Her Unexpected Affair. Shea McMaster
said. “Jack has told us nothing about you.”
Before she could open her mouth to politely turn the conversation again, Jack leaned across the table in order to be heard. “She’s an interior designer. One of the best in the city. Possibly in all California if not the west coast. Big time bigwig woman.”
Frowning at Jack did no good. She always let her work do her bragging for her, never did she need to toot her own horn. The wave of girls, fluttering like butterflies, returned to their table, relieving her from answering.
“Jack, what a surprise.”
“Hey, cousin.”
“Jack, you mangy dog, what are you doing here? Spying on Meilin’s last night out? We should kick you out of here.”
“Not while he has friends here.” Sunchu, one of her few remaining single friends, leaned over from the far side of the table to extend her hand to Drew. “And who might you be, tall, golden, and handsome?”
Drew stood and exchanged handshakes all around as the entire group of five women settled at the table. Sure, they included Courtney, but Drew had ninety-nine percent of their attention. And why not? Exactly as Sunchu had said, he was tall, golden, and very handsome. Not only did he have a perfect tan, but he smelled good too. Not one whiff of heavily scented aftershave teased Meilin’s nose. He was as fresh as a forest. Clean water and towering pines came to mind. Maybe a hint of citrus, possibly lime, but his scent was light and refreshing. She’d have to find out what he used.
What in the hell was she doing sniffing him up like that? No, she would not ask him what scent he wore. Especially because his proximity made her pulse thrum wildly in her veins. His thigh brushed against hers and she swallowed a gasp, as the contact acted like a raindrop landing on a smooth lake, sending ripples of goosebumps down her leg and up her body.
It took only a second to drain her first drink, set it down, and reach for the second. This was all she needed. A short, intense attraction to a foreigner on the eve of her engagement. Sort of like a very short-term foreign exchange. Surprised at her comparison to a semester abroad, she laughed to herself.
Not happening. Not now, not ever.
And then he had to ask, “Would you like to dance?”
Chapter 3
Hand extended to her, Drew stood close enough she could feel the heat from his body.
It took strength pulled from her center of calm to nod coolly and accept his offer. With the support of his gentle grip, she slid from the seat and followed him, dodging the crowded tables to the packed dance floor. Wasn’t it just her luck the DJ chose to slow things down with the next song?
The fact Drew had been raised a gentleman was evident in the way he held her in a classic dance pose, one hand lightly resting on her waist, the other holding her right hand not too close to his body. A few inches separated them. Discreet. Respectful. However, both contact points tingled with awareness such that she wanted to press her body against his. The care with which he guided her to the rhythm of the slow tune indicated many hours of dance lessons. Better than most of the men she’d danced with. Following his lead was easy and comfortable. Rather it would have been easy and comfortable if not for the high voltage energy zinging back and forth between them. Not at all what she’d expected. Better than she’d ever dreamed a dance partner could be.
There, in the middle of the floor, she could better see the blue of his eyes. The blue pulled her in, much like a cool mountain lake on a hot day.
Ha! The ancestors and deities were having fun with her by throwing this prime specimen of man at her at this moment. He moved with athletic grace, his body talking to hers, the flexing of strong muscles moving under her hand, seducing more than the twinkle in his eyes. Eyes that held a faint shadow that looked suspiciously like exhaustion.
“So, you just completed your degree?” Anything to distract her from the surprising warmth purling around her limbs.
“International law. Everything was checked off this afternoon. I’m allowed to graduate with my class. Next stop is a ten week Chinese school. Guess I’ll have to unlearn everything Jack tried to teach me, won’t I?” A small smile played around the corners of his mouth.
“Not everything, I’m sure. Mostly you’ll have to work on your tones and inflections.”
He nodded. “I’ve learned that much. I don’t have the best ear, so that will be tough. Not all I’ve learned has come from Jack. I had a bit of exposure at school, although now I’m suspicious my roommate at Eton may have also been playing tricks on me.”
Meilin laughed lightly. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. So you’re entering this program where?”
“Stanford.”
“I know the program. Have even substituted on occasion. Why learn Chinese?”
“The family business. My father would like to be more confident in the interpretations when we do business in China. I’ll spend a few years over there learning my way around, expanding our contacts, gaining new contracts. Any chance you’ll show up at the school this summer?”
Meilin ignored his last question. Undoubtedly, Arnie, better known to the students as Professor An Cheng Chung, would call on her to sub at some point. Or help with tutoring. “And the business is?”
“Import. With an eye toward the higher end. Beyond tea and trinkets. I’m pretty sure my mother wants some authentic antiques in our catalogue.”
At her raised brow, he clarified himself. “My stepmother, Randi. But already she’s accepted me as if she’d given birth to me and I’ve adopted her back.”
“Indeed. I’m not sure many women would so readily accept a grown man as their son.”
“Is that a polite way of asking my age?” An elegant brow, slightly darker than his golden hair, rose enticingly.
Feigning disinterest, she shrugged one shoulder. “Making conversation. I’m not experienced with stepmothers and the like.”
“Well, for clarification, I’m twenty-three. I know better than to ask your age, but I would place you close to twenty-five.”
Meilin laughed. “Nice try, but no, I won’t confess. A woman who will tell her age will tell everything. And I never tell everything.”
The grin on his face widened. “That’s fine by me. I like a woman full of mystery. Makes the getting to know her much more interesting.”
“You’re young to have completed a law degree. Although it happens, Jack’s two years older than you and he’s considered young for a JD. I’m surprised.”
“I grew up spending school holidays working in the offices, and I skipped a few levels at school.” He shrugged as if it were nothing unusual. “My experiences and scores got me into the program a few years ahead of my peers. All the better to be here at this point in time.”
His grin created a longing to get to know him better deep inside, twisting her stomach at the words she had to speak. “I must disappoint us both, I confess; tomorrow I become engaged to a man who has been a close friend of the family for many years.”
“Sounds…arranged.” A slight wrinkle formed between his perfect eyes.
“Many marriages around the world are arranged for many reasons. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. My parents are quite happy with the arrangements made by my grandparents.”
“I wasn’t criticizing. My own parents were expected to marry from the time they were toddlers. Sadly, for them, it wasn’t quite the harmonious pairing many such arrangements bring about.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She really was. Most often it was the children who suffered when discord between the parents erupted. How had it affected him?
In an attempt to deflect the conversation from