Dare to Love by user (read dune TXT) 📗

he could look at her for a few minutes. She wore a business suit, same as yesterday,

except this one was a green color that made her eyes stand out and grab his attention. And

it wasn’t quite as long as that calf length one she wore yesterday. This one hit her at the

knee. Damn she had nice legs.

“Sit,” he commanded, then winced. “Please.”

Breathing out a sigh, she took the two steps necessary to reach his desk and sat at the

edge of the chair, her back stiff and her chin lifted.

“I didn’t mean anything I said to Bob, so wipe that stern lawyer look off your face.

I

told him I wasn’t going to see you again because I don’t need him bugging me with

questions every time we go out.”

She looked down at her skirt, wiping away imaginary crumbs or wrinkles or something. Whatever it was, she didn’t want to look at him. “It was a stupid idea, anyway.”

No it wasn’t. “I don’t think it’s stupid.”

Her eyes met his, her expression shouting her vulnerability. “You don’t?” He smiled. “No, I don’t. Besides, we made a deal. I’m your date for however long you want to use me.”

“I wish you wouldn’t put it that way,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “It sounds like I’m, well, like I’m using you.”

“Aren’t you?”

“No. Yes. Oh, I don’t know.” She stood, knocking her purse to the floor. He bent down and picked it up, taking just a second to admire the sexy curve of her calf.

Resisting

the urge to run his hands along those fine legs, he forced his fingers to grasp her purse,

instead, then stood and handed it to her.

“Thanks.”

Instead of backing away like he should, he stood where he was, mere inches from her.

She smelled good. Like fresh fruit in the summer. Sharp, tangy, citrusy. He wanted to lick that spot on her neck revealed when she turned her head to the side, see if she

tasted as good as she smelled. He wanted to kiss her again like he had last night, only this

time he didn’t want to stop.

“I don’t mind being used.” He couldn’t believe he was having this conversation with

Lucy in his work trailer in the middle of the day. Anyone could walk in and find him all

but panting and drooling over her. Wouldn’t that give the guys a lot to talk about during

lunch?

But damn if he could help the way she made him feel. He picked up one of those crazy curls that never seemed to want to stay put in that clip behind her head, slid his

fingers over it, straightened it out as far as it would go, then let loose and watched it

spring back into place. Her hair felt like soft butter.

“I should go,” she said in a near breathless voice.

He’d like to get her to pant like that from something else, feel her chest rise and fall

against his as she gasped for breath underneath him.

Damn. He shifted, hoping she wouldn’t notice his growing interest in her.

“Should you?” He didn’t want her to go. He wanted her to stand there the rest of the

day and let him look at her, inhale her sweet fragrance, and think about what it would be

like to touch her. Was her skin as soft as her hair? Would it mold against his hand like

that curl did?

“Oh. I almost forgot why I came here.” She took a quick step back, putting some distance between them. Jake shook his head to clear his mind.

“What is it?”

“There’s a charity gala on Friday night. I was wondering if you’d go with me.”

“Sure. What’s the charity?”

“The Fairchild Foundation. We provide scholarships for underprivileged children.”

“Impressive. Just tell me where and when.”

“I’ll pick you up in the limo.”

He snorted a laugh. “I don’t think so. Besides, I have a meeting in San Jose on Friday and I don’t know when I’ll get back. Best if I just meet you there.” She chewed her lower lip and then nodded. “All right. I’ll give you the address.

Oh,

and you’ll need a tux. I’ll pay for it, of course.”

“I can rent my own tux, and pay for it myself.”

“No, really, I—”

“Lucy. I’ll take care of it. I’m not a pauper, you know.” Her face was cute when she blushed, her cheeks turning all pink. “I’m sorry, I didn’t

mean to imply otherwise.”

“No sweat.”

She scribbled down the particulars and handed him the paper. “Friday night. Eight o’clock at the Hotel San Marcos on Van Ness.”

“Okay. I’ll see you there.”

“I’ll leave your name at the door.”

“No problem.”

“I’ll let you get back to work now.”

“See you later.”

“Bye.” With a last glance and quick smile over her shoulder, she stepped out of the

trailer.

Jake exhaled. For such a simple discussion it had sure been intense. It was like both

of them couldn’t wait to get away from the other. Or maybe both of them couldn’t wait to

get closer.

Lucy did something to his libido, something he normally had well under control.

Typically he called the shots with women, but ever since he met Lucy Fairchild he was

lucky to remember his own name let alone think about maintaining the upper hand.

He had to remember this was nothing but a game. And a short lived one at that.

Besides, he had way too much work to do to be mooning over a woman. He couldn’t

afford to slip up now, not when he was so close to success that would banish the demons

that had hounded him all these years.

Lucy paced outside the ballroom and checked her watch. It was ten minutes after eight. Not that most of the crowd wouldn’t show up fashionably late, but she hoped Jake

would just show up. She smoothed her hands over her hair, hoping by sheer force of will

to keep the curls from springing free from her updo tonight. She had no time to battle a

hair crisis.

She stopped to check her reflection in the lobby mirror. Hair still glued to her head in

one piece, check. Off-the-shoulder, black velvet