An Irresistible Bachelor (An Unforgettable Lady #2)(11)

She nodded and put her coat down on a chair.

When she heard a door shut, she started to study the suite in earnest. She figured she might as well take a good long look because she didn’t know when she’d be in a hotel room like this again. A flash of color caught her eye. Lying on the glossy surface of a side table was a woman’s scarf and next to it were a pair of heavy gold earrings. Callie walked over for a better look. They were beautiful, expensive things and it was easy to imagine the kind of woman they belonged to.

She was willing to bet whoever it was didn’t have a hole in the pocket of her coat.

Were they his girlfriend’s? His lover’s?

Or was he married? No, that would have made it into the papers.

Once again, she thought about him reaching out and touching her hair the night before. Remembering the way she’d felt, she found the stories about all those women floating in and out of his bedroom totally believable. In that moment as he’d come toward her, his eyes hooded and fixed on her lips, his broad body throwing off waves of heat even through his clothes, she’d had no interest in turning away. She’d been ready to put her hands on those shoulders and pull him to her.

Which proved that he was dangerously attractive and she was clearly out of her mind.

A soft bell chimed and she crossed the room to let in the waiter delivering their breakfast. She stood to the side and watched as he set up a spread on the dining room table. Silver, crystal, porcelain plates, and heavy linens were arranged with precise, efficient movements. The guy was in and out in less than ten minutes and he didn’t hover for a tip, which was a good thing; she had little to offer him.

Grateful for something to do, Callie sat down at the table and poured herself some coffee. She was lifting the china cup to her mouth when Walker came back into the room.

“Good. I’m starved.”

Her hand twitched and some coffee landed on her plate in a brown puddle. She muttered a curse and debated about whether to clean it up while he sat across the table from her.

“Do I make you that nervous?” Walker said in his deep voice.

She glanced up without meeting his eyes. His hair was damp and his crisp white business shirt was open at the collar, revealing the skin of his throat. She smelled his aftershave, something subtle and expensive.

Yes, she thought.

“No,” she said. “Does that disappoint you?”

He smiled. “Now, why would I want to make you uncomfortable?”

He poured himself some coffee and then picked up a basket of breads and pastries and offered it her. She hesitated.

“Not eating?” he prompted.

She snatched a cinnamon and raisin bagel before realizing what she’d picked. She hated raisins, but she wasn’t putting it back—that was for sure.

He put a muffin on his plate and ladled some cut fruit out of a silver bowl. “I’m glad you’re coming to work for me.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said from behind her coffee cup.

“Really?” he drawled, starting to eat. “You still seem conflicted.”

“How’s that?”

“You haven’t looked me in the eye yet.”

Callie frowned and forced herself to meet his steady gaze. She noticed flecks of green and yellow in the hazel depths staring back at her.

“There, now, that’s not so bad, is it?” he teased with a smile.

“Mr. Walker—”

“Jack.”

“Jack,” she repeated, “why don’t we talk about the job?”

“You don’t want us to get to know each other a little bit?”

“That’s not what I’m here for.”

He shrugged while spearing a strawberry with his fork. “So loosen up. Live a little. You might even like me if you got to know me.”

“I doubt that.” She shook her head, wondering if she was ever going to learn to think before she spoke to the man. “Listen, I—”

“I’m hurt, Ms. Burke,” he murmured. “Or may I call you Callie?”

She rolled her eyes. He didn’t seem hurt. In fact, he looked perfectly content as he munched on his breakfast.

If this guy has a tender ego, Callie thought, I’m the tooth fairy.

She gave it another shot. “No offense, but I’m really just interested in the painting.”

“Well, maybe I want to learn a little more about you.”

“You know my professional background. What else is there?”

He shot her a dry look. “You don’t like to talk about yourself?”

“Not to you, no.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I have a feeling that anything I say might be used against me.”

He laughed, a big, easy sound. “I’m not the police. You’re not a criminal. At least as far as I know.”

As he smiled at her, she made busywork by spreading cream cheese on the bagel. “So about Nathaniel—”

“You are bound and determined not to enjoy breakfast with me, aren’t you?” he said laconically.

“I can’t imagine I’d enjoy anything with—” She flushed as he sent her a sharp look. Waving her hand in the air, as if she could erase her words, she muttered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”