Adam rubbed the spot with his fingers, as if to erase it. “I do? No one has ever told me that before.”
“Probably from staring at a computer screen all day long. You need to give your eyes a break every now and then.” She reached out and grasped his elbow. “Let me know if you need a minute, okay? It’s better to take the time to collect yourself now, rather than later. I don’t want you to be caught in an uncomfortable situation.”
* * *
Adam cast his eyes to his arm, where Melanie was holding it so tenderly with her elegant hands. He’d almost forgotten the way her touch brought him to life. Her sweet smell washed over him, her curves in that black dress called to him, reminding him where his hands fit best, the places she loved to be squeezed.
She patted him on the shoulder. “Everything okay?”
He nodded. “Yep.”
“You’ll do great. Don’t worry.”
He fought a smile. Even though it didn’t seem to go beyond their professional relationship, she cared. Sometimes she cared too much about things, about what other people thought, in particular, but she was passionate, and that was so damn sexy.
It tormented him to see her in this room, in his apartment, knowing the things they’d shared the first time she was here. Those few hours were engraved in his memory. She’d made him laugh, she’d made him growl with desire, she’d made him feel something strong and real, when that had been missing from his life. He’d never had that kind of instant chemistry with anyone, not even with his ex-fiancée, and he’d been deeply in love with her. Logic said that he could have that with Melanie, but it took two to tango, and she’d shown she had no interest in dancing.
He could still remember Melanie’s words from their night together, as she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, her slick heat inviting him inside for the first time. She’d arched her back, rolled her entire body into his, grasped the back of his neck with both hands and murmured in the sexiest voice he’d ever heard, “You feel like a dream.” If he closed his eyes, he could still hear her say it, and that made everything in his body grow tight and hot.
Sure, women had lauded Adam with praise, but much of it was meaningless—things about having an amazing apartment or looking hot in his suit or having an air of power and control, whatever that meant. Melanie had chosen a simple line, sweet and almost poetic, that was all about him as a man, the things he could give to her that had nothing to do with money or prestige. His God-given talents.
“Adam,” Melanie said.
“Yes?” She was still close enough to pull into his arms and dammit if his hands didn’t want to do exactly that.
“Fiona is ready to start the interview.”
Adam forced a smile. Showtime. All he could think as he took his place opposite Fiona was that as soon as he was asked about his relationship with Julia, this would all become real, at least to the world. The photos in the tabloids were largely conjecture. This would make it seem authentic, and that made him wish he could stand up and tell everyone but Melanie to leave.
“So, Adam.” Fiona leaned forward and placed her hand on his knee. “May I call you Adam?”
“Of course.”
She smiled warmly. “Tell me about your rekindled romance with Julia Keys. We’ve all been seeing you two around town together, and I’m sure our readers would love to know more about the hottest couple in Manhattan.”
Okay, then. Right into it. Adam cleared his throat, on edge, torn between what Melanie would want him to say and what he wanted to say in front of Melanie if he had the chance. “What can I say? Julia is a lovely woman and we’re having a great time becoming reacquainted.” If only he could spout the reality, because what he really wanted to say was, “Well, you see, the truth is that I went from casually dating dozens of women to having a fake girlfriend while pining for a woman who wants me to remain her client.”
“Can you tell us about how you got back together?” Fiona asked.
Adam shifted in his seat, tugging at his collar, remembering the script Julia had given him at the restaurant. “Well, I heard that Julia was moving back to New York and I wanted to see her, so I called her.” Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Melanie hanging on every word. Was he doing what she wanted? He thought so, but he’d been wrong before. “She agreed to let me come by her new apartment when she arrived in the city. That was the start of it.”
“Don’t forget about the roses,” Julia blurted, stepping forward and placing her hand on Fiona’s shoulder. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I must. You see, Adam is so romantic, and he doesn’t give himself credit.”