everyone knew her better than he did. He wondered if it might be because everyone seemed to have read her books.
April allowed him to carry her briefcase and remain at her side, but she didnât introduce him. That the individuals who came up to her were curious about him was plain enough. Speculation gleamed in their eyes as they glanced from April to him and then back again. She paid no attention, just as she ignored him. It roused the devil in him, made him want to do something outrageous to make her acknowledge his presence. A plump little lady with white hair and a twinkle in her eyes saved him from it.
âDonât keep us in suspense any longer, my dearApril. Tell us about this good-looking man youâve brought with you,â she urged. âYou havenât gone and got married without telling anybody, now have you?â
âHeavenâs no,â April answered without turning a hair. âThis is Luke, and heâs the cover model for my next book. Donât you think heâs just the perfect dark and handsome, devil-may-care hero?â
Luke turned his head sharply to stare at her. She held his gaze, her own limpid with innocence. She meant to get his goat, he thought, maybe even embarrass him enough so heâd turn tail and run.
âOh, my,â the white-haired lady said, reaching out to touch his arm as she took a deep breath that swelled her bosom to notable proportions. âI most certainly do think so! Heâs got Fabio and the Topaz man beat all to pieces.â
Luke had no idea who those guys were, but the worshipful look on the womanâs face suddenly tickled his funny bone. At the same time, he saw that playing up to the image April had given him just might be the best way to turn the tables on her.
Taking the white-haired ladyâs hand, he raised it to his lips. In the sultriest tones he could conjure up on short notice, he said, âThank you, maâam. Youâre too kind.â
She leaned forward, eyes sparkling, to whisper, âNot half as kind as I might have been once upon a time.â
He laughed; he just couldnât help it. Suddenly he felt a little more in control. He was going to be harder to dislodge than April might think. With a little luck everything might yet turn out all right.Leaning closer to the audacious older woman, he said, âIf Iâd been around then I might have been extremely grateful for theâfavor.â
âFavors, you meanâor at least I hope you did,â she returned, her face crinkled in a thousand lines of enjoyment as she tipped her head coquettishly.
âCertainly I did. What else?â He sketched a bow that he devoutly hoped wasnât an insult to his gentlemen ancestors.
The elderly charmer giggled; there was no other word for it. Heads turned in their direction and people smiled. April didnât appear to think it was funny at all. Luke, watching her turn and stride away, felt his lips twitch in a barely controlled grin.
Later, however, as April mounted to the podium to give her keynote speech, his mood turned more somber. She was fantastic, speaking straight from the shoulder, telling it the way she saw it. At the same time she was self-deprecating and touchingly frank about her problems and insecurities. Her remarks drew applause several times. When she said her final thank you and stepped back from the microphone, the standing ovation she received seemed to surprise her as much as it delighted her.
Luke rose with the others, giving April Halstead the applause that was her due. She was a special lady, he thought; Roan had been right about that. He could still hear her voice reverberating in his mind as it had echoed through the room from the loudspeaker. Its soft yet clear timbre lingered deep inside him. It ignited a slow fire in his blood, yes, but there was more to it than that. Watching her,listening to her, made him incredibly glad they were both alive here and now.
It also
April allowed him to carry her briefcase and remain at her side, but she didnât introduce him. That the individuals who came up to her were curious about him was plain enough. Speculation gleamed in their eyes as they glanced from April to him and then back again. She paid no attention, just as she ignored him. It roused the devil in him, made him want to do something outrageous to make her acknowledge his presence. A plump little lady with white hair and a twinkle in her eyes saved him from it.
âDonât keep us in suspense any longer, my dearApril. Tell us about this good-looking man youâve brought with you,â she urged. âYou havenât gone and got married without telling anybody, now have you?â
âHeavenâs no,â April answered without turning a hair. âThis is Luke, and heâs the cover model for my next book. Donât you think heâs just the perfect dark and handsome, devil-may-care hero?â
Luke turned his head sharply to stare at her. She held his gaze, her own limpid with innocence. She meant to get his goat, he thought, maybe even embarrass him enough so heâd turn tail and run.
âOh, my,â the white-haired lady said, reaching out to touch his arm as she took a deep breath that swelled her bosom to notable proportions. âI most certainly do think so! Heâs got Fabio and the Topaz man beat all to pieces.â
Luke had no idea who those guys were, but the worshipful look on the womanâs face suddenly tickled his funny bone. At the same time, he saw that playing up to the image April had given him just might be the best way to turn the tables on her.
Taking the white-haired ladyâs hand, he raised it to his lips. In the sultriest tones he could conjure up on short notice, he said, âThank you, maâam. Youâre too kind.â
She leaned forward, eyes sparkling, to whisper, âNot half as kind as I might have been once upon a time.â
He laughed; he just couldnât help it. Suddenly he felt a little more in control. He was going to be harder to dislodge than April might think. With a little luck everything might yet turn out all right.Leaning closer to the audacious older woman, he said, âIf Iâd been around then I might have been extremely grateful for theâfavor.â
âFavors, you meanâor at least I hope you did,â she returned, her face crinkled in a thousand lines of enjoyment as she tipped her head coquettishly.
âCertainly I did. What else?â He sketched a bow that he devoutly hoped wasnât an insult to his gentlemen ancestors.
The elderly charmer giggled; there was no other word for it. Heads turned in their direction and people smiled. April didnât appear to think it was funny at all. Luke, watching her turn and stride away, felt his lips twitch in a barely controlled grin.
Later, however, as April mounted to the podium to give her keynote speech, his mood turned more somber. She was fantastic, speaking straight from the shoulder, telling it the way she saw it. At the same time she was self-deprecating and touchingly frank about her problems and insecurities. Her remarks drew applause several times. When she said her final thank you and stepped back from the microphone, the standing ovation she received seemed to surprise her as much as it delighted her.
Luke rose with the others, giving April Halstead the applause that was her due. She was a special lady, he thought; Roan had been right about that. He could still hear her voice reverberating in his mind as it had echoed through the room from the loudspeaker. Its soft yet clear timbre lingered deep inside him. It ignited a slow fire in his blood, yes, but there was more to it than that. Watching her,listening to her, made him incredibly glad they were both alive here and now.
It also
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