CHAPTER TEN
The Olive Tree was bustling with guests and nervous tension.
The Dufort staff were trained to ensure there was no heavy drinking on a night like this. While it was good for the cash register, it could mean trouble if a genuine emergency happened. The bartender had explicit instructions to count drinks and monitor customer behaviors. It was one reason Daniel had decided to hang out in the bar—not that he was needed. He knew Akino and his team had things covered.
The other reason was Harper. Who had not yet shown, but Daniel was confident she would.
Arrogantly.
He’d seen the quake in her lips as he’d stepped near. He’d watched her pupils dilate. Damn, he’d fought hard to stop himself from planting his lips on hers in that moment.
Water had been dripping down her neck and between her breasts, and his cock had stood straight up. Then when he’d seen her nipples harden, the need to have her had been damn near overwhelming.
Harper needed to be fucked.
By him.
Hell, he needed to fuck her.
That wasn’t why he’d invited Harper down for a drink, though. He could have taken her right there in the room and she would have let him. Instead, he had a genuine concern that had been nagging at him since he’d heard about the hurricane. Then, when he’d seen her in the lobby, his feet had just begun walking toward her. For some reason, he needed to ensure she was safe.
More than safe.
He wanted her upgraded and in a nice room.
Near him. Since when did he want a woman near him? Daniel lifted his whisky and tossed it back.
Speaking of...he opened his phone and checked to see if his lawyer had emailed the draft prenup through.
Nothing.
Jesus, what was the guy doing?
He fired off a quick follow up.
When he looked up, he stilled. Harper stood in the entrance of The Olive Tree in a figure-hugging black sundress, her long dark waves flowing around her shoulders. She was looking for him, but Daniel didn’t wave out. He wanted to freeze frame the image of her.
She was fucking gorgeous.
“Wow,” the bartender said under his breath and Daniel glared at him. The guy caught his look and suddenly got busy wiping the bar.
When he turned back, Harper was making her way over to him. Daniel slid off the barstool and held her stare until they were standing in front of each other.
“Hi,” she said quietly.
There was a sense of vulnerability about her, which had Daniel tilting his head. He had a feeling Harper didn’t show it often and yet here it was on show for him.
She shouldn’t—he was a predator.
He was going to eat her alive, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. And yet the blush on her cheeks did something to him. His chest warmed and he felt this need to pull her against him.
Instead, Daniel leaned in and kissed the sensitive spot along her jawline, right near her ear. He heard her small intake of breath, and his body roared.
“Thank you for joining me.” He pulled out the stool and guided her onto it only so he could touch her.
Harper smiled in thanks and turned to the bartender. “A Sauvignon Blanc, please. Something from New Zealand. The Marlborough region preferably.”
Daniel grinned.