Dare to Love by user (read dune TXT) 📗

Where was he? She checked her watch again, then palmed her somersaulting stomach. This was worse than the other day in the construction trailer with Jake.

She’d felt like a schoolgirl then, stumbling over her words and practically her own feet. How could a man covered in dust and grime, wearing stained jeans and a Dalton

Construction T-shirt look so darn sexy? And how come she noticed that? She barely paid

any attention to the designer-clad professionals at the firm. Something about Jake captured her interest, and held it.

But did she have to act like a tongue-tied teenager around him? Really, she was an

adult and had plenty of dating experience, even a couple affairs, short-lived though they

were. It wasn’t like she was inexperienced. Jake sure made her feel that way, though.

Maybe it was the way he looked at her. Intense, giving her his full attention. She shivered

at the way his gaze raked over her whenever they were in close proximity.

“You look lovely this evening.”

Lucy turned hopefully in the direction of the male voice, hoping it was Jake. Her heart fell to her feet. Alex Sheldon. The last person on earth she wanted to be cornered by

tonight. Or ever.

“Alex,” she said coolly. As usual, not a hair out of place. Impeccably dressed, not even a lint speck. His sandy-colored hair was more glued together by goop than hers was.

And his way-too-fake tan made his blue eyes look more icy than usual.

Immediate visions of dark hair and warm, whisky eyes entered her thoughts.

When

she looked at Alex, she felt chilled to the bone.

“I see you came alone. How convenient, since I’m solo tonight, too.” His smile was not at all genuine. The way he leered at her made her wish she’d brought a wrap to cover

herself. The man gave her the shivers and not in a good way. Not in the same way Jake

did.

“Actually, I’m expecting someone,” she said, turning her head to focus on the brass

etched lobby doors, hoping Alex would find someone else to annoy. “My date.”

“Your father and I had a very productive meeting this morning.”

“How nice.” Obviously, he chose to ignore her blatant brush off. And in what alternate universe would she care about his meeting with her father?

“We discussed some things that were, shall I say, personal in nature?” That got her attention and she turned to him. “Personal, how?” He adjusted the cuffs of his tux and brushed imaginary lint from his sleeves.

“Personal as it relates to you and me.”

Oh, Lord, this couldn’t be good. What had her father done now? “Just spell it out for

me, Alex.” She wasn’t in the mood to play twenty questions with him.

“Your father intimated that you and I were very well suited. And I must say, I couldn’t agree more.”

He tilted his head toward her and winked. He actually, honest to God winked at her.

She resisted the urge to gag. “I’m sorry to tell you that’s only my father’s opinion.”

“Now, Lucille, you could do much worse than connecting with someone like me. If I

do say so myself, I am considered quite a catch.” She’d like to toss him back out there for someone else to reel in. “Sorry, Alex. Not interested.”

“I think with a little persuasion, you could be.” He leaned in and ran his knuckles over her cheek. He reeked of wine, and it was only eight-thirty.

Okay, enough fun and games. She opened her mouth to tell him exactly what she thought of being negotiated like a commodity when a deep voice spoke behind her.

“Hey, pal, that’s my woman you have your hands on.” Alex’s hand froze and he turned a frigid gaze just over Lucy’s left shoulder. Lucy’s pulse kicked up a few notches when a warm hand slipped around her waist, turning her

around to face her date for the evening.

Okay, this bordered on the ridiculous. She’d spent her entire life around men wearing

tuxedos, and never had one taken her breath away like Jake did. He was magnificent. The

tux was perfectly tailored for him, the jacket cut tight across his broad shoulders, the

pants tapering in to fit snugly against his lean waist. The starched, white shirt provided a

sharp contrast against his tanned neck. Perfect. Simple yet elegant, like the wearer.

“You clean up well,” she said with a tentative smile, her heart hammering against her

chest.

“And you’re gorgeous.” His gaze traveled the length of her.

Before she could utter her thanks, he pulled her against his chest, swept one hand along her neck, and pressed his lips firmly against hers in a kiss that would have knocked

her socks off, had she been wearing any.

All sense of time and place was lost as Jake’s mouth moved against hers, teasing her

lips with the barest of pressure. She slid her hands into his hair and leaned into him,

delighted in the feel of his fingers flexing against her waist.

His scent wafted over her. Not that chokingly expensive cologne that most men reeked of, but more like soap. Fresh, clean, and masculine in every sense of the word.

Her body fit his perfectly. She could stay in his arms forever, never needing another

thing.

Oh, wow, she really liked kissing him.

A cough brought her back to reality. Jake pulled his lips from hers, his eyes dark, his

breathing as labored as her own. “Sorry I’m late,” he said with the hint of a smile.

Late? Late for what? It took her a few seconds to gather her bearings. Then Alex coughed again.

“It’s all right,” she replied in a voice too throaty to be her own. “You’re worth waiting for.”

“Who’s your friend?” Jake’s eyes narrowed.

Reluctantly, she turned to face Alex. “Jake Dalton, this is Alexander Sheldon.” Alex cocked a pale brow and put on his best patrician air as he briefly shook Jake’s hand. “Dalton.”

“Sheldon,” Jake mimicked, looking none too pleased himself by the introduction.

“Any relation to the Dalton’s of New Hampshire?” Alex asked.

“Not that I’m aware of. My family’s from the west coast.”

“Ah, I see.” Alex tapped an