Nathan tactfully stepped in and offered Ian a crystal tumbler of scotch, while Julia urged everyone to partake of the extravagant array of hors d’oeuvres she had set out. The last guests of the evening – Eric Chiang, one of the architects employed at the firm, and his wife Karen – arrived a short time later.
Lauren quickly discovered that Ian was not in the least bit put off or intimidated by her outspokenness, and actually seemed to find her quite amusing. At his encouragement, she told him about her various travels and some of the stories she’d covered for the magazine. He, too, was very well traveled, small wonder considering his family owned a worldwide chain of luxury hotels and resorts.
Julia had none too discreetly sat them next to each other at dinner, and Lauren found it truly flattering for a change to have such a charming and attentive dining companion. She’d spent far too much time in recent years sharing pizza and beer with her crew, being treated very much like one of the guys, and had nearly forgotten what it was like to be around a true gentleman. Not counting, of course, her disastrous blind date with Daniel. The very same blind date she found herself recounting for everyone at the table, blaming all the champagne and wine she’d consumed for loosening her tongue.
Ian found the tale hilarious, and laughed so hard he had to wipe a tear or two from his eyes. “My God, you are truly a force to be reckoned with, aren’t you?” he chuckled. “Ah, I’m very glad I came here this evening, Lauren. I can’t recall the last time I’ve laughed this much.”
Lauren grinned. “Happy to oblige. Though why a man who’s got as much going for him as you obviously do doesn’t laugh very often is beyond me. Or why you don’t have a date along this evening. “
Ian sobered instantly, masking his obvious discomfiture by reaching for his wine glass. “There’s a very good reason for both of those circumstances,” he told her quietly.
“You’re in love with someone and she doesn’t return your feelings,” Lauren observed matter-of-factly. “Is she an idiot?”
He gave her a faint smile but didn’t deny what had actually been a lucky guess on her part. “No, not in the least. And she has no idea of how I feel about her because I’ve never once even given her a hint.”
“Ah.” Lauren nodded, scooping up another bite of Julia’s heavenly peach cobbler with fresh cream. “She’s married, then. Or otherwise spoken for.”
Ian glanced around the table warily, as if to ascertain that no one else could hear their conversation. “You’re very observant, Ms. McKinnon,” he replied with an unwilling smile. “Perhaps too much for your own good. And I trust that you can also be discreet? I, ah, would not want what I just told you to be shared with anyone else at this table.”
“Hmm.” Lauren licked cream off her fork in a very unladylike manner. “I take that to mean the woman in question is known to someone else here at the table. I’d guess then that she either works for you or for Nathan.”
“The former,” he admitted reluctantly. “So I would appreciate your discretion, Lauren. Especially with your sister, since I fear she already suspects.”
Lauren pretended to draw a zipper across her mouth. “Not a word. Scout’s honor. Not that I was ever a girl scout, of course. Too many rules and regulations, not to mention the truly hideous uniform.”
Ian’s amusement returned. “I can just imagine the havoc you would have created in a group like that. But I do appreciate your keeping this information to yourself.”
“Yeah, no big deal,” she shrugged. “Though that still doesn’t explain why a hunky guy like you is here without a date tonight. I mean, I understand about your forbidden love and all that, but why are you pining away for her this way?”
He smiled thoughtfully. “It’s very simple, actually. If I can’t have her, then I don’t want anyone else. I have a few female friends who attend social events with me from time to time, but those are all strictly platonic relationships. The thought of being romantically involved with anyone besides T – besides my forbidden love, as you so succinctly put it – holds no appeal whatsoever.”
Lauren gave a low whistle. “Well, damn. All I can say is that this girl must be one smoking hot babe for a guy like you to live like a monk because you can’t have her. How long has it been for you anyway? You know, since you, uh, shagged anyone? That is how you Brits phrase it, right?”
He gave her a look of disbelief. “I would say that I can’t believe you just asked me a question like that, but then I’ve also just spent the last two hours hearing about all your wild adventures and, ah, questionable blind dates. And I’ve determined that there’s very little that intimidates you, including asking virtual strangers about their lack of, er, shagging.”
She gave him a cheeky wink. “I’ll tell you if you tell me. I’ve had a dry spell going now for eighteen months.”
Ian laughed in spite of himself. “I believe I can one up you there. By several months, in fact.”
She shook her head. “What a waste. I hope this chick wakes up and smells the roses one day soon, appreciates just what she could have.”
“I’m flattered,” remarked Ian dryly. “And might I return the compliment? Whoever the man is that you’re in love with, he’s a fool not to appreciate you.”
Lauren was speechless, a very rare occurrence for her. “How – I mean, that’s not – it’s not like your situation. Not exactly, anyway.”
He shrugged. “I don’t need to know the details to determine that you find yourself in a similar set of circumstances. You’re not the only one with excellent observational skills, Lauren. I was taught those same skills at a very early age. And they tell me now that your heart has been badly broken.”
She reached for a bottle of red wine only to have Ian pick it up first and smoothly refill her glass. She took a long swallow before lifting the glass to him in a toast. “Here’s what we should do,” she told him half-jokingly as she ran a teasing hand up and down the sleeve of what she guessed was a custom made suit jacket. “We should say to hell with broken hearts and unrequited love and break our dry spells with each other. What do you say, handsome?”
Ian’s hazel eyes gleamed with amusement. “I’d say that you’re a very beautiful and enchanting woman, and that I’m incredibly flattered at your, er, offer. But - ” he gave a regretful shake of his dark head, “the heart wants what the heart wants, Lauren. And my heart belongs to someone else, even if she’ll never know.”
“I get that.” She sighed. “But the heart doesn’t always have to be involved when it comes to, ah, shagging. In fact, mine has only ever been truly involved once. No reason we couldn’t commiserate over our mutually foolish infatuations by having a bit of fun.”
Ian refilled his own wine glass. “Well, now. That brings up quite a different dilemma,” he teased. “You see, I rather like to be the one in charge of all aspects of my life including the, ah, bedroom. And I sense that you and I would have a bit of a – let’s call it a power struggle – in that regard.”
Lauren tried very hard not to think about how it had always been an equal give and take between her and Ben, though she had admittedly liked topping him as often as possible. Almost as much as she’d enjoyed being dominated by him.
Belatedly aware that Ian was politely waiting for her reply, she merely gave him a little wink. “That, I’m afraid, is a deal breaker,” she teased. “Especially since I’d have to leave my handcuffs and floggers at home.”
As Ian’s laugh rang out, Lauren caught Julia’s eye and groaned when she noted the hopeful expression on her twin’s face. She would definitely have to set her sister straight after dinner – to let her know that even though Ian was undeniably a catch, there was nothing happening there. Not as long as his heart belonged to another woman, and hers – well, there had only ever been one man who’d been able to lay claim to hers.