Indecent Danger (Danger Incorporated #3)(2)
Just the thought of her own high school years made her inwardly wince and she deliberately pushed all those disturbing images away. determined to enjoy this time with the man she adored. She changed the subject to get her mind back under control.
“So tell me about this friend of yours that I’m going to meet this weekend.”
Aubrey settled onto one of the couches and Travis sat beside her, his hard thigh brushing against hers, a delicious distraction. It hadn’t been easy keeping him at arms’ length since they’d started dating. He was handsome, smart, funny, and sexy and she was only human. Her dreams were filled with all the naughty things they might do together but hadn’t. Yet.
“Our host is Martin Guinness, the hedge fund manager. He was a mentor for me since my Harvard years and he’s just an all-around great guy. He basically taught me pretty much everything I know about the business world. He’s a financial genius.”
“You flatter me, Travis. I’m simply a man who is good at math.”
Travis jumped from the couch, a wide grin spreading across his face. Aubrey turned to see a tanned, silver-haired gentleman standing in the still open doorway of their suite. Smiling, he strode forward to shake Travis’s hand before they both embraced like long lost friends.
Martin looked younger than the seventy-three years she knew him to be. Maybe it was the relaxed air he had about him that immediately put Aubrey at ease. Normally she felt uncomfortable around Travis’s wealthier friends but clearly this man didn’t stand on ceremony, eschewing formalities. He reached for her hand and gave her a friendly grin as she also stood to greet their guest.
“You must be Aubrey. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m glad you could join us this weekend for a little celebration.”
He had a kind twinkle in his eyes that made her smile in return. “Thank you. I hear a happy birthday is in order.”
“Thank you. This is really the best gift I could get. All my friends and family gathered in one place. When you get to be my age, my dear, it isn’t things that make you happy. It’s experiences.”
Aubrey couldn’t help but agree with those sentiments even though she was much younger than Martin.
“Actually I was hoping I could have a word or two with you, Travis. If you have a few minutes.” Martin’s smile had disappeared and in its place he wore a frown. “I hate to bother you but it’s important. It’s regarding what we talked about last week.”
Travis nodded, his own expression bland. Aubrey had come to recognize it whenever he talked business that was particularly unpleasant. “Of course. Why don’t I meet you down in the bar in about five minutes?”
Martin quickly agreed and exited the suite, leaving Aubrey alone with Travis again. Now there was a definite tension in Travis’s shoulders that hadn’t been there before Martin arrived, and for a moment she thought about asking him what the meeting was about. She was Travis’s assistant so she was often privy to information of a sensitive and confidential nature. However, she didn’t get the chance as he abruptly turned on his heel to place his now empty champagne flute on the bar.
“I shouldn’t be downstairs too long.” He straightened his tie before checking his phone, a frown furrowing his forehead. “Will you be okay up here by yourself?”
Aubrey often wondered what kind of women Travis had dated in the past. He looked worried that she wouldn’t be able to entertain herself as if she expected him to be her personal court jester for the weekend.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll slip into the shower and then relax with a good book until it’s time to get ready for the party.”
He ran his hands up and down her bare arms, sending a shiver of pleasure up her spine.
“I just want this mini-vacation to be perfect for you, honey.”
Everything with Travis was perfect.
It was starting to wear on her nerves.
“It couldn’t be any more wonderful,” she assured him, standing on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his stubbly cheek. “Go have a drink with Martin. I think I can take care of myself for a little while. It sounded important. Is everything okay with him?”
Travis frowned for only a moment but then gave her a distracted smile. His head was already downstairs with his friend. “It’s just business as usual, I’m sure. I’ll try and be back in about an hour.”
“Take your time. I might even take a nap.”
Anything to escape so she could be by herself and think this through. She was beginning to believe she’d made a severe error in judgment coming here this weekend with Travis. Setting her glass on the coffee table, she turned to escape but Travis’s hand caught her arm before she could flee into the bathroom.
Travis rubbed his thumb across her palm, setting off a veritable cavalcade of sensations. “Are you okay, honey? You’ve been really quiet since we got to the hotel.”
Of course she was quiet.
She was so damn confused she could barely get out a coherent sentence. If he had any idea all the thoughts that were whirling in her brain he’d be shocked. One minute she wanted to grab his hand, throw him on the bed and make love to him. The next she wanted to chuck her high heels and run out of this fancy resort and away from him.
Frankly, she was a mess.
“I’m fine. Just tired. I’m sure the shower will help revive me though.”