The fork clanked against the bowl and her hands curled, restraining herself from reaching out to him.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Marcus.” She sipped the champagne. “I’ve been blessed to have had both parents all my life. Granted they uprooted and moved to France, but they’re only a phone call away.” Her nails traced the rim of her glass. “So why did you invite me to lunch?” She threw him a dubious look.
His shoulders pulled back as if removing himself from the past and stepping into a business meeting. “I wanted to get to know you and discuss your reasons for joining the club,” his voice was deep and raspy. “Are you not satisfied with your current partner?”
Her cheeks burned hot. “That’s kind of personal, don’t you think?”
“Agreed,” he replied, popping a tiny piece of crayfish into his mouth, chewing and swallowing, “Would it be easier for you to answer the question if we knew each other a little better?”
“I guess so.” The corners of her mouth tugged and she shifted a little closer.
Clasping his hands together on the counter, his professional manner anticipated a negotiation. “Well, you already know a little about my mother—so what else would you like to know before you answer my questions?”
She didn’t feel it was right to pry into his mother’s untimely death just yet, the sadness from his eyes had quickly dissolved, hidden behind a wall that she so desperately wanted to climb over, but now wasn’t the right time.
“Do you actually live here?” Her gaze followed the clean lines around the adjoining rooms. “It’s really nice here, but it’s like a show home, soulless and unlived in.”
“I only stay here when I’m in the city on business. This isn’t my home.” He tilted back and slotted his hands behind his head, forcing the fabric of his shirt to tighten around his wide biceps.
Her breathing stuttered. “Why not stay in one of your hotels?”
Marcus returned his hands to the counter and grabbed the ice-cold bottle of champagne, refilling her glass to the top. “It becomes monotonous when staff constantly run around trying to impress all the time. I find it puts management under pressure and irritates me. They need to focus on providing superior service to the guests, not faffing around me. I like to get away from business and shut the door on it when I need to.”
Swallowing the refreshing heady nectar, Lana blinked slowly. “A guy like you needs space?” She laughed, a sceptical eyebrow slid up.
A hint of amusement curled his lips upward. “Does that surprise you, beautiful?”
Her insides flipped when he called her beautiful and she wondered if he actually meant it, or if he called every woman beautiful. “I just thought you would always enjoy company.”
“Company?”
“You know – women. Your reputation precedes you, Marcus.” Her shoulders lifted to her ears and she chased food around the bowl.
“And what would you know of my reputation? Have you been investigating me, Lana? I’m flattered.”
“Oh…I, I,” she stuttered, “I wasn’t looking you up or anything, someone told me on Saturday night that you’ve had more women than hot dinners.”
“And you believe everything you hear, beautiful?” He laughed. “I’ve had my fair share of the ladies, that’s true, but my reputation has been somewhat embellished over the years. I even heard that I have a shark in a swimming pool.” He rolled his eyes and puffed air down his nose. “I’m certainly not cruel to animals.”
Lana’s head swirled with the champagne. “I’m glad to hear it, Marcus. I’m a huge fan of animals, including sharks. I would’ve been forced to change my opinion of you.”
“Interesting. What is your opinion of me, Lana?” His eyes narrowed, dawdling on her lips, waiting for her response.
“Well, a handsome guy like you can have your choice of any woman he chooses, from anywhere in the world. I would say you’re a very spoiled man, Mr. McGrath.”
“Handsome indeed. Wow, Lana, some would say you are flirting with me,” he laughed with a deepness that reverberated delightfully through her body.
She bit back a giggle and took a steadying gulp of the champagne. “Maybe I am.” The words were so silent that she doubted he heard them.
Marcus let out a slow deep breathe. “I have my fun. Anyway, I don’t believe in love and marriage.”
His bold statement knocked the wind from her lungs. Marcus wasn’t interested in relationships or commitment. A strange swirl of disappointment nipped her heart and instantly her eyes dropped, and her smile slipped away.
For some odd reason she was devastated by his revelation, yet Marcus wasn’t hers, hell, she wasn’t even his.
But hearing him say those words out loud was like a knife jabbing into her gut.
Her lashes lowered so those big blue eyes of hers looked somewhere else other than right at him. Chewing her bottom lip, she pushed the almost empty bowl forward and slowly set the fork down.
“That was better than eating at the deli, but I really should get back to the office now. I’ll get fired if I rock up late after lunch.”