Her Unexpected Affair (The Robinsons) (28 page)

They both jumped when the waitress set their ticket on the table. “Want me to clear away anything here?”

Reluctantly, they separated their hands. “I think we’re done.”

Meilin nodded. Tiredness radiated from her slender frame. Drew glanced at the bill while the waitress stacked dishes, then dropped a few bills on the table. “No change. Thanks.”

With barely a blink, the waitress stuffed the money into her pocket and lifted the stacked plates away. “You all have a good evening, now, folks.”

Walking Meilin through the check-in process and making sure she was safe in her room was one of the harder things he’d ever done. Knowing he was leaving her there for the night made him uneasy. Although the room was scrupulously clean, the chain well-known, it was a motel on a main thoroughfare with a door opening to the street. If Shan got extremely obnoxious, Drew vowed to come back here and crash on the second full sized bed in the room. Unless she invited him into her bed. He’d be a bloody fool to turn down such an offer.

“If I come back, I don’t want you opening the door until you look out the peep hole,” he told her. “I’ll make sure you can see my face, okay? Don’t let anyone else in. And do up all the locks.”

She gave him a long look of exasperation. “I know how to be safe in a hotel room.”

“All the same. You’re a woman alone. A small woman. Alone.” He pulled her close and lifted her by the waist until their lips met. The kiss was soft at first, then deeper, harder, hungry. Over the pounding of his heart in his ears he barely noticed the ring of a cell phone. A tone he didn’t recognize, didn’t want to acknowledge.

Meilin pulled away with small nibbling kisses. “We can’t do this. Not now. Not yet.” The breathless whisper thrilled him to his core. She was affected as him.

“Can’t help it. You feel good. Smell good. Taste even better.” He kissed her again, and once more her phone began to ring.

“Ugh!” She pulled away and wiggled to be set down. “That’s Shan.”

“Guess that means I’d better go.” He missed her warmth immediately. She was the perfect arm-full, and he wanted nothing more than to wrap her around him again. Instead he let her go to answer the phone.

“Yes, Shan. I just got to my room. We found something a little nicer than a drive-through for dinner.” She paused and glanced at Drew. “I’m at the motel just down the road from the hospital. Near the highway junction. It’s safe and clean. No, not fancy, but I’m only here overnight, and hope to sleep most of my time here.” She propped her free hand on her hip, a frown twisting her face. “Drew is on his way back. Not sure what you’re worried about. I’m an engaged woman, remember?” Meilin threw her hand in the air and her head back to stare at the ceiling. “Sure, sure. Glad to know you trust me. Right. Fine. I’ll see you in the morning. I asked a guard at the hospital to keep an eye on your car overnight. It’s parked next to a Lamborghini and a Ferrari. It will be safe. Yes, I’m sure. Okay. Good night.”

She stabbed the screen to drop the call. “Bastard. Glad I’ve decided to call it off. Every time he opens his mouth now I get more and more annoyed.”

“It will all be over soon, and we’ll start something new.” Drew cupped her chin and lifted her face. Her beautiful face. He dipped his head and kissed her lightly. “I’ll call when I’m on my way back. The sooner we get him checked out of there, the better.”

“I agree.” She kissed him back. “Now go. I hope you get some sleep tonight. I’d ask you to blow him off, but right now I don’t want to tweak his temper. God only knows what he’ll say or do then.”

The night at the hospital was long and uncomfortable. Drew was grateful that at least the room had a reclining chair and the nurse gave him a pillow and blanket. God only knew why he stayed to play babysitter. Other than a few moans of pain, followed by opening his eyes to confirm Drew’s presence, Shan Lin slept most of the night. Probably due to the compassion of the nurses, who certainly didn’t want to deal with him any more than necessary. From his phone, Drew pulled up a site for a local florist and ordered a fruit and flower basket for the nurses’ station, sent a text to his father, then did his best to fall asleep, mentally cursing the older man in the hospital bed.

In the morning it was even more of a cluster fuck. Shan finally calmed down when it was determined Drew would drive his precious car with Shan in the passenger seat—at least as a Brit he understood, and respected, the Aston Martin—while Meilin followed in Randi’s car. Which made no sense until they were on the highway and Shan started grilling him about his association with Meilin.

“We’re relatively new friends,” Drew said for the third time as they drove through Marin County headed for the Golden Gate Bridge.

“I’ve already told you I don’t want her to have friends like you,” Shan stated baldly as he shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position. They’d picked up a pile of pillows from Target to help make him more at ease in the passenger seat. An idea that worked marginally well.

“Not up to you, old man. America is a free country and, like you, Meilin has a right to make friends with whomever she likes.”

“Stay away from her. We’re getting married in a couple months, and nothing will stop it. Not you. Not her family, no one. She’s signed the commitment contract.”

“You make it sound like she’s entering a mental institution. Hate to tell you this, but a broken engagement isn’t worth pursuing in court. Your contract doesn’t mean much in this country.”

“It’s a contract. She signed it, witnessed by a ballroom full of people we all know. Family, friends, my lawyer. It’s legal and if she tries to break it because of you, you won’t like the consequences. After all, you’re not American.”

Drew merely gave him a sidelong glance. “Why don’t you try napping again? I’m sure it’s the pain making you a grumpy Gus.” It had taken all his stiff upper lip training to say that with a straight face. A phrase he’d learned from his sister.

“Asshole,” Shan muttered.

Drew laughed. “Glad you figured that one out, but probably because you are one yourself. What’s the saying? Takes one to know one.”

“If I didn’t respect your father, I’d have your ass deported in a heartbeat. Don’t think I might not.”

“My visa is tight. And now with my stepmother and sister being citizens, I’ve got a little more clout in that area. You can kiss my arse.” He said it with a smile when he felt more like punching the man in the face. Then again, Lin already had enough injuries. “And you might as well forget about suing the winery. The borders of the walkway are clearly marked. The hospital and the police have your blood alcohol on record.”

“I was under the limit.”

“Just. You barely avoided at citation at best, a DUI at worst. My advice is to send the winery a thank-you note for their fast action in getting you medical care. Wouldn’t hurt to also commend the hospital staff for putting up with your belligerence.”

“They were fumbling, incompetent fools. Once I see my own doctor that will be confirmed.”

“Your choice.” Drew shrugged.

* * * *

Meilin was thrilled to see Shan’s assistant and housekeeper at his condo with a personal care nurse in place, a big Samoan man who looked like he’d take no trouble from Shan. They’d also had a hospital bed installed and other items needed for an incapacitated man. Although Shan protested her leaving, Meilin was happy to escape when Drew insisted. Later she’d pay for Shan being thwarted, but just then it felt good to dodge the guilt.

With Shan’s car safely secured in its underground parking spot, she settled into the passenger seat of Drew’s vehicle with a sigh. When he reached for her hand, she grasped his. Strong and warm, his hand wrapped around hers and lightly squeezed. The shock and simmer between them made it impossible to let go.

“You okay?” Drew’s deep voice with the sexy accent calmed what little upset remained.

“Yes. Now I’m okay.” Rolling her head on the back of the head rest, she looked at him. “With you it seems I’m always okay.”

“I know I’m happier with you.” He smiled back at her with another squeeze of her hand. “I mean it. I just know we’re meant to be together. I don’t care what we do, just as long as you’re with me.”

“I’m beginning, possibly, to think you’re right,” she said slowly, her heart beating so fast she felt lightheaded.

“Then don’t worry about the future. It will take care of itself. The only question is, what’s the next step?”

The next step? The next step. “I break the engagement contract. It won’t be easy.”

“Sure it will. In this day and age engagements are broken all the time.”

“But this contract was written between our families using lawyers. It’s a big deal.”

“Well those lawyers can just undo the contract. Who do you need to call first?”

“My parents, I suppose.” And wouldn’t that just be the most fun. In fact, while making the call sooner rather than later would be better, she didn’t relish the thought at all. In fact, it terrified her because she’d have to do it in person. Face to face.

All too soon Drew came upon her building, pulled a U-turn in the street, then slid into a parking spot just vacated by another resident.

“Pretty slick parking job,” she teased.

“Try parking in London sometime.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass. Which makes it more impressive you did it on the correct side this time.”

After a teasing glare over his shoulder, Drew checked for traffic, then stepped from the car and walked around the hood to open her door. “I’ll get your bag.”

Meilin sucked in a deep breath as she watched his movements, beautiful with athletic grace. The art critic in her appreciated the lines of his body, the economy of movement, the sheer beauty of him from the way he smiled to the way he slung the strap of her bag over his shoulder. Sunlight touched on his golden hair, disheveled from sleeping at the hospital, and she had the feeling of looking upon one of the gods, a being so beautiful mere mortal man couldn’t look upon him without being incinerated for daring to do so.

The air stilled in her lungs, and she had to remind herself to breathe. As dizzy as she was, she was grateful when Drew snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her up against his side. Heat flooded her system, gathering low where her body clenched around a sudden wash of moisture. The gaze they shared was so intimate she could almost feel him sliding inside her body.

His voice, low and husky, thrilled her further when he asked, “Do I get a tour of your apartment?”

Too excited by his presence to answer, she nodded and dug into her purse for her keys.

When Meilin dropped her keys, Drew bent down and picked them up from the sidewalk. She trembled as he once more slid his arm around her waist. There was no place he’d rather be, no place he’d rather she be, but in his arms. Unless it was in his arms in a bed. His bed, her bed, he didn’t care. Her bed was certainly closer. Now that she’d made the decision to dump old Lin, Drew wanted to convince her they were perfect together in all ways. With only two weeks left until he left for China, he had to work fast.

In silence they made their way into the older building. He followed her to the stairs and up to the third floor. Mostly he noticed her. The fit of her slacks and how they hugged her ass as she climbed. The gentle sway of her hips, the slender line of her back, and the way her hair swung just above her shoulders. She was erotic poetry in motion. Each step tightened his need to touch, kiss, and make love to her.

At the top of the stairs, she turned right down a hall painted a faded butter yellow, the hardwood lined with a worn runner of beige carpet. At the last door on the right she stopped.

“Which key is it?” he asked and held out her dangling keys. The blush that bloomed on her cheek was charming as she pointed to the right one. The one pinched between his fingers.

“Good guess.”

Wanting her more than he wanted anything else in his life, including the superman costume for his sixth birthday, he concentrated on not fumbling the key. In short order the door was opened, they stepped through, and Drew used his shoulder to ease it shut.

Meilin reached for her bag. “You can drop the keys on the table.”

He dropped the keys in a small bowl to his left, but held on to the overnight bag. “Where’s this go?”

Meilin’s hand landed softly on his arm. “In my room.”

“Lead the way.”

The pupils in her eyes dilated, and not just from the dim room. By the catch of air at the back of her throat, she felt the weight of attraction between them. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. Thank God.

Meilin’s hand slid down his arm to where her fingers meshed with his, their palms pressed together, the conduit for the electricity cycling between them. Walking backward, her gaze locked on his, she slowly led him through a small sitting room and into a bedroom. The apartment smelled like her. Rich with cinnabar, exotic florals, and another spice he couldn’t name. It all whispered her name to him. The high bed was set on an old-fashioned brass frame and covered with a deep comforter of black with swirls of bright colors that gave the impression of flowers and birds. The bed was very much her. Rich, sensuous, inviting.

He dropped the bag at the foot of the bed and reached for her. This was the moment. This was the place. It had all come together to make this moment perfect.

Meilin came into his arms, her head tilted back, lips raised for his kiss. Only his kiss. The only kiss that would ever matter to her, he’d make sure of it.

What he didn’t want to see was the hesitation in her eyes as she looked up at him. “I… I wasn’t going to do this just yet. Remember? Just last night I said I wouldn’t.”

Framing her face with his hands, he told her, “You can say stop at any time, I promise, but know that I might suffer bodily harm if you do.” At least one of them laughed. He wasn’t entirely joking about the bodily harm, but he’d never push her. Tease, entice, and seduce, but never push or force. The choice was hers.

“I don’t want to hurt…” She lifted her face to him.