Lethal Exposure by Lori Wilde Page B

and tentatively put out her tongue.
    The second her eyes were closed, she was wishing she hadn’t decided to play his game. At least with her eyes open she could see what was coming at her. She tilted her chin up and opened her eyes a slit.
    “Nuh-uh, no peeking.”
    The sushi roll was cool on her tongue and surprisingly delicious. Ginger was the dominant flavor, interlaced with sesame and the earthiness of oyster sauce.
    “Mmm,” she said, opening her eyes after she’d swallowed. “What’s that?”
    “It’s called Sweet as Sex roll.”
    She laughed. “You made that up.”
    “I never joke when it comes to food or sex.” He poked a second tidbit with the red-and-black lacquered chopsticks, held it out to her with his palm cupped underneath to catch any drips. “Have another.”
    His fingertips grazed her chin as she leaned forward to take the bite from his chopsticks. His eyes lit up as he watched her eat. His enjoyment of her pleasure made her knees go weak.
    She dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “Exactly what are we doing here, Mr. Black?”
    “Call me Sebastian, and we’re having lunch.”
    “You said you invited me out to talk about Confidential Rejuvenations, but I’m getting the feeling you had ulterior motives. Is this a date?”
    “Do you want it to be a date?”
    Did she? “No.”
    “Then it’s not a date.”
    “We’re strictly here to discuss how I can help you polish Confidential Rejuvenations’ image.”
    Briefly, Sebastian reached up to touch his lips. “After a kiss like that? Sweetheart, you gotta know there’s more than just business on my mind.”
    His honesty clipped her low in the gut. Julie didn’t know how to respond. She picked up her own chopsticks and reached for another morsel of sushi to camouflage her indecision.
    “Let’s keep the conversation on the hospital for now,” she said, even though that wasn’t what she wanted to talk about. She was too scared to say what she really wanted to discuss.
    “All right.” He sipped his tea. “So what is your opinion of what’s been happening at Confidential Rejuvenations?”
    “Personally, I think it’s not going to do any good spending money on cleaning up the hospital’s reputation as long as there’s still someone on the loose wanting to cause damage.”
    “Dr. Butler and Dr. Covey and Senator Garcia seem to think the person has stopped.”
    “I think he or she’s laying low in the aftermath of the latest scandal over Senator Garcia’s daughter trying to kill Tanner.”
    “What makes you say that?”
    Julie shrugged. “A hunch.”
    “Do you have any ideas on why someone is trying to destroy the hospital’s reputation?”
    “I suppose it could be a disgruntled ex-employee. Someone who thought they were unfairly dismissed. Or a patient who felt they didn’t receive the kind of care they believed they deserved.”
    Sebastian nodded. “Interesting possibilities.”
    “Do you have a theory?”
    “Me?” He shrugged. “I just got here. I’m simply taking in the lay of the land. That’s the reason I’m interviewing Confidential Rejuvenations’ employees.”
    Was it her imagination? Or was there something suggestive about the way he said lay. Julie peered at him over the rim of her cup of green tea. “How long are you in town?”
    “Until Confidential Rejuvenations’ image is cleaned up.”
    “How long will that take? A week? Two?”
    “Maybe a month. Lots of damage control needed on this one.”
    A month. That was absolutely perfect. Long enough to have a nice, sexual fling, but not so long that she’d fall for him. But how to go about propositioning him? Julie licked her lips.
    “You look pensive,” he said. “Is there something on your mind?”
    “I was thinking about that kiss….”
    “So was I.” A smile curled his lips.
    Julie was nervous about bringing it up, but she wanted him. Not simply because she was looking to spread her sexual wings and not just because she wanted to vanquish