Scent of a Woman Read Online Free PDF Page A

closest sunken tub. The sight made her wonder how long it had been since she’d been kissed that way. The memory was a bittersweet one since the man she would have shared her last kiss with had hurt her.

    “I met the captain today after you left the welcome reception. Apparently Alexandra’s Dream is newly refurbished.”

    She’d read that somewhere, along with the fact that the ship had been named after the owner’s late wife. The tearoom was supposed to have a portrait of Alexandra Stamos and Danielle planned to see it tomorrow when she met Monsieur Nordham. Elias Stamos must have loved his wife to name this big, beautiful vessel after her a decade after her death. The thought touched Danielle, perhaps because she still missed her mother so much.

    “We could not have asked for a more decadent setting for the fragrance conference.” Her cocktail-style dress flapped against her calves in the breeze off the water, the silk teasing her skin. “May I ask what business you hope to accomplish while on board?”

    She didn’t know how the companies might help each other, but it was worth investigating since Prestige had made an offer on Les Rêves in the past.

    “I’m here to secure a deal with the Dubai retailer,” Adam said. “Joe thinks we need a greater presence in the United Arab Emirates and a contract there would bring in substantial new revenues.”

    Danielle’s heart sank. They were no longer competitors in a general sense. With Adam’s declaration, she realized they would be vying for the same piece of lucrative business this week.

    “It seems we will be in direct competition then, because I am here for much the same reason.” And although she was not afraid of the competition, she had to admit to a twinge of disappointment that Prestige wasn’t looking at business possibilities with an elite French import like Les Rêves.

    “You’re pursuing the Dubai account, too?”

    “ Oui. And I guess that should come as no surprise to either of us since the promise of business there is profitable to say the least. No doubt many of the other fragrance houses aboard will make a similar pitch.”

    “So you’re not upset that we’ll be competing?” He turned toward her, his body blocking her from the breeze for a moment.

    She caught a hint of his scent and was taken aback by the blend of hyssop and cedar and another note she couldn’t quite define. The desire to lean closer and inhale was strong. But damn it, why did they have to be vying for the same account?

    She needed to present a strong front.

    “Why would I be upset?” Her thoughts about Adam were taking a much too personal turn. “Do you think you have the account all sewn up? I have to admit I think I have the advantage over you when it comes to perfume, even if you did correctly guess the fern.”

    “That’s good news.” He looked down at his leg and she realized the fabric of her dress had blown around the back of her legs and the purple silk now clung to his trousers.

    She tugged the material away, flustered even though she had no real reason to be.

    “Danielle.” Adam touched her arm and she looked up from her wayward dress to his face.

    The expression in his eyes didn’t surprise her. She had sensed the attraction there earlier, yet she hadn’t been prepared for the heat of it. Never had a woman’s elbow felt like such an erogenous zone.

    “This could be complicated.” She didn’t need him to spell out what he wanted because she saw it too clearly in his eyes.

    “What if we keep business separate from pleasure? We don’t talk about our work, we just—”

    “My work is who I am. If I tried to talk to you without talking about my business, I would be giving you a woman who wasn’t Danielle Chevalier. Don’t you see?”

    “I’ll tell you what I see.” He stepped closer, claiming a corner of her personal space as his own. “I see a ten-day cruise stretching out in front of me and the opportunity to enjoy it