STAY THE NIGHT (The Phillips Family Book 1) (10 page)

    He led her to the living area. 
“
You got a glimpse of the great room when we crossed it to the master suite.  If I'm entertaining I use it, otherwise there's a den through here and that's where I spend my time when I'm here which isn't often.  I tend to work late, grab something to eat on my way home and crash for the night.  I'm out of town often, too, since we acquire companies anywhere in the country.
”

   
“
I see.
”

    He glanced at her, noted her frown and said,
“
Angel while you're here with me I won't keep that kind of schedule.  It's not necessary to work the way I do.  I do it for lack of anything better to do.
”

   
“
Are you lonely?
”

   
“
I don't consider myself lonely, but maybe I am and that's why I'm so driven.
”

    She walked to the bank of tall windows that overlooked a stunning part of Manhattan. 
“
Cray, are you extremely wealthy?
”

   
“
Yes, I suppose some would consider me that.  I don't do it for the money, though.
”

   
“
Do you do if for the power?
”

   
“
No.  Why are you asking?
”

    She crossed her arms and gazed out the window. 
“
Cray, men tell me I'm beautiful and they like my body.  Wealthy men, men with untold riches invite me out, take me to elite places, introduce me to their high society friends, try to buy me expensive gifts, invite me to travel the world with them. 

   
“
In my mid twenties, I accepted their invitations, never the lavish gifts and I didn't accompany them to the exotic places of the world they offered.  At first I was flattered, me a simple girl from Norway raised in a middle-class family being showered with attention from men who could give me the world if I'd do their bidding.  They liked my social graces and manners, but they wanted me on their arm and silent.  I learned that wealthy men have an arrogance that's grating to a woman with a mind of her own.  A beautiful woman's function on the arm of a wealthy man is to make him look good.  They don't respect women.  It's a generality, but it's my personal experience.
”

   
“
Do I strike you like that type, Angelica?
”

   
“
No, but I'm not comfortable learning how wealthy you are.  I see how you dress and now I see how you live.  I recognize the value of your furnishings and art work.  I suspect you own this penthouse and I'm aware of what these cost.  I'm betting you could retire today and spend the rest of your life living in luxury.  Am I right?
”

    He nodded. 
“
Angelica, I come from generations of wealth, but I broke away and created my wealth by myself.  Other than the money, I'm a regular guy who likes ordinary things.  I enjoy fine food and good clothes, but I don't jet-set around the world or rub elbows with high society.  I'm acquainted with them, they accept me, but they bore me to death.  I consider their lives empty. 

   
“
I attend the charitable events they host, I applaud their good works and I contribute, but I don't spend the summers partying with them in the Hamptons, flying to Monte Carlo on a whim, skiing in Aspen over Christmas.  I told you that when we're at my parents, Christmas day will be a day of lounging, playing board games, eating leftovers.  Except for my parent's home, you'd never guess their worth by the lives they lead.  Please don't lump me in with those men who wanted arm candy and didn't respect you.
”

    She walked to his arms and hugged him. 
“
I had to say it.  Your luxury surprised me.  I didn't expect it because you don't fit the mold.  Cray, I'll take you at face value, trust my judgment and pray another side of you doesn't appear.
”

    Cray checked his wristwatch and said,
“
We need to get showered and dressed to be there by seven.
”

   
“
You go.  Do you mind if I roam, peek in closets?
”

    
“
Help yourself.  There's a wine cooler in the kitchen.  Will you choose something for us and pour us a glass?  You'll find the glasses to the right of the sink.
”

   
“
White or red?
”

   
“
You choose.  Do you need me to remove the cork?
”
  She shook her head. 
“
The cork remover is in the drawer above the cooler.
”

    Ten minutes later, carrying two glasses of wine she used her hip to open the bathroom door.  Cray stood in front of the double vanity with a towel around his waist and shaving cream on his face.  He grinned at her intrusion and said,
“
Will you set the glass on the counter, please?  I'll be out of here in a few minutes and it's all yours.
”

    She set the glass near him and perched on the edge of the tub. 
“
I love watching a man shave.  I used to watch my dad shave.  Of course, he had on more clothes than you do.  Do you mind me being here?
”

   
“
No, it's nice.
”

   
“
I love the den and I can see why you gravitate there.  While I'm here can we light the fireplace?  My apartment doesn't have one and that's something I miss.  I had one in one of the apartments where I lived in southern California, but it's for effect and I figured kind of pointless.  The weather doesn't warrant lighting a fire and why sweat to create an ambiance.
”

    He realized he loved having her sit in the bathroom and chatter to him while he shaved.  He took a daub of shaving cream, turned and touched her nose.

    She laughed and said,
“
Want to have a shaving cream battle?
”

   
“
Not enough time, honey, and I prefer whipped cream.  It tastes better.
”

   
“
Ooh, that's naughty.  Cray, isn't this intimate?  I like it, do you?
”

   
“
Yes.
”

   
“
It's like we're married.
”

   
“
Not quite, Angel, but tomorrow morning when you watch me shave the intimacy will have begun.
”

    She gave him a devilish smile and stood, beginning to remove her sweater and jeans. 
“
You're hogging the bathroom and I do need to shower.
”

   
“
Please, don't let me stop you.
”

   
“
You want to see me nude?
”

    He chuckled and said,
“
It's my heart's desire.
”

    She turned her back to him, stripped and stepped in the huge shower.  As the water warmed, she called,
“
Cray, I forgot a towel.  Where are your spare ones?
”

   
“
It will be on the towel rack when you get out, honey.
”

   
“
Two please, one for my hair.
”

   
“
Of course,
”
he said with a wry tone,
“
How could I have forgotten that?
”

   
“
Cray, surely you've lived with a woman before this.
”

   
“
No, you're the first, but I'll get the hang of sharing space with you because I'm motivated.
”

   
“
Thank you, darling.  You're so sweet.
”

    She entered the bedroom with a towel wrapped around her hair and the other around her breasts, tucked in and dropping to her knees.  She stopped and stared at him in his boxers with calf high dress socks and buttoning a white dress shirt over his chest. 
“
You have the nicest shaped legs.  They're perfectly straight, not bowed in the slightest.
”

    He grinned and said,
“
Thank you.  I like your legs, too.
”

   
“
No, Cray, I mean it.  They're muscular and strong, hairy but not too much. I should have known your legs would be as good as your ass, tight and shapely.
”

    He laughed and said,
“
Angelica, you're embarrassing me.  I'm glad you approve, but I feel like a specimen under a microscope.
”

   
“
That's silly, darling.  I'm sure I'm not the first one to comment on your legs and ass.
”

   
“
If others' thought it, they didn't say.
”

   
“
That's dumb; men like compliments as much as women.  I'm sorry I didn't get to see your chest before you covered it.
”

   
“
You'll see it later tonight.
”

   
“
I'll touch it later tonight, too.
”
  She grinned and smirked at him.

   
“
From your mouth to God's ears.
”

    In the back of the limo, headed to the Royal Norwegian Consulate General, Angelica said, fingering Cray's cufflink. 
“
You are so handsome tonight, darling, and I love a man who wears cufflinks.  They're Tanzanite set in platinum, aren't they?
”

   
“
Yes, does that offend you?
”

   
“
No, sweetheart, you deserve the best.
”

   
“
Really?  Will you let me buy you precious jewels?
”

   
“
I'd rather you didn't.  Not this soon.  Cray, I earn a good living as a full professor, but I can't compete with you.
”

   
“
Honey, I don't expect that from you.  When I give you a gift, it's because I want to do it, not because I expect something of like value in return.
”

   
“
Please, let's not get into that.
”

   
“
We're spending Christmas together, Angel.  I will have a gift for you.
”

   
“
Well, sure, and I'll have one for you, but it doesn't need to be ostentatious.
”

   
“
I'd like you to write a Santa's wish list in the next day or two.  Will you do that for me?
”

    She removed her glove, tucked her hand in his and leaned against his shoulder. 
“
Cray, there's nothing I want or need, except for one thing and that's for us to be at the beginning of an amazing journey that we'll travel together.
”

    He turned her head to face him with his unoccupied hand, kissed her and said,
“
Angel, I'm not falling in love with you, I am in love with you.  Please, don't let that scare you because it's too soon.
”

   
“
It doesn't scare me, Cray.  Do my eyes reflect my feelings for you?  Your eyes tell me more than your words can.  Each hour I spend with you convinces me how real this is between us.  I'm not afraid.  We'll work out the details as time progresses.
”
  She closed her eyes as his lips sought hers in a kiss that promised eternal love.

    As she had that afternoon at the faculty tea, Angelica introduced many people to Cray at the consulate, but this time Cray met people he connected with on a personal level.  He engaged in serious discussions and laughed heartily with the United Nations delegation who attended and those working at the consulate.  Angelica did her bit of circulating and talking to her friends.  One of the delegation close to her age, a single male, said,
“
Are you serious about this man?
”

   
“
Yes, I can't explain why and we met for the first time Friday evening at a party we both attended.  My feelings for him are so deep, but it doesn't scare me.  My heart and my head are in complete alignment.  Does that strike you as crazy?
”