Seducing the Wolf (2 page)

“Did you enjoy your stay, Dr. Wolf?”

“I did, thank you.” Manning smiled. “Listen, I have to run to a meeting, but my companion is going to take advantage of your excellent amenities a while longer. Can you make sure she’s well taken care of? Breakfast in bed, spa treatment, massage—anything she wants.”

“Yes, sir,” the clerk promised. “I’ll see to it that she receives the VIP treatment.”

“Thanks, Phoebe. I appreciate it.” Manning winked. “Have a good day.”

She beamed with pleasure. “Same to you, Dr. Wolf. Come back and see us soon.”

“I will.”

Manning slid on a pair of dark sunglasses as he started toward the front entrance, where he could see his chauffeured car waiting outside. He and Mr. Haley had been together for so long that Manning hadn’t needed to summon the driver. Whenever he stayed out late—and chose not to drive—Mr. Haley knew to pick him up by six-thirty the next morning, unless he requested otherwise.

Manning had nearly reached the double glass doors when his attention was snared by the sight of a woman standing in line at the hotel’s gourmet café. Out of habit he stopped and lowered his shades to peer over the rim, giving the woman a slow, thorough perusal.

She had flawless brown skin, and her black hair was pulled back from her face and secured into a high bun, like a ballerina’s. She wore an off-the-shoulder top with dark jeans that molded a round, luscious ass and long, curvy legs that any man would
kill
to have wrapped around his back during hot, headboard-banging sex.

Dayuuum
, Manning thought, swallowing hard as his groin heated.

He knew he should keep it moving. He needed to get home and change for work, and after the way he’d just snuck out on one woman, he had no business even
looking
at another.

But he couldn’t resist.

So he backtracked and casually sauntered into the coffee shop.

The woman was at the counter placing her order, and as Manning approached, the view got even better.

He stepped in line behind her, close enough to savor the sweet scent of her skin, to envy the smooth wisps of hair that caressed the nape of her neck, to feel the heat radiating from her body.

He was intoxicated, and he hadn’t even seen her face yet.

Murmuring her thanks to the cashier, the woman picked up her coffee, then turned and ran smack into Manning’s chest.

“
Shit!
” she hissed as the covered cup slipped from her hand and fell to the floor, spilling creamy coffee.

“My bad, darlin’,” Manning drawled, tingling from the brief contact with her lush body. “Didn’t mean to get in your way.”

“No, it’s my fault,” she muttered, her eyes concealed behind dark sunglasses as she quickly sidestepped the spreading pool of coffee. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

They crouched together and reached for the fallen cup at the same time. As their hands connected, their gazes met over the tops of their shades.

“Oh, my God,” the woman breathed, pushing her sunglasses off her face as he did the same. “
Manning?
”

Manning couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Taylor?” he whispered.

Time stood still as they stared at each other, memories bombarding Manning like a movie reel painting images onto his eyes.

He remembered their first kiss, her lips soft and sweetly flavored with his great-grandmother’s pound cake.

He remembered their first date, which had ended with him chasing her through the snow, her girlish peals of laughter filling him with such joy he could hardly contain it.

God, and he remembered the first and only time they’d made love. The most profoundly beautiful night of his life…and the most heartbreakingly painful.

As they rose from the floor together—spilled coffee forgotten—Manning caught Taylor around the waist and swept her right off her feet. As he spun her around, she laughed and clung tightly to his neck. They were oblivious to the minor commotion they were causing, the curious stares and smiles they were attracting from other customers.

After another jubilant twirl, Manning set Taylor down and slowly looked her over, staggered by how much she’d changed over the years. Not only did she have hourglass curves with cleavage-popping breasts, but time had matured her face into a stunning portrait of sensual beauty—high cheekbones, sultry doe eyes and luscious lips that just begged to be kissed. Even her voice—smooth, cultured, with smoky undertones—was sexy as hell.

“My God,” Manning marveled, framing her face between his hands. His heart was slamming against his ribcage, and he couldn’t seem to draw enough air into his lungs. “It really
is
you.”

“And it’s really
you
.” Taylor smiled, her dark eyes twinkling as she gave him an admiring once-over. “You look amazing, Manning. But then you never were an ugly duckling, were you? Goodness, how long has it been?”

Manning shook his head at her. “Too long.”

Her soft smile held a trace of sorrow. “Over twenty years too long.”

Manning swallowed hard, feeling his chest tighten with emotions that should have been long buried and forgotten. “What’re you doing in Atlanta?”

“I’m an artist-in-residence at Emory. I’ll be teaching masterclasses and performing with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.”

“Really? That’s wonderful, Taylor.” Manning remembered how proud he’d been to learn that she was an accomplished concert violinist who’d studied at Juilliard and played with the Met before moving to Paris, where she’d been living ever since.

“How long will you be in town?”

“Three weeks,” she answered.

Disappointment knifed through Manning. “Only three?”

She nodded. “That’s how long the summer residency lasts.”

“Then we’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Let me take you to breakfast.”

Taylor smiled regretfully. “I’d love to, but I have to be at—”

“
There
you are,” a male voice interrupted.

Manning and Taylor glanced around to find a tall, slim, fair-skinned man frowning at them, his gray eyes narrowed with suspicion behind rimless glasses.

“Aidan.” Taylor looked surprised—and a shade guilty. “Why aren’t you on your way to the airport?”

“I decided to stay another day. Good thing too.” He glared pointedly at Manning, whose hands had been cradling Taylor’s face the entire time they’d been talking.

Taylor discreetly stepped away from Manning and cleared her throat. “Um, Manning, I’d like you to meet Aidan Loring, my—”

“Boyfriend,” the man finished, stepping forward. He and Manning gripped hands, their eyes locked as they sized each other up.

“I’m Taylor’s boyfriend,” Aidan repeated, jaw tightly clenched. “And you are?”

Manning slanted a lazy smile at his blushing childhood sweetheart. “I guess you could say I was Taylor’s first love.”

And her last if
I
have anything to say about it!

2

O
hmyGodohmyGodohmyGodohmyGod.

The jumbled words rewound through Taylor Chastain’s mind, racing as chaotically as her runaway heartbeat.

She couldn’t believe Manning Wolf was here.

Standing right in front of her.

Staring at her.

Smiling at her.

Breathe, Taylor. Just breathe.

She forced herself to inhale slowly and exhale, as if she were warming up before a concert. But it didn’t really help.

Because Manning was here.

In the flesh.

All grown up and sexy and…oh, my God.

Taylor hadn’t exaggerated when she’d told Manning that he looked amazing—and amazing was probably a colossal understatement. His skin was the richest shade of mahogany and his black hair was cut close to his head in a smooth, tight fade. He had arrestingly masculine features: a strong nose, chiseled cheekbones and a square jaw. Heavy black brows hung over deep-set eyes that were as dark as the darkest midnight. Somehow Taylor had forgotten just how piercing they were, how utterly mesmerizing. She also didn’t remember his lower lip being so full and sensual, though she’d reminisced about kissing him years after he was out of her life.

As a teenager he’d been very tall for his age, so it was no surprise that he now stood at a commanding six foot five. He had shoulders for days and a powerful physique beneath his bespoke dark suit.

The boy Taylor had known and loved had morphed into a breathtakingly virile man who radiated enough heat and testosterone to melt every molecule in her body.

Lord help her.

“So you were Taylor’s first love, huh?” There was an edge to Aidan’s voice as he looked from Manning to Taylor. “That’s funny. You’ve never mentioned him before.”

“It was a long time ago,” Taylor murmured. “We were just kids.”

“Ah,” Aidan said with a relieved chuckle. “Then it was more of a crush than love.”

Taylor and Manning stared at each other.

Neither spoke.

After several long moments, Aidan pointedly cleared his throat, drawing Taylor’s attention back to him. “You should probably start heading out to the university so you won’t be late on your first day,” he advised.

She nodded in agreement.

“I’d be happy to give you a ride,” Manning offered.

Before Taylor could respond, Aidan quickly interjected, “Thanks, but that won’t be necessary. We’re taking a cab.”

Taylor shot him a surprised glance. “
We?
”

“Yeah. I thought I’d tag along with you to Emory.”

“Oh.” Taylor paused. “But I’ll be busy—”

“I know. I can just hang out at the library and do some research for my book until you break for lunch.”

“Um, okay,” Taylor agreed.

Manning observed the exchange, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. He said to Taylor, “At least let me buy you another coffee to replace the one I made you spill.”

Once again Aidan answered before Taylor could open her mouth. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll buy her another coffee.”

As he moved off to get in line, Taylor gave Manning a sheepish look. “Sorry about that. He’s usually not this…”

“Possessive?”

“Um, yeah,” Taylor said with a rueful smile.

Manning chuckled softly. “It’s all good. I don’t blame him. I’d be the same way if you were still mine, Taylor.”

She flushed, heat gathering beneath her clothes and between her thighs.

“Is it serious?”

She blinked at Manning. “What?”

“You and Aidan. Your relationship. How serious is it?”

Taylor knew she should probably be offended by the prying question, but she couldn’t muster any outrage. “We’ve been together for three years.”

“Wow,” Manning murmured. “That
is
serious.”

Taylor smiled faintly. “I’d say so.”

Manning silently searched her face.

As one of the shop employees emerged from behind the counter to clean up the spilled coffee, Manning gently cupped Taylor’s elbow and steered her away.

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Aidan glaring after them, undoubtedly regretting his decision to leave them alone.

Manning pulled out his cell phone. “What’s your number, Taylor?”

She supplied the number, watching as he deftly entered the digits into his phone. His hands were wide-palmed with long, blunt fingers and short, clean nails. Without warning her mind flashed on an image of his hands stroking her naked body…caressing her heated skin…cupping her bare bottom as she slowly rode him. Up and down, head flung back, eyes closed, lips parted on a throaty moan.

Taylor shivered, her stomach clenching at the illicitly carnal image.

“Let me see your phone,” Manning said.

“Why?” Taylor croaked.

The corners of his mouth twitched. “So I can give you my number.”

She hesitated, darting a glance toward Aidan. He was at the counter ordering her caramel latte.

Biting her lower lip, she slid her phone from her pocket and handed it to Manning, though she was perfectly capable of entering his number on her own. But she wanted his hands on something—
anything
—of hers. So the phone would have to do.

“I’m giving you the numbers to my cell, home, office and private line,” Manning explained.

Taylor laughed. “All that?”

“Yes, ma’am. I don’t want you to have any problem whatsoever reaching me.”

Taylor couldn’t help smiling. “All right.”

As Manning passed her phone back, their fingers brushed. The heat from his touch sent electric currents sizzling through her.

Their eyes met. Held.

“I wanna take you out to dinner, Taylor.”

Her pulse thudded at the silky authority in his deep, rich baritone. She managed a jerky nod. “Sure, we can have dinner.”

“For starters.”

Taylor swallowed hard. “I don’t think we—”

“I haven’t seen you in years,” Manning said with quiet intensity. “I know you’re in a relationship and I respect that. But there’s no way in hell I’m letting you leave Atlanta without spending some time with me.”