Page 33 of One Texas Night...
“Have you forgotten the night we met?”
“I’ll take the Fifth on that one.”
“That’s an answer. A big answer and a satisfying one. Neither have I.”
Truthfully she remembered every minute, every second of that night. Just the mention of it had her heartbeat racing, her mouth drying. She’d give anything to experience another night like that. But she couldn’t.
Because this was a dangerous conversation, she tried diverting it with a question.
“Are you always able to take off work as much as you have since I flew to Houston?”
“Not at all, but this is different and something I need to get done.”
“I can do this job without you.”
“I know you can. I assure you I’m keeping up with the important issues in the office remotely. But I want to pick out furniture for both my homes, and I want to be with you—therefore, I spend my time each day with you. You’re doing a great job.”
“Dad is the brains of all this. I’m learning.”
“Is there anything that scares you about the job?”
“Sure—missing something incredibly valuable. Giving people the wrong information, which I try very hard to avoid doing. I’m scared that Dad will want to retire before I’m ready to go on my own, but if he wants to retire, then I want him to retire. Being on my own really scares me, but he will always help as long as he can.”
“I’m guessing that you worry more about his health than any of those things about your job. After all, you are related to Sloan, and you’re bound to have some of that worrywart in you.”
“You’re right about Dad. I’m more concerned about his health than anything else. He’s getting older, and I know it. I suppose that’s one reason I want to marry. I want him to know my children. I want them to love him the way I do.”
“My dad will never know his grandchildren. Too late now.” He shrugged. “Don’t know if there will even be any. Maybe someday.”
“I feel a biological or some kind of clock ticking in my life for that reason.”
“You won’t run out and marry that Phillip fellow just to get married, will you?”
“Now, what difference could that possibly make to you?” she asked, smiling, amused by his statement because he couldn’t possibly care.
“Maybe because if you’re going to get married, it should be for love.”
“You have to make the best of what life presents you.”
“Tonight life has presented me an opportunity to share a gorgeous view, a roaring fire, a delicious dinner, maybe a dance or two and some wild kisses with the most beautiful blonde I’ve ever known. Here’s to a great evening,” he said, raising his glass in a toast.
“To a great evening—with or without all of that. And thank you for such a blatantly exaggerated compliment, but nonetheless, I enjoyed hearing you say it.”
The music changed to a fast number and Jared shoved a table out of the way, moved two chairs and then came over to take her hand. “C’mon. Dance with me.”
“Jared, we weren’t—”
“Live a little, Allison,” he said, smiling and still holding out his hand.
The music was as tempting as Jared, weaving a spell, making her want to dance while his green eyes coaxed. She took his hand and stood, falling into step with him as they danced to a fast number. She had dropped his hand and danced around him, watching his sexy moves, hearing his boots scrape on the polished floor. As he twisted and watched her, tension increased. She could feel sparks crackle in the air around them. Her body hummed with need that increased every minute she watched him.
The next piece was even faster, rock music from another era, but an old favorite of hers. As they danced to the enticing beat, she could feel some of her pent-up frustrations relaxing, and she let herself go. When he came close to her, his hips bumping hers, she felt her desire build.
The song ended, and he caught her wrist lightly. “Come on. We’ll get our drinks and have dinner.”
In a short time, she faced him across the table near the fire. The succulent, tender roast fell apart. But she had lost her appetite. Jared was being his most charming, and the evening was turning into a night she would never be able to forget.
All through dinner he entertained her, and afterward he built up the roaring fire again.