Page 38 of One Texas Night...
“Jared, I’m making good progress. I can finish tonight, and we can go back tomorrow.”
“That’s good, because I’ll have to get back to the office. I may send you and the plane on to Houston.”
The twinge of disappointment was offset by the knowledge that it was for the best. She could work faster without him on some things; on others, it helped to know what he wanted to keep and what he didn’t.
“Holler if you need me,” he said and left, looking down at his phone to touch numbers and make a call.
She didn’t see him again that day, and she finished touring the rooms where she thought he might want something from Houston. Some rooms she could merely glance at and tell that nothing would fit in with the decor.
She hadn’t been particularly hungry either, and put off eating, finally getting a glass of milk and a couple of cookies, and heading to her suite.
In the morning, after she had dressed and clipped her hair up on the back of her head with a few tendrils slipping free, she went down to the kitchen. Hunger had finally set in.
She could smell the coffee before she entered the kitchen, and she heard Jared talking. She wondered whether he was on the phone or if someone was there with him, but when she entered, she saw he was alone, talking on his cell. He sat in the breakfast area with a mug of steaming coffee. He wore the same clothes he’d had on the night before. His shirttail was out, his sleeves turned back. A dark stubble covered his jaw and his hair was a tangle. Papers were spread over the table in front of him.
She poured orange juice and coffee, adding thick cream to her mug. She got out butter and bread to make toast, and scrambled some eggs so there would be enough if Jared wanted any.
He finally finished his call and put down his phone. “Sorry and good morning,” he said, smiling at her. “You look great,” he said. “I’d come give you a hug, but I don’t think you’d want me to.”
“You didn’t go to bed last night.”
He shook his head. “No, too much to do. I’ve had things faxed to me that I had to read and sign.”
“I scrambled some eggs for us, and I have toast. What else can I get you?” she said, setting two full plates on the table. “I poured orange juice for you, and I found some preserves.”
“I’m famished.”
“I’m hungry myself. So are you buying a new company?”
“We’re getting closer to acquiring it, and I’m at the point now where people who work for me will take over for a while and deal with this. There were just things I needed to make decisions about, and time was of the essence.”
“That’s all right. You don’t need to explain. I finished looking at this house. I have my notes and pictures, and I’m ready to return to Houston and finish there.”
“Anxious to get rid of me?” he asked, with a crooked grin.
“I would never say that,” she replied.
He shoved aside papers and waited as she sat. “I’m glad you went on to your room last night, because by the time I looked for you, I decided you might be asleep. I’ve already made arrangements for a flight to Dallas this morning at ten o’clock because I need to get back. I can send you and the plane on to Houston, or if you prefer, you can stay in Dallas through the weekend and we’ll both go to Houston on Monday.”
“I’ll just go on to Houston and finish. After all, I was hired to do a job.”
“I don’t mind if you wait.”
She shook her head. “Thanks. I’ll go to Houston,” she repeated, resisting the temptation to stay in Dallas. It was the sensible thing to do and the practical choice.
“Last night, did you decide what I might want to have moved here?”
“There’s a mahogany bookcase that I think would be perfect in your library. It could go along the wall opposite the fireplace.”
He nodded as he drank his juice and ate a piece of toast.
“That octagonal mahogany table could go in the study. My guess is that it’s eighteenth century. Dad will research it if he doesn’t know.”
“Good choice.”
She ran down a list, and he nodded after each one.
“You agree on all this?” she asked, looking up. He had finished eating and was watching her. The moment she looked into his eyes, her mouth went dry. Those depths of green held so much desire, she trembled, aching with want.
