Okay, knock a hundred dollars off the first bottle of champagne. Besides, he looked damn good in a suit. Better than any other man she'd seen in the flesh. Dressed in this manner, he also looked a little familiar. Where had she seen him before? The image of him as a cowboy didn't jive with the chairman of the board standing before her and it left her feeling a little confused.

"Reed," Sam called her attention back to the moment at hand.

"Right." Reed patted her purse then stepped into the hall.

Gray took the wrap and carefully draped it around her shoulders. "Beautiful, beyond my wildest dreams," he said quietly.

"Thank you," she responded and ducked her head a little. The man made her feel breathless. She took the arm he offered as much to have something solid to hold onto as from polite convention. "You're not so bad yourself," she told him with a smile.

And he smelled even better. What was that cologne? Leather, sandalwood and something savory she couldn't identify. Exactly how a cowboy should smell. Outdoorsy and clean. Fresh.

He escorted her to the elevator and pressed the up button. Good. They weren't traveling far from home, or was he pulling a fast one? No, there was a restaurant up top, she remembered before returning his smile. A chuckle and a soft laugh behind her made her jump. She'd completely spaced Sam and her date.

Reed turned around. "I'm sorry," she started to apologize.

"Are you following us?" Gray asked the blond man he'd briefly introduced to her at the pool this afternoon.

"No, we're going down." When Roger reached past her to press the down button, Reed leaned into Gray's side. "Wouldn't want to cramp your style or make the ladies feel uncomfortable."

"Oh, I thought we were doubling..." Reed glanced at Gray and blushed at his slow head shake. "I see." She ducked her head again.

"I hope you do," he murmured, then grinned when her gaze flew back to his.

The elevator came and Gray led her on.

Reed turned back and gave Sam a tiny wave that was answered with a double thumbs-up. Reed nearly choked on the laugh she tried to stifle as the doors closed.

Gray pushed the button for the top floor, a small engraved brass plaque next to it confirming the restaurant, then turned to her and lifted her hand to his lips.

"I meant what I said. You were beautiful at the pool, and you're exquisite beyond compare now."

"Th-thank you." She could barely speak, the intensity of his gaze stealing her voice. His lips, warm and supple against her knuckles, nearly melted her into a puddle at his feet right there. "You'd better pace yourself or I'll swoon in your arms before the first glass of wine."

He grinned and took a half step back. "Didn't you realize that was my plan?"

"I guessed as much, but I'm starving after all the work it took to get dressed," she joked.

"Oh, of course, we must restore your strength. You might need it later."

"Are we going dancing then?" One step back and her shoulders touched the wall of the elevator.

"Possibly."

There was nowhere to run as he stepped closer, a predatory gleam in his eye, and she could only watch as he lifted her hand and pressed the back of it against his cheek.

"I can't wait, Reed, I have this overwhelming urge to kiss you." The gruffly spoken words served as a magic spell, rooting her to the spot.

Ensnared as much by her own traitorous body as his powerful one, Reed found herself watching his lips descend toward hers. She had to tilt her head back to look up at him. Six one? Six two? He made her feel small and delicate. It was a nice contrast to feeling like a round puff ball as usual.

Just a breath from her lips, he stopped. "Reed?" he whispered.

Looking into his eyes, she saw a hint of vulnerability. It tempered the burning desire that heated his intense gaze and weakened her resolve to hold him at arm's length. As natural as breathing, she answered by lifting her lips to his.

Did he think she was fragile? That she'd break or melt at his slightest touch? Moving with agonizing deliberation, he rested her hand on his chest then moved his to stroke her jaw, moving lightly and slowly to her ear. He brushed his lips across hers then slowly licked her bottom lip with a feathery touch.

Aching for more, Reed pressed closer and he took advantage, using his lips and tongue to open her mouth. Still, he didn't attack, but slowly, gently explored just inside her lip, his tongue running over her teeth.

Reed gasped at the absolute sensuality of the unhurried kiss, and her patience ran out. Gripping the lapels of his suit coat, she pulled him to her and he came willingly, cornering her, a hand at her waist, his thigh pinning her in place.

The kiss grew hot in the space of a racing heartbeat. Reed completely forgot where they were and ignored the rush of air from the opening of the elevator door. The repeated sound of a clearing throat snapped her attention back to their location at the same moment Gray broke the kiss.