The Crime of Seduction Read online

  When she came out of the restroom Heath was standing by the door waiting for her. He had his sport coat back on and was looking at his phone. She paused for a second to take in the entirety of him. He stood out in the cafe—a man of class and style amongst the hipster boys and college students. He must have felt her eyes on him because he looked up at her and smiled, sliding his phone into his pocket. As Alex walked toward him, he stepped to the door and held it open for her.

  “Thank you, sir,” she said as she slid by him, purposefully close.

  “My pleasure, Miss Barton,” he said, very obviously giving her a slow once-over. “I was just texting my friend who is the chef at Aqua. He is looking forward to meeting you.”

  Alex felt herself blush, enjoying the chivalry and attention she was getting from such a handsome man. She decided to be bold and turned to Heath. “I am so happy we met for coffee,” she said.

  “I am so happy you agreed to come to dinner with me.” He smiled. “How about I drive?”

  Alex hesitated but Heath didn’t miss a beat. “Why don’t you take a picture of my car and license plate and,” he reached into his inside jacket pocket, pulling out a business card, “my card. Send it to that friend you called while you were in the bathroom.”

  “What?” Alex laughed, embarrassed. “What are you talking about? Were you standing outside of the bathroom with your ear pressed against the door or something?”

  “No, baby,” he said. “But I know women and that is what you do, right?”

  Alex had to admit he was right, but didn’t particularly care to hear that A) he had all that much experience with women—even though she was sure he had—and B) that she was that predictable. “Well, yeah, I guess you caught me. God, I hate to think I am that predictable.”

  “I hate to think that too, Alex. And I highly doubt that you are.”

  Damn, there’s that smile again. Alex was very intrigued by Heath. She wanted to see how the evening would end—but didn’t want to rush through the night to get there, either. She wanted the night to last as long as possible. She was lapping up the chivalry like a thirsty dog: it was refreshing and deeply satisfying. As she walked through the door Heath’s eyes never left her, and she felt the heat of his attention on her as she purposely brushed him as she went by.

  Heath put his hand on the small of Alex’s back and directed her around the corner to the parking lot in back of the coffee shop. “So this is how you snuck up on me,” she said, nodding her head toward the back door.

  “I’m sneaky like that,” he laughed. “You didn’t even notice me watching you, did you?”

  “What?” Alex sounded shocked. “Did you really?”

  “No, baby, I am just teasing you. I just parked back here because I knew I was running late and didn’t think I could get a spot on the street. I didn’t want to risk missing out on you.” They had arrived at a very clean, very shiny, crimson-red BMW coupe. Heath held the door open for Alex and she slid onto the lush leather seat, feeling it envelop her.

  Heath walked around and got into the driver’s seat. As she put on her seat belt she could feel his eyes on her again. “Nice car,” she said.

  “Do you know cars, Alex?” he asked.

  “Not really,” she said. “But it smells good and looks fast.”

  “Well, that about sums me—I mean it—up.” He turned the key in the ignition, and it started with a rumbling purr she could feel through the seat. Heath pulled out of his parking spot and out of the lot, punching the car and accelerating with a roar as they headed toward the coast.

  * * *

  Aqua was one of the hot new restaurants perched right on the cliff overlooking the beach. Alex had read very favorable reviews about the high-end seafood restaurant’s new chef. He was French-trained and had been brought in after a major renovation and remodel was completed. The restaurant had once been a popular family style seafood joint serving tubs of clam chowder and rounds of freshly baked sourdough.

  A local developer who had grown up eating there with his family invested several million dollars to upgrade everything from the pillars the restaurant was built on to the large windows facing the bay. The new bar and lounge were ultramodern and very popular with the in-crowd. Alex knew many of local judges, attorneys, and politicians had drinks there from time to time. Since Alex preferred to maintain boundaries between her work life and her personal life—her friendship with Mari being the notable exception—she had never been to the new, improved Aqua Restaurant and Lounge. Once she walked in, though, she wished she had—the place was gorgeous!

  Large, wooden, heavy double doors opened to a floor-to-ceiling window that provided a panoramic view of the bay. The floor was made of sand-covered marble, which gave Alex the feeling she was standing on the beach looking out over the sea.

  As they stood appreciating the view, a hostess standing behind a clear glass podium greeted them. “Good evening, Mr. Valentine. Marcel said you would be joining us this evening.”

  “Thank you,” he said, enjoying Alex’s reaction to the restaurant and the hostess’s warm greeting.

  “Would you like to have a drink in the lounge while we prepare your table?” she said, smiling brilliantly at them.

  The lovely, slim, and well-dressed hostess led them to the room on the left and into an incredibly beautiful lounge area. At the far end was a gorgeous mahogany bar lined with leather-backed bar stools. A backlit mirror reflected the view from the immense windows, giving the entire room a sense of weightlessness. Alex didn’t even try to hide her sense of wonder at the beauty of the place.

  “Who knew minimalist and opulent could co-exist so beautifully,” she said, turning toward Heath. He looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. He cocked his head to the side slightly, and a smile was beginning to form on his face just as the hostess presented them with two leather club chairs the color of caramel. The sumptuous chairs were positioned next to the window and the view was literally breathtaking. Because the restaurant was perched on the cliff, Alex felt as if she were suspended over the water. The light of the waning summer day added to the magical feeling as it bathed them both in a warm romantic glow.

  Heath thanked the hostess and smiled at Alex. “I’m glad you like it here.”

  “The light, the view—this is spectacular,” she said, turning her head to take in the sweeping view.

  “I agree,” he said. “The view is spectacular.” She could tell he was staring at her. She took the opportunity to cross her legs and in doing so drew her skirt up to expose more of her shapely thigh.

  In response, Heath adjusted himself too. He spread his legs at a wider angle, allowing Alex an unobstructed view of his crotch. She could clearly see the outline of his penis against his thigh and she was pleased to see she was having the desired effect on him.

  She smiled again as she shrugged out of her cashmere wrap and let it drop on her purse beside her chair. She ran her hands slowly down the rounded arms of the chair while she stared back at Heath and ran her tongue along her upper lip.

  Their sensual stare-down was interrupted as yet another slim, impeccably dressed young woman set a crystal ice bucket and two champagne flutes on the low glass table between them. As she nestled the bottle of champagne into the ice she turned toward Heath. Alex watched his eyes leave her for a moment and drift to the waitress’ low-cut top. Alex shifted in her chair again, this time turning away from Heath and more fully towards the window.

  “Compliments of the chef, Mr. Valentine,” she said, looking brazenly at him.

  Alex felt a rush of hot jealousy as she watched Heath’s attention shift so suddenly from her to the lithe, flirty waitress. How ridiculous, she thought, chastising herself. I hardly know the man and here I am, all possessive.

  Heath thanked her and reached for the bottle of bubbly, “Would you like some?”

  “Some what?” Alex shot back, sounding harsher than she had intended.

  “Bubbly, Ms. Barton. Let’s start ther
e.” He looked at her mischievously, apparently enjoying her reaction to the waitress.

  Alex looked back at Heath, not backing down. She waited a beat longer than was comfortable, then smiled at the image in front of her—a remarkably handsome man sitting in a leather chair holding a bottle of champagne in mid-air, waiting for her response.

  “You look like an advertisement for Dom Perignon,” she said, with a laugh.

  “Well, I am “the most interesting man in zee vorld,” he said, arching his eyebrows and moving to pour the champagne into her glass.

  Alex laughed with pleasure—he was entertaining and a good sport, on top of everything else. A complete package—with a package! She laughed at herself and took a long sip from the crystal flute. As soon as the bubbles hit her throat, a man in a white coat approached them with a smile on his face, wiping his hands on a kitchen towel.

  “Ahhh, Heath, so glad you made it! Bon soir!” He leaned down to shake Heath’s hand and grasped it with both of his. Then he stood up and turned to Alex.

  “Mademoiselle, bienvenue a Aqua—welcome to my restaurant. I am Chef Marcel. ’ave you been ’ere before?” he asked. He was lean, his sleeves rolled up to expose his sinewy and tanned forearms. He had a fork and knife tattooed on his left wrist.

  “No, this is my first time here. I’ve heard a lot about it though—and this view is unbelievable.”

  He smiled at her without moving or saying anything. Just as it was becoming awkward he turned suddenly to Heath and said, “A seafood virgin, you say? I find that hard to believe!” Marcel and Heath laughed, and Heath raised his glass to his friend and took a sip.

  Marcel took a step back, spread his arms, and said, “Follow me to your table. I have a wonderful menu planned for you this evening. By the end of the night, Mademoiselle, you will have fallen in love. And not just with my good friend Heath, but seafood too.” He gave her a huge smile and extended his hand to help her out of her chair. Alex accepted his hand, and found it remarkably soft for a man who worked with his hands all day. She had thought for sure a chef’s hands would be rough and hardened by knife and burn scars. Marcel led them to a prime table with a view just as spectacular as the one they had from the lounge, although by now the sun was setting and the candles on the table provided most of the light.

  Marcel’s chef’s menu was exquisite. He began by bringing them a steaming bowl of mussels meuniere. “Enjoy!” he said, beaming through the steam.

  Alex stared at the bowl with skepticism. Heath smiled and invited her to smell the steam first. “You want to awaken all your senses in order to fully enjoy the experience.” He fanned the salty steam towards his face and inhaled, his eyes closed. “Mmmmmm…”

  Alex found herself mesmerized by his intensity; the deep, guttural sounds he was making were turning her on. God, either he is that good or it has just been way too long since I’ve gotten laid. She gave Heath an amused look, bent closer to the bowl, and took a deep breath. He was right: the scent of the broth and the mussels was enticing. “Salty and maybe a little spicy,” she said, picking up her fork.

  Heath paused and looked directly at her. “Exactly. Doesn’t it just make your mouth water?”

  “It does,” she replied and stuck a fork into one of the open black shells, pulling out a fleshy mussel and putting it in her mouth. She closed her eyes, not exactly sure what to expect from the salty sea creature, but when she bit down she found the mussel to be firm but almost creamy, and totally delicious. “Wow!” she said, when she had finished chewing and swallowed. “That was actually really yummy. I’m shocked.”

  Heath held his glass up to her. “Here’s to trying new things—and liking them!”

  The rest of their dinner was equally delicious and inspiring—a perfectly grilled salmon filet with a wasabi sauce served over crisp rice noodles with sautéed bok choy on the side. By the time the waiters had cleared the last of their dinner plates, Alex was pleasantly full. She had made a point to not eat or drink too much, even though Heath kept filling her champagne glass.

  Once the last crumb was scraped from the table by the perfectly dressed and stealthy bus boy, Marcel appeared, looking pleased with himself. “Well, ’ow did you like zee meal?”

  “It was delicious, Marcel, thank you,” Alex said. “Those mussels were outstanding.”

  He glowed under her praise and turned to Heath, “Anything else for you tonight, friend? A small dessert?”

  Heath looked across the table at Alex, and then back to Marcel, a sly look in his eyes. “No thank you, Marcel. I think we are satisfied for the evening.”

  Alex felt her stomach tighten—did he mean he was taking her back to her car and calling it a night? Jesus, he better not play hard to get. Alex folded her napkin neatly and placed it back on the table. “Shall we, then? It is getting late.”

  “We shall,” Heath said, standing up and walking around to pull Alex’s chair out for her.

  “Thank you so much for this incredible evening, Heath.”

  “You are so welcome, Miss Barton,” he said. He leaned over towards her, bent his head down to her ear, and whispered, “But it doesn’t have to end yet…if you don’t want it to.”

  * * *

  5

  Chapter Five

  Heath and Alex walked to his car in silence. Alex was happy she hadn’t drunk too much, or eaten so much, that she felt bloated and tired. Heath held the door open for her, and, as she settled herself into the front seat, she noticed something rolling around on the floor by her feet. Was that there before? She bent over to see what it was and picked up a bottle of wine. She had it in her hand as Heath walked around and got into the driver’s seat.

  “This was rolling around by my feet,” she said. “I didn’t notice it earlier.”

  “Oh, that. Yeah, I’ve had that in here, it’s a really great bottle of wine I have been waiting to drink.”

  “Oh. You store great wine in your car?”

  “No,” he laughed, “it just happened to be in here today. Would you like to drink it with me?”

  “You mean now?”

  “Well, I know a place that we could go to enjoy it. It has an incredible view of the Bayside city lights.”

  “And where, pray tell, would that be, Mr. Valentine?” she asked.

  “Chez Valentine, of course. No view like it in the world. I am quite sure you will find it to your liking.”

  “I’m sure I will too,” she said, smiling. “OK, count me in. Let’s just pick up my car first—I’ll follow you, if that’s alright.”

  “It’s perfect,” he said. “Absolutely perfect.”

  * * *

  Heath took Alex to her car, which was still parked outside of Perk and—fortunately—ticket-free. She got in as Heath waited for her and, when she was belted in, she took a deep breath and flashed her lights at him. She followed his crimson BMW coupe through the streets of Scottsville and onto the freeway leading to Bayside. It seemed like they were on the freeway forever, and Alex had a moment of panic when she thought of what she was getting herself into, though it quickly faded. She was a grown woman doing what she fully wanted to do. She used her voice recognition to send a text to Mari. “Dinner was a winner. Heading to Valentine’s house for a nightcap. I’ll text his address when I get there. Just in case.”

  It was after 11:00 and Alex knew Mari and her kids would be sound asleep, but she wanted someone to know where she was going. She knew if Mari woke up in the morning and hadn’t heard from her—or if she didn’t make it in to work—she would have the hounds out looking for her. She didn’t want her friend to worry, so she always made a point of keeping her in the loop.

  Alex reduced speed as Heath turned into a driveway, slowing as the garage door opened. Alex was impressed to see another shiny BMW, this time a black M5 SUV. Jesus, she thought, this guy is loaded! The garage was immaculate, with nothing on the floors or the walls. The far wall was lined with bright white cabinets, and that was about all that was in the space—other than t
he two impeccably clean vehicles. Heath slid his red coupe next in next to the black SUV and pointed to a gravel parking spot to the side of the garage. Alex pulled her older—but fully functional and clean—Acura into the spot and quickly texted Heath’s address to Mari.

  * * *

  “Welcome to my home, Alex,” Heath said as the garage door slid to a close and he took her hand. He led her to a narrow walkway that took them past the garage and to a wide front porch. There was a large, double wooden door that had a security pad on it. Heath punched in a code and opened the door, holding it open for Alex to pass through.

  The view from Heath’s living room was nearly as impressive as the one at Aqua. There were large floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a panoramic view of treetops and houses and, beyond that, the lights of the city. The front door opened up into a very modern, very sparsely decorated living room. To the right was a sizable, sleek, black leather sofa facing an extremely large flat-screen television. In front of the sofa was a low glass coffee table with neat stacks of books and various remote controls. Straight ahead of them, as they stood on the threshold of the house, was a black dining table and to the left of that, a gorgeous kitchen with black granite countertops and white cabinets. The walls featured a lot of white space and some very large abstract paintings. Alex was impressed. Not my style, but very nice. And clean!

  Heath closed the door behind them and carried the bottle of wine to the kitchen. Alex followed him and set her purse down on the dining table. She took off her wrap and her shoes.

  “Make yourself at home,” Heath said, chuckling.

  “Oh, sorry,” she said, briefly embarrassed. “I just figured you would want me to experience your home with all of my senses.”

  “Oh I do, you are absolutely right.”

  As Heath opened the wine she took another look around. “Your artwork is lovely.”