“The good news is that I’m not likely to acquire a taste for rare oysters,” Chloe said, trying to defuse the suddenly charged atmosphere.

“Let’s wash the taste away with a milder flavor,” Nathan said, reaching for another shellfish. Once again he held it out to her.

She had been daring enough to play his game once, but she began to feel self-conscious. “Do you plan to feed me the entire dinner?”

A half smile curled his lips. “I’m considering getting the rest to go.”

Would he really do that? Did she want him to? A vision of Nathan feeding her chunks of lobster from his fingers while they were lying in bed naked danced through her mind.

She slurped the oyster off the shell, barely tasting it before she swallowed. “Does lobster taste different when it’s a mile high?”

CHAPTER 16

Chloe lay in bed, luxuriating in the memories of the night before. Grandmillie went to church every Sunday with the devoutly Catholic family who lived on the next block, so this was Chloe’s private time each week. She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling as she remembered the briny taste of the oysters and the crisp, dry bubbles of that amazing champagne.

But the best memories were of Nathan’s hands and mouth and body. Sex on the way to Maine had been wild and explosive. On the way home, they’d taken their time. It turned out the sofa on the company jet folded out into a bed. Nathan claimed he only used it to catch up on sleep while he traveled, but she took that with a grain of salt. However, she refused to worry about the women who had come before her or the women who would come after her.

They had spread the containers of food out on the table beside the sofa bed and started to feed each other, but their appetites had quickly veered in a different direction. She moved restlessly on the sheets as particular moments and sensations floated up from her memory. They’d gotten all their clothes off, and she’d explored the feel of his skin over various muscles, of which he had an impressive supply for a workaholic CEO. She discovered that he swam in a lap pool daily when he wasn’t recuperating from the flu, which gave his back a beautiful ripple when he moved and drew lines of power down his thighs and calves. She wanted to see him wet and glistening as he rose out of the water.

The doorbell ruined her daydream. “Shoot!” she said, bolting out of bed and grabbing her bathrobe.

Pulling the belt tight around her waist, she peered through the sheer curtain that covered the sidelights by her front door. Oskar stood on the porch, holding a vase of tall blue flowers in one hand and a carrying case in the other.

Chloe could feel the smile curving her lips as she pulled open the door. “Morning, Oskar,” she practically sang. “Come on in.”

The solemn Oskar stepped through the door and cracked a tiny smile. “Mr. Trainor sends his regards.”

“Thank you. Why don’t you put the flowers there?” She pointed to the narrow hall table. It could barely accommodate the large arrangement.

Once he’d placed the flowers, Oskar reached inside his pocket and pulled out an envelope with her name on it. The stationery was the same as the card that had accompanied the chocolates yesterday. He handed it to her before lifting the case in his hand. “This is heavy, so it’s best if I put it on a bigger table.”

As Chloe led him into the dining area, she brushed her fingers over the envelope, knowing Nathan had touched it not long ago. Oskar put the case on the table and gave her a little bow before he strode to the front door. She closed it behind him and ripped open the envelope.

   Darling Chloe,

   The lupines are the most famous wildflower in Maine. However, I did not raid a roadside patch for these, so your conscience can rest easy.

   The rest traveled home with us on the jet. I did my best to keep your attention focused inside the limousine so you didn’t notice the extra containers being loaded in the trunk.

Chloe snorted. They’d been entwined with each other almost from the moment the driver had closed the door. Nathan had brought her to orgasm on the leather seat beside him with his long, clever fingers under her skirt since she refused to bare herself even with the privacy screen raised. The memory sent arousal zinging through her.

       I believe the medical community has underestimated the aphrodisiacal powers of oysters. I may convert my lap pool to an oyster bed.

   While most people dread Monday morning, I look forward to it with great anticipation. Please give your grandmother my warm regards.

   Nathan

Chloe felt like a character in a sappy Hallmark movie, but she couldn’t help herself. She cradled the note against her cheek, trying to feel Nathan’s presence in it. After rereading his line about Monday morning, she walked to the dining room table to see what was in the elegant cardboard case. She flipped open the top flap. Nestled in padded compartments were two bottles of the same Dom Pérignon they’d had with dinner the night before, along with three champagne flutes, also like the ones they’d used at the Weather Vane Inn. Another note was enclosed.

   Don’t chill the Dom until the day before you plan to drink it. The extra flute is for your grandmother. I look forward to meeting her.

   N.

The thought of Grandmillie and Nathan face-to-face made her sit down hard in a dining room chair. She didn’t want to introduce Nathan to her grandmother, like a single mother who didn’t let her boyfriend meet her child until she thought it might be serious. As realistic as Grandmillie usually was, she had a blind spot about Chloe. She would see no reason why a billionaire entrepreneur shouldn’t fall madly in love with her granddaughter. Chloe didn’t want Grandmillie to be disappointed when Nathan went on to a woman more suited to his status.