Page 15 of One Texas Night...
“None for me, either,” she replied as she stood and placed her hand in his. His fingers curled around hers, and they walked to the small dance floor in the elegant restaurant.
They danced well together, and she liked being in his arms, smelling the fresh scent of his aftershave. The slow dance reminded her of the night they had spent together.
He spoke, and his breath was hot and tingly on her neck. “I still want you to watch me ride in the rodeo. I know you used to go when your brother competed.”
She moved back and nodded. “Yes, I did, but I haven’t seen one since college—over six years ago really,” she said. “I like rodeos, except when someone I care about is riding. When Sloan rode, I was always afraid he would be hurt.”
“You won’t be worrying about me the way you did about Sloan, so it’s time to see what fun a rodeo can be.”
“You don’t take no easily, do you?”
“Not if I want to hear a yes. I doubt if you do, either.”
After two more dances they returned to their table just as the waiter brought tossed green salads for each of them.
Over lobster dinners, she studied him. As she set down her crystal glass of ice water, she said, “So tell me. There must be someone in your life for Sloan to tell me you’re almost engaged. Who is the latest woman in your life? Is it still Dawn Rainsford?”
“No. That’s over.” His green eyes met hers in a steady gaze. “I am not engaged, getting engaged or planning to be engaged. That is your brother’s whimsical wish and feeble effort to discourage you and to somehow get me to back off flirting with you or taking you out.”
Allison smiled, amused by his description of Sloan’s efforts to shelter her.
“And this guy in your life—Phillip—you’re just good friends. That’s your brother at work again. He’s hell-bent on keeping us apart.”
“Maybe he has sound reasons,” she teased, making Jared’s eyebrows rise. “Phillip and I are very compatible. He owns a hotel chain, and we met because he was interested in putting antique furniture in some of his penthouses and presidential suites.”
“So no love affair with this guy?”
She shook her head. “No. We have the same interests, so we go to galleries, estate sales, the opera and concerts together, but there’s nothing serious between us. He’s company and someone to go out with, but that’s all. He would say the same, although he does propose periodically. He says it would be convenient for both of us, and we could start a family. We are both getting older.”
“Allison, aren’t you twenty-four? That’s not exactly long in the tooth.”
Laughing, she shook her head. “I’ve told him no, but he’s nice to offer.”
“He’s not the guy for you. You need someone who can match your passionate nature,” Jared stated, giving her an intense look that ignited a heated response in her and made her forget dinner. “You need something more between you than the ballet and shared business interests.”
She tore her gaze from Jared’s. “Phillip and I have a good time. Sloan has my best interests at heart.”
“I know he does, but you can take care of yourself. And he doesn’t need to tell you that I’m engaged. You’re very honest brother really loses it when it comes to watching over you.”
She shrugged. “Sloan’s just looking out for me.”
“Enough about Sloan. Tell me about the jobs you’ve had. What is the oldest item you’ve dealt with, the biggest estate?”
Aware of Jared’s constant gaze, she thought back. “The first question is more difficult to answer because I’ve dealt with so much that’s old. The second is easy. Yours.” While she talked, she was aware of his undivided attention.
Noticing Jared’s appetite was as poor as hers, she wasn’t surprised when he asked her to dance again, and she readily agreed.
Slow dancing to old favorites, dancing faster to some new ones, they reminisced about growing up for what seemed like hours. Finally he took her hand. “I think it’s time we head home.”
“Definitely,” she said. His words played over her. He had made it sound as if they were going to their home, as if they were doing something ordinary that they did often.
Her heartbeat sped up, because she remembered their conversation about kisses tonight. Jared had not forgotten any more than she did. Could she say no to his seduction?
As he drove back to the mansion he had inherited, their conversation was still about general topics. She couldn’t help but wonder about Jared and his wild life, the risky things he liked to do. She might be tempted to do something wild with him, but she couldn’t get away from her years of caution.
In spite of their hot attraction, Jared wasn’t the man for her. She didn’t want a brief fling with him, because Jared could be a heartbreaker.
What was worse, he was pure temptation. She liked flirting with him, liked being with him, dancing with him. Even more, she liked his hot kisses. And he liked her business, understood it. It was the other side of his life that made a relationship with him impossible. That was all the more reason to do her job, stick to being professional and get through the mansion quickly, so she could go home and forget him.
