“So you don’t just want to give them hope, or temporary solutions, but the possibility of a good future.” She liked it—liked it a lot. “I didn’t want to interrupt during your meeting, especially since the event is less than a week away, but the biggest issues seemed to revolve around visibility for the organization. I know this might sound kind of dumb, but something simple like me being photographed at the event on Friday night in some designer dress might help a little bit to raise awareness about what you’re working toward.” She felt a little embarrassed as she told him, “It seems like whenever I attend anything in a pretty dress, the pictures are all over the Internet and magazines for the next few days. And if it would help a good cause...”
“It doesn’t sound even the least bit dumb, Tatiana, and it would definitely help raise visibility for the foundation.”
“So it’s a date?”
His eyes darkened for a moment before he nodded. “It’s a date. I’ll let them know you’ll be attending and, if it’s okay with you, they can alert the press in advance.”
“Sounds great,” she said, her heart cartwheeling in her chest.
Okay, so it wasn’t a real date, but at least she’d be spending Friday night with Ian. And it hadn’t been nearly as difficult as she’d thought to get him to open up to her a little bit, had it?
“Thank you for answering my questions, Ian.” Belatedly remembering she was supposed to be asking because of her research on CEOs, and not just because she wanted to know every little thing about him, she said, “I think it’s going to help a lot with my role.”
“You know, if you hadn’t been such a good little tiger all those years ago, you would have made a good journalist.”
Warmth shot through her at his compliment. “Actually, I played a journalist a couple of years ago.”
“The twist at the end of that film was pretty surprising.”
“You saw it?”
“Your movies are very popular, you know.”
“Yes, but I also now know firsthand just how busy your work schedule is.”
“Even I take a couple of hours off here and there, Tatiana.”
Something about the way Ian said it, with the innate Sullivan lady-killing charm that his other brothers let fly much more freely than he normally did, immediately made her think of him taking time off for sex.
Her next breath caught in her throat as desire hit her with far stronger force than it ever had before. Ian was, clearly, a very physical man despite the hours he put in at the office. She assumed he worked out based on how fit he was, but something told her that hitting the gym wasn’t the only way he liked to get his blood pumping.
It was moments like this when she felt every inch the virgin no one would ever believe she was given the handful of sexy roles she’d played so far. A more experienced woman would know how to amp up the sensuality in the car with nothing more than a few alluring words.
But, for the first time in a very long time, Tatiana was suddenly completely tongue-tied.
CHAPTER SIX
Every eye in the restaurant turned to them as they walked inside and Ian silently cursed himself for not having thought to change the reservation to a more private location. Because, while Tatiana barely seemed to be aware of all the stares and excited whispers, Ian knew it had to grate on her. Hell, it grated on him like crazy, and he wasn’t even the famous one. She’d told him she could take care of herself, but even if she knew some martial arts, she was small enough—and trusting enough—that Ian knew he could have her beneath him and helpless within seconds if he wanted to.
The thought shouldn’t have been so arousing, damn it, but fifteen minutes alone in his town car with Tatiana after five hours of breathing in her seductive scent in conference rooms had made it difficult for him to string a straight thought together, let alone put the brakes on his attraction to her.
“Ian, my boy, what a pleasure it is to see you.”
Ian shook George’s hand, glad that the man’s grip was just as hearty as ever. “Professor, it’s been too long.”
Ian had been looking forward to this meeting since they’d arranged it a couple of weeks ago. George Collingsworth had not only been his favorite professor at the University of Washington, he was also an expert on fuel chemistry and synthesis. When the opportunity had arisen for Sullivan Investments to become a major partner in a company that specialized in new fuel-replacement technologies, he’d asked George if he could meet to give him some advice.
His old professor looked just as he always had, his shock of white hair in complete disarray, the pieces of his suit put together in a seemingly random and color-blind way. There was one big difference today, however: His normally preoccupied expression had been replaced by a huge smile.
Tatiana had that effect on everyone, from young tech geniuses to professors who were usually lost in the wilds of their brilliant minds. Even, Ian had to admit, normally laser-focused businessmen like himself.
He was just about to introduce them when George declared, “You’ve brought your beautiful wife with you!” Clearly, Ian thought, they’d just come across the one person on the planet who had no idea who she was, which was further brought home when George said, “Tell me your name, my dear.”
“Tatiana.”
“I’m George, and I must say it is positively wonderful to meet you. What a beauty you are, and with such intelligence in your eyes. Truly, you remind me of my own late wife. It’s been fifteen years since she passed away, and I still miss her every single day.”