Reunited in Love by Nadia Lee Page A

been her final indulgence. It was home-cooked Italian after all.
    “Hold on a sec.” She opened the door, and her mouth fell open at the sight of a hard-eyed Ethan. A blue silk shirt and black trousers with creases sharp as a cutlass’s blade enhanced the aura of danger around him. The rolled up sleeves revealed his powerful forearms, and a black jacket hung from one hooked index finger. His shoulder-width stance reminded her of a pirate standing on the rolling deck of his ship, about to close with the enemy.
    She pulled her bathrobe tighter and unconsciously touched the thick white towel wrapped around her head like a turban. “Gotta go,” she whispered into the headset. “We can talk more later.”
    She ended the call and looked at Ethan. “Hey… What are you doing here?” What timing. She wasn’t even dressed.
    “Thought we’d have a little talk,” he said.
    Her fingers dug deeper into the soft terrycloth. She was painfully aware of her naked body underneath. This was far worse than meeting him in the teeny top and skirt at the airport. “About…?”
    “Venture a guess.” His jaw jutted out, a pugilist before a fight.
    She debated, then decided there was no point in trying to make him go away. He’d just force himself inside. Besides, she did owe him an apology.
    Putting the headset into the robe’s pocket, she stepped aside. “Come on in.”
    The door closed behind him with a soft click. She crossed her arms and moved into the living room, her bare feet quiet on the carpet. “Have you eaten? I ordered breakfast.”
    “So did I. It’s on its way up.”
    “Oh.”
    “I tend to be more civilized when I’m not hungry.”
    Well then. She wouldn’t deny him his food. She rested a hip against the TV stand and watched him. “Before we begin, I just want to say I’m—”
    There was another knock. With a sigh, she opened the door and let the uniformed server push a huge table-cart in. The only thing she’d ordered was a plate of fruit and yogurt, plus a pot of fresh coffee. The mountain of scrambled eggs, giant pile of bacon and sausages, and four slices of whole-wheat toast were all for Ethan.
    “Enjoy your breakfast,” the bellboy said.
    “Don’t you need me to sign something?” she said.
    “It’s been taken care of, Ms. Wilson.”
    She glanced at Ethan as the bellboy left. What did he want? “Ethan, about la—“
    He pulled out a chair for her. “Sit.”
    She planted her butt in the seat and watched him take the chair across from her. Something about the way he moved…just the act of walking around a table seemed like performance art.
    He put a small mound of eggs and cheese on her plate. “Here.”
    “No thanks.”
    “Allergic?”
    “Just not in the mood.”
    “Humor me.” His tone was clipped with displeasure.
    “Fine.” She poured coffee for both of them. She hesitated at the bowl of sugar. She usually used four cubes, but she was supposed to cut back on sweets too. God, her doctor had forbidden all the joys in her life—except sex…and that probably only because she’d never discussed the topic with him. She watched Ethan spread a thick layer of strawberry jam on his toast with a pang of envy. “Anyway, I…” She mentally fortified herself. “Thank you for the great evening. I had a really good time.”
    The knife paused briefly. “Why did you leave?”
    “Because…” She shrugged, slightly undermined at his reasonable tone and neutral choice of words. “It seemed like the right time for me to go.”
    “I never said you had to go.”
    “You seemed occupied.”
    “So, what? Not even a goodbye?”
    She nodded. “Look, that was totally my fault. I should’ve said something, and I apologize.”
    He watched her eat, his gaze steady and thoughtful.
    She pushed the eggs to the side of her plate, then speared a grape. Her stomach churned, and the bitter coffee wasn’t helping.
    “You mentioned that you aren’t working right now,” he said finally.
    She nodded, glad