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Authors: Leanne Banks
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ally.
She swirled the water around with her fingers and sighed. Something inside her had changed irrevocably. The feeling was so intense, it frightened her. Would she ever be able to look at Russ again and not feel a quickening inside her? And what if this wasn’t just lust? she asked herself in horror.
One thing at a time . The lust was overwhelming enough without her worrying about other more serious possibilities. The question, she knew, was if—or when? The idea of actually going through with it brought a rush of heat to her entire body. She groaned, then stripped off her clothes and tried to ignore the way she still tingled from Russ’s touch. She stepped into the tub and completely immersed herself in the cool, fragrant water in hopes of erasing Russ’s devastating effect on her. Closing her eyes, she decided she simply wasn’t ready to decide.
After a busy week, Carly sat in her riverboat, listening to her brothers’ arguments, and wondered if they had any seats available on the next space shuttle.
Daniel shook his head. “I don’t like the second guy’s voice. And if I don’t like it, you know the customers won’t either.”
Troy argued. “He wasn’t as bad as the first one.” Carly pinched the bridge of her nose. She felt a headache coming on. They were discussing the wait- staff applicants. Her brothers had tiptoed around their apologies to Carly, then proceeded to interfere with business instead of her social life. She didn’t know which was worse.
“Which do you like better, Carly?” Garth asked.
Carly blinked. It was the first time she’d been asked. “I like them both, but we need a tenor if they’re going to do four-part harmony.”
Troy opened his mouth to argue.
“We need another male waiter ready by next weekend,” she interjected before he could get started. “I’ll give you five minutes to reach a decision. I’ve got too much to do to get ready for those travel agents coming next week.”
“And that’s another thing,” Troy said. “I still don’t think you oughta be giving all those people a complimentary cruise. How do you know they’re gonna send any business your way?”
Carly pressed her lips together. Troy made a valid point. She should take a harder line on offering reduced rates, except with charities. But her instincts rebelled at the notion, and she refused to get off track. She glanced at her watch. “Four minutes.”
She leaned back, mentally extricating herself from the argument.
“How’s Russ?” Garth asked.
“I haven’t talked to him lately, but I think his hand should be better by now.”
Garth narrowed his eyes. “He hasn’t called you?”
Carly shifted in her seat. Garth didn’t intrude as much as her other brothers. He was quiet, but extremely perceptive. He always remembered her birthday and sent Carly her favorite flowers. She’d heard more than one woman gush over his dark, brooding good looks. At the moment, however, Carly found his perceptiveness and attention to detail unnerving.
“Well, you know I’ve been real busy this week,” Carly said. “He might have left a message or two.” Or three or four, she thought. Her busyness was the superficial reason she hadn’t returned his calls. Her confusion was the deeper reason.
“We’ve decided,” Daniel announced. “Take the first guy on a trial basis.”
Troy grumbled, “If I can find somebody else, I’ll send him over.”
Carly smiled in relief. “There. I knew you could come to some kind of agreement. I’ll call the applicant tomorrow.” She stood and took Daniel by the arm and led him to the door. “Thanks for coming. Go ahead and set up your dates for the travel agents’ cruise.”
Troy and Garth automatically shuffled behind Daniel.
“Who’s your date?” Garth asked as Carly opened the door.
“No one. I’ll be too busy taking care of the guests.”
“What about Russ?” Garth continued.
Carly inhaled quickly.
Daniel laughed. “Russ is just
She swirled the water around with her fingers and sighed. Something inside her had changed irrevocably. The feeling was so intense, it frightened her. Would she ever be able to look at Russ again and not feel a quickening inside her? And what if this wasn’t just lust? she asked herself in horror.
One thing at a time . The lust was overwhelming enough without her worrying about other more serious possibilities. The question, she knew, was if—or when? The idea of actually going through with it brought a rush of heat to her entire body. She groaned, then stripped off her clothes and tried to ignore the way she still tingled from Russ’s touch. She stepped into the tub and completely immersed herself in the cool, fragrant water in hopes of erasing Russ’s devastating effect on her. Closing her eyes, she decided she simply wasn’t ready to decide.
After a busy week, Carly sat in her riverboat, listening to her brothers’ arguments, and wondered if they had any seats available on the next space shuttle.
Daniel shook his head. “I don’t like the second guy’s voice. And if I don’t like it, you know the customers won’t either.”
Troy argued. “He wasn’t as bad as the first one.” Carly pinched the bridge of her nose. She felt a headache coming on. They were discussing the wait- staff applicants. Her brothers had tiptoed around their apologies to Carly, then proceeded to interfere with business instead of her social life. She didn’t know which was worse.
“Which do you like better, Carly?” Garth asked.
Carly blinked. It was the first time she’d been asked. “I like them both, but we need a tenor if they’re going to do four-part harmony.”
Troy opened his mouth to argue.
“We need another male waiter ready by next weekend,” she interjected before he could get started. “I’ll give you five minutes to reach a decision. I’ve got too much to do to get ready for those travel agents coming next week.”
“And that’s another thing,” Troy said. “I still don’t think you oughta be giving all those people a complimentary cruise. How do you know they’re gonna send any business your way?”
Carly pressed her lips together. Troy made a valid point. She should take a harder line on offering reduced rates, except with charities. But her instincts rebelled at the notion, and she refused to get off track. She glanced at her watch. “Four minutes.”
She leaned back, mentally extricating herself from the argument.
“How’s Russ?” Garth asked.
“I haven’t talked to him lately, but I think his hand should be better by now.”
Garth narrowed his eyes. “He hasn’t called you?”
Carly shifted in her seat. Garth didn’t intrude as much as her other brothers. He was quiet, but extremely perceptive. He always remembered her birthday and sent Carly her favorite flowers. She’d heard more than one woman gush over his dark, brooding good looks. At the moment, however, Carly found his perceptiveness and attention to detail unnerving.
“Well, you know I’ve been real busy this week,” Carly said. “He might have left a message or two.” Or three or four, she thought. Her busyness was the superficial reason she hadn’t returned his calls. Her confusion was the deeper reason.
“We’ve decided,” Daniel announced. “Take the first guy on a trial basis.”
Troy grumbled, “If I can find somebody else, I’ll send him over.”
Carly smiled in relief. “There. I knew you could come to some kind of agreement. I’ll call the applicant tomorrow.” She stood and took Daniel by the arm and led him to the door. “Thanks for coming. Go ahead and set up your dates for the travel agents’ cruise.”
Troy and Garth automatically shuffled behind Daniel.
“Who’s your date?” Garth asked as Carly opened the door.
“No one. I’ll be too busy taking care of the guests.”
“What about Russ?” Garth continued.
Carly inhaled quickly.
Daniel laughed. “Russ is just
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