, enjoy your evening.”
Mike disappeared and she looked up to find Tyler shaking his head, his expression amused. “Mike’s been one of my best friends since high school. He could be managing a fleet of restaurants around the country. When Jed and I opened this place, we brought Mike in to set up the bar. We never thought he’d stay. We’re damn lucky to have him.”
“Loyalty counts for a lot.”
“Yes, it does. Especially when you’re starting a venture like ours.”
“This was a huge undertaking, wasn’t it?”
Tyler leaned back into the booth, his expression relaxed and so handsome, she would’ve gladly sat there and simply stared at him all night.
“Any business is in this economy, but we were determined. And we figured we had a leg up because of our family history.”
“Your dad owns the GoldenStar hotel chain.”
“My dad inherited the GoldenStar hotel chain from our grandfather. My dad’s a pretty savvy businessman and he thought we were crazy. He wanted us to stay with the chain.”
“And you and Jared didn’t want to.”
“We had our own plans.”
“You’ve created something wonderful.”
That smile of his was something wonderful as well, she decided.
“We think so. It was a lot of work but rewarding as hell.”
“Jared said you’re the money man. He also said you helped create the plans for the hotel.”
“I’m the money man because I hold an MA in business from Wharton. But Jed exaggerates when it comes to how much guidance I gave the architect.”
“So you didn’t sketch out the entire layout of the first three floors, including the ballrooms and conference rooms and the atrium and give that to the architect to re-create?”