the diamonds I gave you?”
“I’m uncomfortable accepting them.”
Lucas leaned across the table and took Faith’s hand. They were in a small, quaint restaurant up in the mountains. It was located on the ground floor of an old mansion, the upper rooms converted into a bed and breakfast.
He’d never been to the place before. Faith had suggested the spot and handled the reservation, and his head was still spinning, trying to unravel her ploy.
The meal had been delicious, the company charming. He was liking her more and more, which scared the hell out of him. Something was happening between them, and he was terrified over where it might lead.
If he wasn’t spending time with her in order to coerce her into providing information about her treatment of Harold, what was he doing?
She was particularly beautiful, in another great dress, this one a silvery white, cut low in front, the hem at mid-thigh. She’d accented it with black jewelry, a clunky necklace, bangles, and an ankle bracelet that highlighted her sexy legs.
But it wasn’t the jewelry he’d bought her, and he was irked by the slight.
“I was going to give them back,” she absurdly claimed.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Gracie wouldn’t let me. She said you can afford diamonds, and I should keep them.”
“She’s right. I can afford diamonds.”
“That’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
“I don’t like you plying me with expensive gifts.”
“Maybe I’d like to see the earrings brushing your neck. Maybe it would have made me happy.”
“Poor baby. You didn’t get what you wanted.”
“No, I didn’t, and it galls me.”
She laughed, her voice rolling over him in a soothing way that rattled his senses and heightened his concern. He was attracted to her on so many levels, and he didn’t understand why.
He had a type of woman he liked, a type he chased after, and she wasn’t it. So why was he fascinated?
She was the first female of his acquaintance to whom he’d given a gift, but who hadn’t been thrilled by the gesture. Was she insane? If a woman didn’t want diamonds, what did she want? How was a man supposed to figure it out?
“Let me ask you a question,” she said.
“Anything.”
“Tomorrow is Saturday. Are you busy?”
“No, why?”
“I’ve been thinking about our last date.”
The look she flashed had his blood pounding in his veins.
“And…?”
“I was wondering how you’d feel about staying here tonight.”
He frowned. “Here, as in here at this bed and breakfast?”
“Yes.” She reached into her purse, pulled out a key, and slid it across the table. “Room 6, the private suite on the top floor.”
“You made a reservation?”
“We’re Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”
He—who was never surprised by anything—was incredibly surprised.
“You want to stay with me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I’ve decided to let you seduce me.”
“I thought you needed time to consider.”
“Three days seemed to do it.”
“You’re perfectly clear now?”
“Oh, yes.”
He studied her. There was a challenge in her gaze. She was daring him to agree, as if she suspected he was a coward. Silly girl.
He’d never in his life declined what was freely and brazenly offered by a female.
“If we head upstairs,” he warned, “we’re not coming down till Sunday night.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Once we start in, you can’t shy away like a scared rabbit.”
“I won’t shy away.”
“It will be just you and me and room service. I’ll keep you flat on your back for the next forty-eight hours.”
“Tough talk, Merriweather,” she taunted. “Do you think you’re up for it?”
“Ooh, you are going to be so sorry.”
“I doubt it.”
“When I’m finished, you won’t be able to walk for a week.”
“We’ll see. Give it your best shot.”
He threw down his napkin and stood, quickly rounding the table to hold
“I’m uncomfortable accepting them.”
Lucas leaned across the table and took Faith’s hand. They were in a small, quaint restaurant up in the mountains. It was located on the ground floor of an old mansion, the upper rooms converted into a bed and breakfast.
He’d never been to the place before. Faith had suggested the spot and handled the reservation, and his head was still spinning, trying to unravel her ploy.
The meal had been delicious, the company charming. He was liking her more and more, which scared the hell out of him. Something was happening between them, and he was terrified over where it might lead.
If he wasn’t spending time with her in order to coerce her into providing information about her treatment of Harold, what was he doing?
She was particularly beautiful, in another great dress, this one a silvery white, cut low in front, the hem at mid-thigh. She’d accented it with black jewelry, a clunky necklace, bangles, and an ankle bracelet that highlighted her sexy legs.
But it wasn’t the jewelry he’d bought her, and he was irked by the slight.
“I was going to give them back,” she absurdly claimed.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Gracie wouldn’t let me. She said you can afford diamonds, and I should keep them.”
“She’s right. I can afford diamonds.”
“That’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
“I don’t like you plying me with expensive gifts.”
“Maybe I’d like to see the earrings brushing your neck. Maybe it would have made me happy.”
“Poor baby. You didn’t get what you wanted.”
“No, I didn’t, and it galls me.”
She laughed, her voice rolling over him in a soothing way that rattled his senses and heightened his concern. He was attracted to her on so many levels, and he didn’t understand why.
He had a type of woman he liked, a type he chased after, and she wasn’t it. So why was he fascinated?
She was the first female of his acquaintance to whom he’d given a gift, but who hadn’t been thrilled by the gesture. Was she insane? If a woman didn’t want diamonds, what did she want? How was a man supposed to figure it out?
“Let me ask you a question,” she said.
“Anything.”
“Tomorrow is Saturday. Are you busy?”
“No, why?”
“I’ve been thinking about our last date.”
The look she flashed had his blood pounding in his veins.
“And…?”
“I was wondering how you’d feel about staying here tonight.”
He frowned. “Here, as in here at this bed and breakfast?”
“Yes.” She reached into her purse, pulled out a key, and slid it across the table. “Room 6, the private suite on the top floor.”
“You made a reservation?”
“We’re Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”
He—who was never surprised by anything—was incredibly surprised.
“You want to stay with me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I’ve decided to let you seduce me.”
“I thought you needed time to consider.”
“Three days seemed to do it.”
“You’re perfectly clear now?”
“Oh, yes.”
He studied her. There was a challenge in her gaze. She was daring him to agree, as if she suspected he was a coward. Silly girl.
He’d never in his life declined what was freely and brazenly offered by a female.
“If we head upstairs,” he warned, “we’re not coming down till Sunday night.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Once we start in, you can’t shy away like a scared rabbit.”
“I won’t shy away.”
“It will be just you and me and room service. I’ll keep you flat on your back for the next forty-eight hours.”
“Tough talk, Merriweather,” she taunted. “Do you think you’re up for it?”
“Ooh, you are going to be so sorry.”
“I doubt it.”
“When I’m finished, you won’t be able to walk for a week.”
“We’ll see. Give it your best shot.”
He threw down his napkin and stood, quickly rounding the table to hold
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