Page 17 of One Texas Night...
With a pounding heart, she kissed him back, holding him tightly. His hair, slightly coarser than hers, was sensuous as she ran one hand through his thick locks. Desire built to an extent she hadn’t dreamed would happen. Couldn’t happen. Not this time around. She was older, wiser. He was a man off-limits. A few kisses shouldn’t shatter all her preconceived notions about how kisses could be kept under control.
Moaning softly, she struggled for self-control. Pleasure and desire tore at her resolve until she surrendered. Yielding to the moment, she poured herself into kissing him.
His hands roamed slowly down her back and over her bottom, then up again, each stroke heightening her breathless need. As his fingers slid beneath the open neck of her dress, she could not stop him. He filled his hand with her, caressing her, causing streaks of pleasure to radiate from the light brushes of his fingers.
From somewhere deep inside her brain, she heard the voice of reason cautioning her. If she let him go any further, she wouldn’t be able to stop.
“Jared,” she whispered and moved away in a last-ditch monumental effort for self-control. While her heart pounded, she gulped for breath. “I don’t want to get more deeply involved. Not at this point in my life. Six years ago I was young, having fun and that was a fling at a party. I have a job to do now, and I want to stick to it.”
“First of all, you’re still young and you can still have fun. And you don’t work at night, and the kisses we just shared have nothing to do with the job you’re doing.”
“Let’s stick to business. I don’t need an affair right now,” she said, though she wanted more than anything to step back into his arms. His argument tugged at her. The look in his eyes seduced her. The past few minutes spread heat and need through her. “Your kisses are devastating.”
“Damn, Allison,” he whispered, frowning. “You’re saying contradictory statements while every inch of you is conveying pure desire. You liked kissing me, and you want to make love,” he said in a thick voice that heightened her conflict.
“You’re right, but you have hired me to do a job that I intend to stick to with a narrow-minded purpose.” She drew in a deep, steadying breath. “Good night. It’s been a great evening. Thank you.” She entered her suite, closing the door and half expecting him to stop her.
Memories of his body, his hands and mouth on her and the ecstasy in their wake, tore at her. Hot, frustrated, she let out her breath and walked into the room.
She couldn’t continue working with him during the day, going out with him at night and kissing passionately before they parted. If she did, there wouldn’t be many nights until she was fully involved with him. And that was not going to happen.
She drifted around the suite, unable to settle down, knowing sleep might not come for hours. Memories taunted her while longing made her body hot and prickly. How could she say no to him—even one more time? She thought about the life he wanted, the wild pursuits he had. Emotionally, she did not want to deal with loving a man who constantly risked his life. A man who would not settle down and marry and raise a family. Jared was definitely not the man to love.
A cold shower did not help. Water splashed over her while she ached for his touch.
She tried working. Far into the night she sat there writing, trying to concentrate on her notes, cataloging and taking pictures of everything in her suite. It was almost dawn before she fell into a restless sleep.
* * *
When she went to the kitchen in the morning, the cook was preparing food for the day. Marline turned to smile at her. “Good morning,” she said. “Orange juice is in the pitcher and coffee in the pot. Food is on the counter and on the table. Also, I can cook you some eggs.”
“You go ahead with whatever you’re doing, thank you,” Allison told her politely. She was relieved the cook was present, and she would not be alone with Jared. “I’ll get my breakfast, and there’s plenty here already fixed.”
“Mr. Jared said to tell you that he had some business that came up. He will see you this afternoon. I will be finished working at noon and away for the weekend. I have plenty prepared, so just help yourself to whatever you want.”
“Thank you,” Allison replied. “Does he usually let you off for the weekend?”
“Yes, he does. But just so you understand, I’m only here to cook while you’re working here. I hadn’t set foot in this place until the day before you came. I work in Dallas, with Edith, the housekeeper.”
“You’ve both been helpful and nice. Thanks for what you’ve done.”
“We came a day early to get the place ready so you both could stay here while you work.”
Feeling relieved there would be a few hours she wouldn’t have to cope with her attraction to Jared, Allison poured coffee and orange juice and toasted a slice of bread. She hurried through breakfast so she could get more work accomplished while he was away, glad she wouldn’t have distractions.
By the afternoon she had finished four rooms, taking pictures, writing brief notes and relying on the snapshots to convey the inventory. She wasn’t as thorough as usual, figuring she could complete the tasks when she was back in her office and away from all temptation with Jared.
She was so absorbed in the work she nearly jumped when she heard a voice drawl from the open doorway.
“Miss me?”
“Actually, I’ve managed without you,” she said, turning, trying to keep things light even though her heart tripped when she saw Jared. He had already shed his suit jacket and tie and unbuttoned his white dress shirt at the neck. As he entered the room, he rolled up a cuff, and she couldn’t stop watching him.
“Shucks, I was hoping you had missed me and couldn’t work without me,” he said, grinning at her. Her racing heart beat faster as he continued approaching her, his green eyes holding her transfixed. “I’ve missed you every minute since we parted last night, and I’ve wanted to pick up where we left off,” he drawled in a deep voice. “If not that, then at least kiss you hello,” he added softly, stopping inches in front of her and placing his hands on her waist.
As if trying to come out of a daze, she shook her head. “I don’t think so, Jared.”
“No fun, Allison,” he whispered, looking at her mouth and making her breath catch. Her lips parted, and she wanted to lean toward him, close her eyes and let him kiss her.
