CHAPTER SIX
ADELAIDE SMITH wasn’t at dinner and Tess couldn’t decide whether to be relieved or annoyed. Here she’d gone to all the trouble of hiring Shayde, and for what? The whole point of the exercise had been to stop any future matchmaking. That would prove difficult if she couldn’t act like a lovelorn idiot in front of the woman who’d made the entire exercise necessary. The only positive that might come from Adelaide’s absence was that by not having to deal with her, Tess also wouldn’t have to deal with any mercenary sons.
After dinner, Tess made a point of circulating among both clients and benefactors, keeping an eye out for Adelaide while she waited for Al Portman to tell her which Impossible she’d been assigned. Eventually, she found herself standing beside Grayson Shaw, whose name appeared on the list of potential donors just beneath the Smiths.
To her surprise, Shayde offered his hand. “How’s it going, Gray?”
“Not bad. And yourself?”
“I’m managing.”
Tess glanced from one man to the other. “You two have met before?”
Grayson hesitated for a moment. “We’ve had dealings.”
Tess turned on Shayde. “You know the most interesting people.”
“Interesting?” He smiled blandly. “Don’t let Gray fool you. He can be downright dull when he starts in about business.”
Gray accepted the comment without protest. “Guilty as charged.”
Somehow Tess doubted that. There was a confident sophistication about the man that told her he’d never bore a woman. If she were honest, she’d admit she’d liked Grayson Shaw from the start. She’d always found him elegantly handsome and that hadn’t changed in the year since they’d first met. Some might even call him austere, perhaps because he seemed so self-contained. But the humor she’d caught in his calm gaze, as well as the way he dealt with people, suggested that even though he was accustomed to taking charge, he remained considerate of those around him. Or maybe she liked him so much simply because he reminded her of Robert.
“Tell me something, Gray.” An odd look gleamed in Shayde’s eyes, a fierce challenge that had Tess staring in alarm. “When people approach you at a shindig like this and try and solicit a donation, have you ever tried to mix business with pleasure?”
The breath escaped Tess’s lungs in a rush. Oh, no. He’d totally misunderstood what she’d told him earlier. She opened her mouth to say something that would salvage the situation, but only a strangled squeak escaped. Frantically, she shook her head.
Gray lifted an eyebrow. “Come again?”
“You know... You do me a favor and I’ll do you one. Only first you have to get naked.”
Another squeak escaped from Tess, higher this time.
“You propositioning me, old friend?” Gray questioned mildly.
“No!” Shayde scowled. “I meant with a woman, as you damn well know.”
A spark of anger gleamed in Gray’s eyes until he glanced at Tess. From the amount of heat pouring off her face, she suspected her cheeks were flame-red. And she’d bet everything she owned she appeared as panic-stricken as a deer surrounded by gun-toting hunters one minute before the opening of hunting season. Amused speculation replaced his annoyance. “Naked, huh? Think it would work?” He pretended to consider the possibility. “I have to admit, I’ve never thought to use that method when doing business before.”
“You sure?” Shayde looked disappointed. “Never? Not even a loosened tie accompanied by a halfhearted pass? A wink? A smile? Nothing that could be misconstrued?”
Gray turned to Tess. “What do you say, Mrs. Lonigan? Have I been sending out unconscious signals? Stripping down without realizing it? Leering, maybe?” His brows drew together. “I seem to remember smiling on occasion. But unless my eye twitches without my realizing it, I don’t ever recall winking.”
“No, Mr. Shaw. You’ve never done anything—” she swiveled to glare at Shayde “—anything the least inappropriate the few times we’ve had dealings.”
Shayde didn’t bother to hide his disappointment. “You sure?”
“Positive.” The music began again and Tess held out her hand to Gray. “I’m suddenly in desperate need of a dance.”
To her relief, he took the hint. “If I promise not to mix business with pleasure, would you care to join me?”
“Thank you. I’d love to.”
She shot Shayde an exasperated glance over Gray’s shoulder, surprised to see he looked less than pleased with her actions. “Behave yourself,” she mouthed. “He’s an Impossible.”
They danced in silence for a minute or two and Tess discovered that the awkwardness she’d experienced with Shayde the first time they’d danced didn’t occur with Gray. She fit comfortably in his arms, matching her steps to his with instinctive ease. And not once did she trip or stumble or flinch. Of course, her heart didn’t beat fast enough to choke her. Nor did she have the overwhelming urge to drag him into the nearest bedroom and make sweet, wild love to him as she had with Shayde. That might be for the best, especially considering the discussion that had just occurred between the two men.
“Devising a way to achieve world peace?”
Tess blinked up at Gray in total confusion. “Excuse me?”
“You seemed lost in thought and I was trying to break the ice.” He shrugged, his blue eyes alight with humor. “I see I’ve failed miserably.”
“I’m sorry, Gray. I was thinking about—” Oh, dear. Another blush swept like wildfire across her cheekbones. “I was thinking—”
He smoothed over the awkward pause with a charming smile. “Don’t worry about Shayde. He and I are old friends. I gather you’ve been having trouble with someone trying to mix business with pleasure?”
She nodded. “It’s so ridiculous. Just a small matchmaking attempt that’s gotten a little out of hand. Shayde completely misunderstood the situation.”
“That’s a surprise. He’s usually more subtle.” Gray fixed her with a speculative look before changing the subject, much to Tess’s relief. “I believe we have a mutual friend. Emma Palmer?”
“She and I were at college together.” Tess relaxed ever so slightly. “We’ve been friends for ages.”
“Emma and I have known each other for more years than she’d care to admit. I made the connection between you a couple of weeks ago when I saw a picture of the two of you sitting on a fence with a dark-haired woman.”
“That would be Raine Featherstone. The photo was taken at her ranch in Texas the summer she and Emma graduated from college. We all have a copy of that snapshot.” Tess smiled at the memory of those carefree days. “I haven’t gotten down to San Francisco for a visit in months. How is Emma?”
“Wayward,” he stated succinctly.
Tess took a moment to digest that. “I’ve never heard that word used to describe her before, but it suits, I think. She’s always been a free spirit.”
“You mean she’s always gone her own way without thought or consideration for how her actions affect those around her.”
Tess couldn’t help laughing. “I see you know Emma well. “
“Too well. I’ve had the pleasure of Emma’s companionship since she was the size of a mosquito and swathed in diapers.” He tilted his head to one side. “As I recall she used to climb out of them at every possible opportunity.”
“She looks like such a sweet, innocent thing and yet she’s the most stubborn of us all.”
Gray swung her in a quick circle. “I’ve learned from painful experience that Emma Palmer could outstubborn u herd of donkeys.”
“That’s our Emma,” Tess concurred with a wide grin.
Shayde paced on the sidelines, glaring at Tess. Not that she noticed. Hell, no. Ms. Touch-Me-Not had turned into a veritable clinging vine. Not only did she fit in Grayson ‘ Shaw’s arms with a perfection that drew whispered comments from around the room, but she’d looked relaxed and natural. Dammit, she even laughed. His jaw jutted out.
She hadn’t laughed when they’d danced.
Gray spun her in a circle, the steps more complicated than any Shayde had seen her perform to date. She followed with ease. Not once did she attempt to lead, nor did she hold her partner at a distance. Instead, she pressed every luscious curve into every masculine angle with a familiarity that had Shayde slamming his back teeth together. This? This was the man his brother thought a perfect match for Tess, Mr. Suave and Sophisticated mated with Mrs. Cool and Businesslike?
He silently steamed. It galled him that Shadoe could be right. They matched like a pair of damned bookends.
Why couldn’t Gray have been the man Tess had been trying to avoid? Shayde balled his hands into fists. It would have made everything so simple. That way he could have told the Committee to take a flying leap. He could have told Gray to take a flying leap, too. And maybe, just maybe, he could have gotten out of the situation without looking like a total jackass.
The dance ended then and Tess and Gray approached. Shayde forced his mouth into as close to a smile as he could manage. Not that it fooled Tess. After a minute of stilted conversation, Gray excused himself with a knowing grin. The instant he was out of earshot, Tess turned on Shayde, practically vibrating with anger.
“What?” she demanded. “What’s wrong?”
He trotted out the easiest response given the circumstances—a total lie. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“Don’t give me that. You’re doing one of those man things and I want to know why.”
Good. He’d been spoiling for a fight. Gray hadn’t been willing to oblige. It looked like he might get one, after all, and from a more enjoyable source. “What man thing?”
“You know.” She waved her hand in the air as though it would grant instant comprehension. “That bristly, someone’s dared to set their tippytoe on my territory and I’m going to snort and snarl and growl like a lovesick lion. Those sort of man things. Is this because you made a total idiot of yourself with Gray?”
“I did not make a total idiot of myself with him.” He wouldn’t deign to address her lovesick lion comment, perhaps because it was more accurate than he cared to admit. “I made a slight idiot of myself.”
“Keep telling yourself that if it’ll make you feel better. If you’re not all in a twist because of your conversation with Gray, it must be because I danced with him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would that bother me?” Maybe if she hadn’t done one of those woman things—crossing her arms across her chest and lifting an eyebrow in blatant disbelief—he wouldn’t have lost it and ended up proving he was the idiot she’d claimed. “You didn’t flinch!”
“Excuse me?”
For the first time in memory, his control completely evaporated. “Why do women always do that? They say ‘excuse me’ or ‘I beg your pardon’ in this I-don’t-have-a-clue-what-you’re-talking-about tone of voice when they really know damn well what men mean. You just want us to use all these words to explain ourselves so we end up looking like total fools.”
Her mouth twitched. “It works, doesn’t it?”
A red haze drifted across his eyes. “Well, I’m not going to fall for it.” His voice rumbled like an avalanche of rocks plunging pell-mell down a mountainside. “You didn’t flinch when you were dancing with Shaw and you know damn well what I mean.”
“You wanted me to flinch?”
His jaw inched out again. “You did with me. Not only did you flinch, but you fluttered. You also tripped and stumbled and could barely dance once around the room. Now what’s with that?”
“I guess it means I’m not attracted to Grayson Shaw.”
He started to say something, then stopped. Well, shoot. He could only think of one response to that. Grasping her arm, he hustled her away from the dance floor and around a corner where they were no longer in public view. Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her. Her mouth blossomed beneath his, open and eager and hungry. Where had the hesitation gone? Where was the awkwardness? They weren’t meant for each other and yet it felt so right. How could something this good be a mistake?
The desire he’d teased free last night erupted with stunning force. There was no mistaking the depth of her passion. She didn’t attempt to control or hide it any longer and a tiny sound escaped her throat, an urgent murmur of want. She was a woman of contrasts, her body soft against his, but also containing a vibrant tension that underscored her need. He found it an explosive combination, a subtle push and pull, a yielding and yet a demand. He slid his hands beneath her bolero jacket, coaxing free another of the feminine moans that roused all that was most masculine in him.
He wanted her. Now. Regardless of time or place or consequence.
“Mrs. Lonigan?” an incredulous voice interrupted.
Shayde turned swiftly, blocking Tess from view behind the width of his shoulders. Al Portman stood less than five feet away, a disapproving frown lining his brow. “I’m sorry,” Shayde said. “We didn’t realize anyone was nearby.”
“Obviously,” the older man replied stiffly. “Nevertheless, I hardly think this is an appropriate venue for that sort of behavior.”
He had to act. Now. Only one solution occurred to him, one guaranteed to correct the situation. Unfortunately, it was also guaranteed to infuriate Tess, not to mention Shadoe. Not that Shayde cared about his brother’s response. If he didn’t repair the damage he’d done to Tess’s career, he’d never forgive himself. “You’re right. I should have waited to propose marriage until after the benefit. It’s entirely my fault.”
A fist thudded against his back and he absorbed it with barely a grunt. “How could you?” she bit out in an undertone.
Shayde dropped his arm around Tess’s shoulders and eased her forward. He wished he could have given her more opportunity to pull herself together. Although she managed an air of calm, her mouth was bare of lipstick and swollen from his kisses. And her face still wore the hectic flush of a woman caught in the throes of passion. Considering the importance of tonight’s benefit and its potential effect on her career, offending her boss probably wasn’t the best way to kick off the evening.
“Proposed?” Portman repeated.
Shayde inclined his head. “Again, I apologize. I should have waited until a more appropriate time.”
“Not at all.” Portman beamed. “Congratulations, Tess. I can’t tell you how pleased I am for you. I know how tough it’s been on you since Robert’s death.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“Now that I understand what I’ve walked in on, I’m sorry I interrupted.” Portman took a quick step backward. “As you know, I’d planned to assign you an Impossible tonight, but how about if we wait for a more convenient time?”
Tess stepped free of Shayde’s arms. “Right now is as convenient as any,” she replied with an easy shrug.
He lent his support with an encouraging nod. “We don’t mind in the least.”
Portman hesitated. “If you’re certain, I’d be happy to give you the names I’ve chosen.”
She looked visibly startled. “You’re giving me more than one Impossible?”
“You’ll only have to turn one of them,” he was quick to assure. “I have to admit, I’d originally planned to assign a single name—Dick Smith—and see what you could accomplish on that front.”
Tension vibrated through Tess. “I’d assumed as much,” she replied. Though her voice remained tranquil enough to fool Portman, Shayde caught the underlying dismay. “What changed your mind?”
As she spoke, Tess slipped her hand into the crook of Shayde’s arm. He couldn’t remember her ever initiating contact between them before. He wondered if she even realized what she’d done. Somehow he doubted it, which meant that something her employer had said had rattled her. Badly. He suspected it was related to Dick Smith, but surely that couldn’t be the man she was worried about? Hell. This grew more complicated by the minute.
Her boss tilted his head to one side. “Afte
r giving it further thought, it seems more equitable this way. So I’ll add Shaw to the list. You seem to have established a rapport with him tonight. That should give you a slight edge.” He smiled expansively. “Consider it my engagement present. And for a third choice.... How about Walt Moore?”
“That sounds fine, thanks,” Tess replied. “I’ll do my best to turn one of them into an active benefactor.”
“I’m sure you will. I think this should make for an excellent test of your abilities.” Portman held out his hand to Shayde. “Congratulations. You’ve chosen a wonderful woman. We’re all very fond of Tess.”
Shayde shook his head. “I think you have that backward. Tess makes her own choices. I’m just lucky to be one of them.”
“You’re right about that,” Portman said with a chuckle. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll return to the party. I gather you don’t mind if I spread the good news?”
Shayde tried not to wince as Tess dug her nails into his arm. “Not at all,” she claimed. She even managed to cap the lie with a sunny smile. “It’s just all so unexpected. I thought tonight would be work-related. I’d hate to have my news interfere with that.”
Portman didn’t pick up on the hint. “On the contrary. I suspect it’ll put everyone in a more generous mood.” He rubbed his hands together. “We can certainly hope.”
The minute he left, Tess swiveled to face Shayde. She never should have hired him. What could she have been thinking? Maybe that was part of the problem. She hadn’t been thinking, but reacting to a slew of out-of-control hormones. Well, no longer. Any attraction she felt for him stopped here and now.
All she had to do was figure out how.
“Have you lost your mind?” she demanded.
“I just knew it.” He thrust a hand through his hair, ruffling the waves into attractive disorder. Not that she paid it the least attention. Goodness, no. She’d stopped noticing such things a full two seconds ago. “Why am I not surprised? I save your pretty backside from disaster and you give me hell about it. Let me guess. You don’t approve of the way I handled the situation.”
Day Leclaire - The Provocative Proposal Page 9