keep Mr. Magnusson waiting. Today has been trying enough for him.” He strode from the room, not turning back to see if she followed. Elle thanked the two women and quickly headed out into the hotel hallway, seeing Finn headed toward the elevators.
They rode in silence as the elevator climbed to the top floor. Elle had never been on that floor, but knew it was reserved for only the biggest clients. The elevator doors slid open and she followed Finn down the chic hallway until they reached a large set of double doors.
He opened one and waved her inside, then closed it behind her as she entered. She looked back, but he hadn’t followed her, and now she had no idea where to go next. The room she stood in was large and stately, with several doors leading to other rooms within the suite. A polished table had been set with serving dishes and silverware for two.
She walked over to the table and examined the place settings. There was more silverware for one person here than she had ever used to fill an entire table for five. She had no idea what half of them were used for, and began to stress out over all the etiquette breaches she knew she would make.
“It’s ostentatious.” A voice behind her startled her, and she quickly turned away from the table.
Anders stood in the doorway of a darkened room and the sight of him made her breath catch. He had changed into a finely tailored jacket, with a white linen shirt beneath. The top few buttons were undone and she could see a strip of mouthwatering skin between them. He wore the shirt un-tucked and it hung over a pair of dark blue jeans that sat snugly against his leanly muscular thighs.
She agreed that it was ostentatious, but wasn’t sure if she should respond. She didn’t even know why she was here. This man was too hot to be interested in her in the least. She still expected him to start laughing at her, or hidden cameras to appear so the entire world could mock her for pretending this could be a real date.
He walked over to where she stood and looked down at the table. She could smell the rich, musky cologne he wore and felt small beside his towering frame. Even in her stiletto heels, he was a good five inches taller than her. He must be at least six foot four, she thought.
“We’re not staying here. We’ll eat later.” He strode toward the door, leaving her to trail behind him. In the elevator down to the hotel lobby, she felt his eyes on her and turned to him. He looked her up and down, lingering on the exposed skin of her breasts. When his eyes finally made it up to her own, he gave her a look that she thought would melt her right there.
“Money well spent.” She blushed, and realized she hadn’t spoken a word since arriving.
She worked up her nerve and asked, “Where are we going?”
Anders answered without breaking the eye contact they shared. “Diora.”
“Oh. What type of food do they serve?” Elle knew she was asking stupid questions, but now that she had started talking, she felt like she had to continue.
He laughed. “You live in Vegas, and you’ve never heard of Diora?”
Elle looked down, not wanting him to see the embarrassment in her eyes. It must be some famous five star restaurant that she’d never have found on her own. She was already here though, so she may as well stick it out and at least have a free meal.
*****
He guided her through the busy hotel lobby with by placing a hand at the small of her back. She enjoyed the contact, but was surprised that he would make such a casually intimate gesture with her in public. Ryan had always shied away from her, and she felt like he had been embarrassed to be seen in her company.
When they reached the valet stand outside the hotel, he kept his hand in place on her back while they waited for the limousine to be brought around. Their driver arrived,