Читать книгу Her Unexpected Affair - Shea McMaster - Страница 10

Meilin Wu placed her order for a Napa Valley red wine and looked around the Golden Phoenix Club while her friends shouted their orders to the waitress. As usual, the place was hopping for a Friday night. Many of the faces were young, barely legal as far as she could tell. Probably new graduates celebrating their freedom from college. She’d been there ten years earlier and recognized the relief on the faces around her. The scent of wild celebration permeated the air. The music was faster, louder, the roving lights a tad brighter tonight. The dancers moved wildly, out of control, or as much out of control as the tightly restrained Asian upbringing allowed them to be. Mostly Chinese, there were a few other mixes in the crowd. White, black, and other Asians.

“Meilin!” One of her friends shouted over the music. “Let’s dance!”

She rolled her eyes and made a shooing motion to the table of friends. “Go! I’ll watch the table!” she shouted back.

Like a colorful flock of birds, they rose as one, grabbed each other’s hands, and ran for the crowded dance floor. Half of them were married women out for a night of girls-only partying, their husbands at home with the toddlers and infants. They were far more excited about tonight than she was.

Unofficially, this was her last night as a single woman. The very thought was depressing. Instead of holding out for true love, as nearly the last single daughter of her parents’ social circle, she’d finally caved to the pressure to marry. Tonight was her last night to be free from the five thousand years of tradition that had suffocated her most of her life.

Tomorrow night, at a classy hotel, wearing something closer to traditional and more modest than her current very short, peek-a-boo, red lace dress, with a carefully selected guest list of the San Francisco elite of the Chinese-American population and a few others tossed in—mostly her father’s esteemed business associates—she’d officially sign the contract and accept the proposal of a man who’d been groomed his whole life to take over his family’s dynasty. Shan Lin, as the Americans would call him. Lin Shan if one were being traditional. A man ten years her senior, he was ready to take a wife. She was the one chosen by their two families.

At least Shan didn’t seem to object to her career, although it had been made clear to her she was expected to produce the all-important heir and a spare, or three, to cement the family future. At thirty-three she was very nearly at the end of her time to be fruitful, in the words of her mother. The time to have babies was now. They’d find a way to indulge her career as an interior designer along the way. Or not.

Never mind she had an active client list with people waiting up to a year for her to be free to decorate their homes, offices, and condos with the very best in Asian décor mixed with her own eclectic touch of European antiquity and Modernist utility. The crème of the crop sought her out, looking for that mix of dignity and style. People who appreciated the truly fine antiques from three continents and multiple countries mixed with tasteful modern treasures. No one disputed her talent for finding just the right balance of color, style, and sophistication to fit every client.

How that would work with a nursery full of the next generation, she had no clue. Especially since she had little experience with rug rats. Somehow the mother gene had never made a connection with her biological clock. No alarms ringing there.

Shan Lin was everything a modern woman should want in a husband. He was relatively tall, handsome, solid in build but kept in shape with mixed martial arts, could cement a deal in the boardroom that made all parties feel as if they’d come out on top, knew how to dance at formal occasions, and even made time to spend weekends out on the bay on the impressive sailboat he moored at the St. Francis Yacht Club. He could talk politics with the men without offending anyone, hold court with the ladies and make each one feel as if only she held his attention. He could even charm those under ten.

It didn’t hurt he’d even had the good taste to hire her to decorate his condo. It had been a big job, including public rooms and private. He’d left many details to her, accepting her suggestions with few demands. In fact, he’d been as close to a perfect client as she’d ever had. Large budget, interested in the best without being ostentatious, and didn’t get in her way too much. Especially since he’d been away on business during the bulk of the work. They’d met in his condo twice. Once when she showed him her design boards and again when the work was done. In between they’d communicated by e-mail, and she’d kept him up to date with digital photos. She could easily argue she knew his housekeeper and secretary better than she knew him.

On paper he was the perfect man.

In reality, he left her yawning.

Her mother and many of her friends thought she was crazy.

Hell, even she thought she was crazy at times. Certainly missing some streak of romance that would allow her to see him for the perfect specimen he was.

Although, she had to ask herself, if he was so perfect, why had he remained unmarried up to the ripe old age of forty-three? What made her so special that suddenly he had stars in his eyes only for her? They’d never even had a date. She didn’t count the dinner with both sets of their parents the previous month when she’d learned of their desire to facilitate a marriage between her and Shan. An idea that had left her blinking in surprise. Hadn’t seen that one coming, but on reflection, she’d decided, why not?

Even before he’d hired her, they’d crossed paths at social events, both of them networking their way across the room and occasionally sitting at the same table through endless rubber chicken dinners making small talk. She knew who he was, his reputation in the community, what charities he contributed to. He’d always been polite and not too forward, although she’d caught a certain appreciation in his eyes when she caught him looking at her. Once his regard from across the room had made her blush. But she’d turned and seen a very beautiful socialite behind her and decided his gaze had not been for her at all.

Meilin’s parents had known his parents long before either of them had been born. The family friendship, or business relationship to be honest, probably went back to the days when their great-grandparents and grandparents had immigrated from China. Back then the families had stuck together, building Chinatown from the ground up, building their business interests from extremely humble beginnings to the very top of the social ladder.

Their families weren’t unique in that legacy. Hundreds of families had done the same. And although she’d asked her mother what had suddenly made her stand out from so many other eligible women as the only one for him, she’d never received a satisfying answer.

Tomorrow she’d ask her mother again and possibly the question would be answered at the engagement bash for three hundred of their closest friends. Could it be during their first dance together she’d feel a spark of attraction?

The waitress arrived with the half dozen drinks, and Meilin handed over her credit card. “Run us a tab, will you, Junlei? And get the next round set up, please.”

“Sure thing. Who’s the celebration for tonight?”

“That would be me. Getting engaged tomorrow.”

“Lucky girl!”

Meilin shrugged. “I guess. My parents think so.”

Junlei set down the last drink. “Arranged, eh?” Sympathy filled her face. She patted Meilin on the shoulder. “Good luck to you,” she said and whirled away toward the next table.

Good thing Shan was rich. As part of the engagement, he’d be taking on her bills. He could afford this party and not even notice. However, with him covering her living expenses, she could pay for this one on her own.

Meilin picked up her drink and downed a healthy sip. Thank God she’d put aside enough cash for a cab home. She intended to crawl out of this place at closing time and not a moment before. After this, it would be one party after another so everyone in Chinatown could toast the soon-be-wed couple. She faced three months of invitations, thank-you notes, and wedding planning. Her mother already had the California Ballroom at the St. Francis Hotel booked, as well as the nave at Grace Cathedral. Both large enough to accommodate the four hundred estimated wedding guests. A number large enough to make her head hurt.

Movement from the doorway caught her eye and she turned her head to see Jack Ling enter and stop to survey the room. Second cousin so many times removed they were hardly related, he’d been a pest to her most of his life. She’d spent more family gatherings tasked with keeping track of the brat than she could count until she’d escaped to college.

Ready to dismiss him, she paused to note the blond couple with him. The tall man towered over Jack by a good five inches, not that Jack was tall, but this guy had to be six-one at least. The blue oxford shirt and pressed khakis spoke of a man used to dressing with care, or at least in expensive clothing. The revolving colored lights bounced off his golden blond hair, making it look artistically colored. He surveyed the room, but had his hand on the back of the girl beside him. A girl who could have been his twin, although she was shorter than him; In heels she was about even with Jack. Both of them extremely attractive. The girl also dressed with style, but with more glitz, ready for a night of dancing much like Meilin’s friends. And they both looked as young as Jack. Too bad. The blond man looked interesting. Sort of like Alex Pettyfer but with a better haircut. Next to Jack, who vibrated like a raw nerve as usual, the blond oozed calm reserve, giving the impression of being a high-born Brit. The girl was pure Californian with her long sun-streaked hair, wholesome, smiling face, tank mini-dress in neon blue, sparkly heels, and swinging earrings. Interesting.

However, Meilin tore her gaze from the group and turned to face the dance floor once more, not interesting enough. Jack’s friends were always too young for her and tonight was all about being with her girls. A pre-bridal shower party. A pre-engagement blow-out. Let Jack and his friends find their own table, preferably far, far away from hers.

When the couple at the table next to hers got up to leave, she had a sinking feeling. It was confirmed when a hand landed on her shoulder.

“Cousin! Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Meilin sighed and carefully set down her drink before looking up at Jack. “Jack Ling. Fancy seeing you here. Finals over already?”

“Graduation is a week from tomorrow, which I’m sure you know. Hope you buy me an appropriate gift. Come, Meilin, let me introduce you to some friends of mine.” His hand on her shoulder urged her to turn on her stool until she faced the young couple. “I’ve been teaching Drew here some phrases in Chinese.”

Internally, her muscles tightened. Jack had done this before, taught a white friend a ghastly phrase while saying it was nothing more than a greeting.

“Meilin, may I present to you, Drew Robinson and Courtney Ferguson. Brother and sister raised far apart. Long story but very entertaining.”

She extended her hand to the girl first. “Pleased to meet you, Courtney.”

“Likewise,” the girl replied with a wide-open friendly smile and gentle handshake. Warm and exactly appropriate, she didn’t cling a moment longer than necessary.

Next, Meilin extended her hand to the man called Drew. “Drew, pleased to make your acquaintance. Do you both know my cousin from the university?”

Drew’s large hand enclosed hers, and the flash of heat that surrounded her hand before zipping up her arm stole her breath. Enough so her eyes blinked wide open. In response, his blue eyes dilated in a flash, and his hand flexed a little, almost as if he wanted to pull her closer. Not that she’d mind, she was surprised to realize. The feeling left her disconcerted and breathless. She tugged her hand from his grip.

“Meilin. Did I say that correctly?”

“Yes, yes you did. You both may call me Mei, if you like.” Flustered, she folded her hands in her lap, her gaze politely on his when she wanted to look anywhere but at his too handsome face. That was a lie. She wanted nothing more than to gaze upon his beautiful, perfect features now that she had a clear view, up close and personal. Blue eyes, golden hair, strong chin, chiseled jaw, perfectly shaped lips, hard body. This man was the total package.

His large hand rose and rubbed his perfectly sculpted chin. “Let me see if I have this right… Wo hen gaoxìng dài qiánbao.”

Holding back the smile and chuckle so desperate to break free, she replied, “I am sure, but the contents of my purse will remain where they are. You should slap Jack for playing such a trick on you.”

The flush burning Drew’s cheeks as he dropped his hand was almost disguised by the low lights and the flashing dance spotlights. Almost. The wicked twinkle in Jack’s eyes was merely enhanced while Courtney lifted a hand to muffle her giggles.

“Xièxie, at least I’m pretty sure that means ‘thank you.’ I just may have to cause Jack some harm,” Drew said easily. “I meant to say I was honored to meet you. Guess that’s not even close, and I probably should forget the rest of the phrases he’s been teaching me.”

“No doubt.” Meilin allowed her smile to break free. “Don’t trust a word that trickster says. Especially when it comes to Chinese lessons, either language or culture. However, you did get ‘thank you’ right.”

Jack held up his hands. “No harm intended, just a little fun for me.”

The dark glance Drew directed at her cousin promised some sort of retribution. The twinkle in his blue eyes reduced the severity. He had a sense of humor. That endeared him to her more than she expected. Jack had a sense of humor, but as far as she knew, Shan did not. Much like her own father and brother seemed to be missing funny bones.

“Looks like we found a table,” Drew said.

“Yes, yes,” Jack agreed. “Let’s pull it closer. Have you been abandoned by your giggling friends?”

Resigned and a little thrilled at the prospect of them sharing, she pushed Yuahua’s chair away. “Not abandoned. Someone had to hold down the table.”

Once the table was situated, Meilin couldn’t help but notice Drew sitting next to her, an act that further caught her gaze. The man was that beautiful. At the end of the table Jack sidled up to Courtney. Meilin hoped the girl could see Jack for the restless boy he was. Then again, if Drew knew Jack, he’d probably already warned her Jack was often described as a player.

Jack waved for the waitress, then leaned over the table. “What are you doing here?”

“Girls’ night out.” At Jack’s slow nod, she knew he’d figured it out. “How do you all know each other?” She redirected the conversation before it revealed too many details. She did not want to discuss her pending engagement.

“Drew’s in the law program and we shared a room last fall. He and Courtney share an apartment now. She just started her MBA program while we just finished our law degrees.”

“Congratulations,” she said to Drew. “Are you two twins?”

All three of them laughed, but Drew answered. “Same father, different mothers, born a few months apart. Long story.”

Meilin raised a brow. “As Jack mentioned, it sounds like an interesting tale.”

Drew shrugged his wide shoulders, shoulders that moved with the grace of honed muscle beneath the fine cotton of his shirt. “A broken engagement, a relationship with an exchange student, marriage to the ex-fiancée brought on by pregnancy, departure of the exchange student who kept her pregnancy quiet… We all connected quite by accident last fall. Now her widowed mother is married to our widowed father and we’re one big happy family.” He turned just enough to grin at his sister. “Always wanted a sibling. Just had to wait a couple decades to meet her.”

Meilin almost envied the cheeky grin the younger woman aimed at her brother. “Just trying to keep you on your toes.”

Drew snorted and leaned toward Meilin to mutter, “That she does. And her mother too. Her mission is to drive our father bonkers and he loves it.”

A stab of jealousy knifed Meilin in the heart. Other people found grand passion, and here she was about to commit the rest of her days to a union with a man who failed to inspire the rush of heat she’d experienced by just shaking Drew’s hand. Insane. She didn’t know these people well enough to envy them so fiercely. And yet, that emotion was a thousand times stronger than any emotion she’d ever felt for Shan.

It confused her.

And when confused, she turned to small talk.

“I detect more than a little pluminess in your accent, sir, but none in your sister’s. I’m guessing you were raised in England? Father and mother both British?”

“Good ear, not that it’s hard to decipher. I did the whole boarding school with proper elocution thing while Courtney was raised here in California as wild and free as a bird.”

“How very interesting. Are you to the manor born?” She did her best to say it in a British accent. Not that she’d had much practice, but who didn’t love a good BBC program from time to time?

Drew laughed. “No fancy titles in our branch, but we do have the biggest house in the district. My father likes to pretend he’s a lord of some sort at Christmas.”

The notion wasn’t foreign to Meilin.

Junlei arrived with the second round of drinks for her table and turned to Jack’s party to take their orders.

Her own father, directly descended from minor nobility turned laborer in California, liked to do the same. The reminders of how the family had started high born, fell to the lowest depths of society, then rose to the upper ranks were drummed into them all, chapter and verse at each large gathering. Come to think of it, at almost any gathering, large or small. The ancestors were well revered.

“Tell me about yourself,” Drew said. “Jack has told us nothing about you.”

Before she could open her mouth to politely turn the conversation again, Jack leaned across the table in order to be heard. “She’s an interior designer. One of the best in the city. Possibly in all California if not the west coast. Big time bigwig woman.”

Frowning at Jack did no good. She always let her work do her bragging for her, never did she need to toot her own horn. The wave of girls, fluttering like butterflies, returned to their table, relieving her from answering.

“Jack, what a surprise.”

“Hey, cousin.”

“Jack, you mangy dog, what are you doing here? Spying on Meilin’s last night out? We should kick you out of here.”

“Not while he has friends here.” Sunchu, one of her few remaining single friends, leaned over from the far side of the table to extend her hand to Drew. “And who might you be, tall, golden, and handsome?”

Drew stood and exchanged handshakes all around as the entire group of five women settled at the table. Sure, they included Courtney, but Drew had ninety-nine percent of their attention. And why not? Exactly as Sunchu had said, he was tall, golden, and very handsome. Not only did he have a perfect tan, but he smelled good too. Not one whiff of heavily scented aftershave teased Meilin’s nose. He was as fresh as a forest. Clean water and towering pines came to mind. Maybe a hint of citrus, possibly lime, but his scent was light and refreshing. She’d have to find out what he used.

What in the hell was she doing sniffing him up like that? No, she would not ask him what scent he wore. Especially because his proximity made her pulse thrum wildly in her veins. His thigh brushed against hers and she swallowed a gasp, as the contact acted like a raindrop landing on a smooth lake, sending ripples of goosebumps down her leg and up her body.

It took only a second to drain her first drink, set it down, and reach for the second. This was all she needed. A short, intense attraction to a foreigner on the eve of her engagement. Sort of like a very short-term foreign exchange. Surprised at her comparison to a semester abroad, she laughed to herself.

Not happening. Not now, not ever.

And then he had to ask, “Would you like to dance?”