The Heart Wants What It Wants

“Only when it feels like the desserts are likelier to say something I understand than any of the people around,” admitted Diana, the truth tumbling out of her as if she couldn’t help it.

She couldn’t help it.

Those eyes – they were so blue, and it felt like they were looking right through her, to her very soul.

“Not a tech person?”

Diana smiled and shook her head.

“Not at all.”

“But your boss sent you anyway?”

“My boss isn’t particularly a tech person, either. I’m from a law firm.”

“Ah, here to drum up business.”

Diana shuddered a little at the thought.

“To be visible, apparently. I’m beginning to understand why they sent me. I’ve never felt more visible in my entire life.”

There, that was more truth. She was surrounded by men so white that she was beginning to understand the appeal of tanning parlors. There were a few women, scattered here and there, but the entire conference was very predominantly white and male. Sending a curvy black woman out there was a definite way to be visible.

Diana managed to take in the rest of the face that was surveying her in amusement, and adjusted that assessment a little. The man watching her definitely didn’t need a tanning parlor. His dark hair had just a few touches of grey at the temples, but he exuded vitality and confidence. No, he was definitely different.

“You’re a beautiful woman. You must be used to being noticed.”

“I’m not used to standing out quite like this,” she mumbled.

“It’s almost lunch. Why don’t we go out and see if we can get something good?”

“I… Oh, we’re supposed to be…”

“Live a little.”

Diana grinned.

“I shouldn’t. We shouldn’t. But…”

“Why not? I’m George, and I’m staying right here at the hotel. I promise I will not kidnap you. At least, not unless you ask me to.”

That should have sounded corny, shouldn’t it? Or it should have sounded creepy.

But it didn’t.

It sounded sexy coming from him. He had a good voice – deep, husky, smooth enough to sound wonderful, just the hint of roughness to keep it interesting.

If she was ever kidnapped, she hoped she’d hear that voice.

What was she thinking?

“I’m Diana, Diana David.”

“Then it should be dinner that I take you for, under the moonlight.”

He made it sound as if he wanted to take her, not take her for dinner. Diana couldn’t help how her heart beat a little faster, how her throat went a little dry.

“Oh… I…”

“Lunch, then, goddess of the hunt. Shall we? I promise, you won’t get into trouble. The keynote address is at two thirty. There’s plenty of time for it.”

Diana smiled, because she could feel herself beginning to get swept away and she didn’t want to stop it this time.

“All right, lunch, then.”

“Excellent. There’s a wonderful café next door that serves the most excellent apple pies. And carrot cakes.”

“There is?”

“Much better than this. Come on.”

She didn’t know why she followed him, really, but she did, out of the conference room, out through the lobby, falling into step beside him. She wasn’t a tall woman, and he was a tall man, but he was considerate enough to shorten his stride for her. She appreciated it, especially in the heels she was wearing to look professional.

It really was next door, like he said it was.

“Wow, this place looks amazing!”

“It does, doesn’t it? The Cottage Café. I said the name wouldn’t work, but they make it work. Sit outside?”

It was a garden, like something she might have imagined as a child – crazy paving, flowering plants, vines on trellises, little gazebos, even a little rockery and a pond with a bridge over it.

He led her to the table close to the pond and pulled her chair out for her. Diana sat down, feeling like she might have fallen through the rabbit hole.

“It doesn’t seem real, does it? But they do quite well. Carrot cake for you, of course, but they make excellent pesto pasta as well.”

“Sounds great,” said Diana, and she sat back to let George do the ordering. He had no trouble catching a waiter’s attention, and she noticed the appreciative glance the waiter gave him. It was a change to be out with a man and find the man getting all the attention. Diana wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about that. In theory, she’d always wanted that, but practically…

“You’re worrying.”

Diana glanced up, surprised. Those blue eyes were like lasers on her again.

“I guess I do it sometimes. Doesn’t everybody?”

“I suppose, but I don’t see the point of worrying about something when you can do something about it and stop worrying about it.’

“I guess that’s the way confident people go about it.”

“Don’t you think you’re a confident person?”

“Oh…”

Diana was a bit flustered. Those eyes, they were just on her, so steadily, as if she would be caught out if she tried to lie.

“I don’t know. I’m confident when I’m in my element. I’m not, here. Really, I was the wrong person to send here. There will be all the talks today, and tomorrow everybody’s supposed to network, and I’m supposed to handle my firm’s booth. I have a presentation I can play, and I can answer whatever they want to know about what my firm does, but if they ask me where the intersection is, and why they should choose us – well, I can’t tell them that. I can tell them what the law is, and why we’re good at that, but we’re not specializing in IT, and I have a pretty good grasp of the laws and all the really huge loopholes because the law hasn’t caught up with technology, and data privacy and all of those things, but as long as I don’t know what I’m supposed to be defending…”

“Ah, you think too much. That’s the trouble.”

“What? I don’t…”

“Of course you do. Tomorrow, none of them will quiz you about anything you’re not sure of. Remember, they are as clueless about the law and legal details as you are about technology. Maybe more so, at least you know how to use the technology. And you have to remember, they’re not scared about breaking the law right now, but once they see your booth, they will be, and all you have to do is remind them of their fifth grade history teacher, and you’ll have the upper hand.”

“Their… what?”

“Or librarian, if you like. Most of these young men think they want gamer girls, but they all had their first real life crushes on their favorite teacher.”

“That’s quite some generalization.”

“I should know. I’m one of them.”

“Oh.”

“Act like you are in charge and they’re all very naughty boys, and you won’t have any problems. Trust me.”

“Oh,” said Diana again, sure that trusting him was probably the last thing she wanted to do.

“I’ve scandalized you. Our food comes right on time to give me a chance to redeem myself.”

Diana chuckled, but she was distracted, because the pesto pasta did look amazing, and she thought she could already smell the carrot cake baking. She hoped they’d have cream cheese icing. She loved cream cheese.

“Go on, dig in.”

She smiled, dimples flashing in and out quickly, and she did dig in, and sighed in such pleasure. She had no idea just what a long drawn-out and pleasure-filled sigh could do to a man, especially a man used to getting what he wanted.

“This is amazing. Best I’ve ever had.”

Diana tried to slow down, but damn, she did love good food and this was great food. George seemed to be happy with his steak and vegetables, and he seemed to respect food enough to let them both eat in silence at least for a while.

“Have dinner with me.”

“What?”

“Have dinner with me. I’ll plan something good.”

Diana grinned.

“I’d say yes but letting a man buy me two meals in one day seems a little odd.”

“Why would it be? I want to get to know you a bit better. I want to have another meal with you, when we don’t have to rush to anything afterwards. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?”

“I… Well…”