To hell with good intentions, he thought as his gaze shifted from her eyes to her full, beautifully sculpted mouth. He remembered how the upper bow of her lips, so smooth and distinct, felt when his mouth had settled over hers. He longed to trace the shape again with his tongue, to taste the sweetness of the soda she’d sipped and savor her unique flavor. He angled closer, against the steps, his gaze caressing the soft pink blush of her cheeks. When he looked into her eyes, he discovered her startled awareness and more than a hint of matching passion.
Oh, yes, she wanted him too. Inside the darkened interior of his car or on the dimly lit steps of the church back hallway. His heart pounded hard and fast and he felt himself swell with desire.
“I’d better get back to the cookies,” she said suddenly, breathlessly, jumping up from the step. “I’ll bet Thelma is ready for a break.”
“I’ll be there in a minute,” he said with a sigh as she practically ran toward the large gathering of friends and neighbors.
Gray sucked in a series of deep breaths, willing himself to calm down. When he decided he wouldn’t embarrass himself or Amy, he pushed himself up to follow her down the hall. Probably just as well that she’d run from what was certain to be a very hot kiss—and perhaps an even hotter night ahead. He’d kept his hands to himself for weeks, but he was only human. Amy was more temptation than he’d ever had to resist.
“THE PARTY WAS A LOT OF fun,” Gray said as he pulled his Lexus to a stop in Amy’s driveway. “Thanks for inviting me.”
The earlier tension they’d felt when they’d sat on the back steps had disappeared, replaced with the polite social behavior she associated with Gray. She was glad, she told herself. She didn’t want a lover, even one as tempting and charming as Gray.
“I’m glad you went with me,” she said, equally determined to be warm and civil. “My father seemed to have a special gleam in his eyes when he saw you there.”
“He makes a good Santa.”
“Since he’s gained a little weight around his middle, he doesn’t need as much padding any more,” Amy said, remembering the times she’d helped him dress in the red suit after she’d discovered he, not some Santa surrogate from the North Pole, was playing the jolly old elf.
She unbuckled her seat belt and turned toward Gray. “Would you like to come in for coffee?”
Gray stilled, as though she’d asked him an especially difficult question. Well, maybe she had. They hadn’t been truly alone, except in the car, for a long time.
“Just coffee and some conversation,” she added when he continued to study her in the dim light of the car’s interior. “I’d really like to discuss something with you.”
“All right,” he said, slipping the key from the ignition.
She didn’t wait for him to come around to her side of the car, as he usually did when they were out in public. Although she appreciated the polite gesture, it made her feel too special. Too much like a real, cherished date.
She felt his strong, warm presence at her back while she unlocked the front door. Her fingers seemed especially clumsy as she jiggled the lock, then finally heard the dead bolt slide free.
Slipping inside quickly, she found the switch and flooded the small entryway with light. “Make yourself comfortable,” she said over her shoulder as she shrugged out of her coat. “I’ll just be a minute.”
His hands caught the collar, easing it off her arms. She was reminded of their first date not too long ago, when he’d helped her on with her coat. She’d been nervous for another reason that night, but just as strongly aware of his overwhelming presence.
“Thanks,” she said breathlessly. “I’ll have the coffee ready in a moment.”
“No hurry,” he said as she fled to the kitchen.
A few minutes later, she entered the living room with two mugs. “Cream, no sugar, right?”
“That’s right,” he said, taking the warm mug and enclosing her fingers in his personal heat for just a moment. Her heart raced, darn it, just when she’d managed to get herself under control when she was alone in the kitchen. Was there no way to be around Gray without wanting him?
“I was just looking over your CDs,” Gray said, taking his coffee to the sofa and sitting down. “You’ve done a lot more unpacking than when I was here a few weeks ago.”
“I’ve managed to work some in,” she said, sitting at the other end of the couch, “but I have to admit it’s not my favorite leisure activity.”
Gray looked at her with hooded silver eyes over the rim of his mug. “I won’t make any comments about what you might rather be doing.”
Amy sucked in a deep breath. Ridiculous. She interpreted everything the man said as a suggestive comment. Surely he wasn’t always implying something sexual!
“Regarding activities outside my practice,” she said, pulling professionalism around her like a shield against his charisma, “I wanted to talk about our dates.”
“I think they’ve been going well.”
“For the most part, I’d agree.”
He sat up straighter. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that we agreed to pretend to be dating. We weren’t supposed to actually be in a relationship.”
“So you object to us enjoying each other’s company?” He sounded very defensive. Perhaps she wasn’t handling this well.
“Of course not. I’m thrilled that we have a good time when we’re together. What worries me is the type and number of our dates. I just believe that perhaps we’re losing focus on why we’re spending time together.”
“Maybe having a good time is enough.”
She shook her head. “That’s not what we agreed.”
“I don’t remember agreeing to have a specific number of dates, and then not having a good time on those,” he replied, leaning forward and placing his mug on the coffee table.
“Gray, that’s not what I meant,” she said with a sigh. “I’m just worried that we’re turning this pretend dating into the actual thing.”
“You mean you think I’m the one who’s lost focus of our goal.”
“Well…no. I’m just as guilty. I certainly haven’t discouraged a more…friendly relationship. Maybe I’ve simply recognized the problem first.”
“You see our dates as a problem?”
“I didn’t say that!”
He rose from the couch and paced the length of her small living room. The journey took only a few strides, then he was back, standing before her chair. “Amy, I’m not going to apologize for liking you as a person. Or for wanting to spend time with you.”
“I’m not asking you to. I’ve enjoyed our dates. I’ve enjoyed…you.”
Gray looked at her long and hard, his gaze glittering with unnamed emotion. Or maybe just desire. How could she tell when she knew so little about what he was feeling? But did she want to know? She’d just explained how they shouldn’t really be dating. If she followed her own advice, she’d keep her distance. She wouldn’t complicate their relationship by delving into his reasons and innermost feelings.
“Tell me again why we should stick to the agreement? Why we shouldn’t explore this attraction we both feel?” Gray finally said, his voice as soft and rich as melting butter.
Amy took a deep breath. “Because we have goals. Because you don’t want a long-term relationship, and I don’t want an affair.”
Gray reached down and pulled her to her feet. Her breasts brushed his chest, and her skirt swirled against his hard thighs. She remembered how good he’d felt when they’d danced, how wonderful he kissed. Would it be so wrong to give in to the feelings, just for a moment?
Her breasts ached from the friction of their breathing. Heavy, hot breathing. Gray’s eyes glittered with barely restrained desire as she stared up into his handsome, hard-planed face. She wanted him. He wanted her. Could she resist such compelling passion?
Yes! She had to be strong. Strong enough for both of them.
Amazingly, her legs supported her. She wondered if her f
eet would obey her if she ordered them to run away.
“Are you so sure, Amy?”
“About what?” Her voice sounded faint, breathless.
“About not wanting an affair. We’re two consenting adults with a right to a private life. Who would we be hurting?”
She closed her eyes, breathing in the clean, crisp scent of him, feeling his warmth so close, so strong. The touch of his finger on her chin snapped her eyes open.
“Amy?”
Did he know how much she desired him, how much she wanted to give in to the physical demands of her body? “We’d be hurting ourselves, Gray. I can’t have that kind of relationship with you and not crave more. And knowing that there was no future for us would break my heart.”
“Why?” He sounded genuinely curious, as though the concept was as foreign to him as the reality of having a casual affair was to her.
“Because I care too much about you as it is. I’m not willing to set myself up for heartache.”
He stroked her jaw with his fingers, briefly resting his palm against her cheek. Then he stepped back, taking his warmth and strength with him. “I can’t promise you more than good times and great sex.”
Chapter Seven
“I’m not asking for anything, Gray, except your acceptance of our agreement. Or if you want to get out, just say so. I’ll tell my father we had an argument, or a disagreement. Or you can come up with a story.” She shook her head. “Please don’t make me sound too mean or unreasonable.”
“I’m not about to tell stories about you.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I think we should continue with our agreement. I’ll do my best to stick to the terms if you’ll promise to remind me if I stray.”
“And you do the same for me,” she answered with a sigh, turning away. She’d gotten what she wanted, hadn’t she? So why did she feel so depressed? Why did she want to fling her arms around Gray, ask him to stay—the agreement be damned?
She couldn’t allow herself to act impulsively. Since the age of eleven, she’d been responsible. First for simple meals, then for coordinating social events. She’d been the “woman” of the household, taking care of her dad as her mother had done before her death: scolding, praising and cajoling as needed to make things run smoothly.
He’d been busy with his practice and distracted over his grief, but he’d been a good father. They’d settled into a quiet, comfortable life, but deep down inside, she’d worried that something might happen to him. A car wreck, like the one that killed her mother, when he was going to or returning from a house call. Or a sudden illness; he was, after all, getting older.
Amy smiled to herself. When she was barely a teenager, a person nearing fifty seemed old indeed.
“What’s so funny?” Gray asked from across the small room. His hands in his pants pockets, he seemed far different from the overwhelming man who had pulled her close just minutes before. She marveled again at how quickly and easily Gray could change personas.
“Oh, I was just remembering my father. How we’d been through a lot together when my mother died.”
“He’s proud of you. I saw it in his eyes tonight.”
“He’s happy with you, too.” Amy collected the two mugs, intent on staying busy and away from any more tempting situations. “He thinks you’re a great catch.”
“Almost good enough for his little girl.”
Amy grinned, relieved that Gray no longer seemed angry or frustrated. “Almost.”
“Then I guess we’d better keep him happy.”
“Yes, we’d better.” She sighed. “The best thing would probably be to avoid all…personal situations. Just the regularly scheduled dates that the town will see.”
Gray took a deep breath. “If that’s what you think is best.”
“I really don’t see any alternative.”
He stepped a little closer, raising his hand to her cheek. His warm palm cradled her jaw as his eyes softened from silver to aged pewter. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
AMBROSE STEERED HIS CAR to a stop in Joyce’s driveway. The glow of her multicolored Christmas lights around the eaves and window of the beauty shop illuminated the inside of the car after he turned off the engine. Her house was behind the frame business, shielded by a live oak tree and a path lined with shrubs.
Not that he’d been asked inside…yet.
“I had a lovely time tonight, Ambrose,” she said, breaking into his contemplation of her neat, tidy world. Would she welcome change at this stage in her life, or was she settled into her house? A year ago he wouldn’t have considered changing much about how he lived, but since he’d broken his ankle and Amy had moved back to town, he’d been thinking about the rut he’d gotten himself into.
“Joyce, you don’t think I’m too old to be makin’ some changes, do you?”
“Why, that depends, I suppose. What kind of changes?”
He looked at the charming lady beside him. “I’m not about to get my nose pierced or buy a motorcycle, if that’s what you’re askin’. I just don’t want to be some old coot with the same ratty furniture and shiny-knee pants he’s had for the past twenty years.”
“Oh, Ambrose, that’s not you! Why, you’re a respected member of this community, a talented medical doctor. No one thinks you’re an old coot!”
“I’m not too worried about what everyone else thinks, Joyce,” he said, gripping the steering wheel so he didn’t grab her hand. “I’m kind of concerned about your opinion.”
“Why, I…Ambrose, are you asking me about my feelings for you?”
He squirmed in the bench seat as a wave of heat rushed up his neck to his face. Darn it, but with those confounded Christmas lights, she’d be able to see how flustered he was. “Not exactly,” he hedged, “but I’d be sorely disappointed if you thought I was spendin’ time with you for the wrong reasons.”
“And what would those reasons be?”
He shrugged. “Like I didn’t have anythin’ better to do. I do, you know.”
She frowned, her eyes revealing his mistake.
“I didn’t mean that! I don’t have one darn thing to do that I’d rather be doin’ than spend time with you.”
“Ambrose, you are one exasperating man.”
He shook his head. “I know I am, Joyce. Just try to have some patience with me, okay? I haven’t wooed a woman in forty years.”
“I’m glad I finally know what you’re doing,” she said, amusement warring with annoyance.
“Well, I’m not so sure I know what I’m doin’, so just have patience with me a little longer, okay? I’m tryin’ to get the hang of this datin’ thing.”
She chuckled in that deep, throaty way she had of making him feel decades younger than his sixty some years. “I just hope you get the hang of it better than your daughter’s young man. He doesn’t seem to know how to get from first base to third, if you know what I mean.”
“Joyce, that’s my baby girl you’re talkin’ about!”
“Sorry, Ambrose, but I have to speak my mind. Thelma and I had high hopes of a promising romance by Christmas, but nothing is happening.”
“They’ve been out on at least two dates a week for the past month.”
“But where are they going? To Bretford House or Wimberly, for dinner. Why, he has her home by ten o’clock every night. You’d think she was back in the tenth grade.”
“I respect that in him. He’s not rushin’ my daughter into some meanin’less affair.”
“Ambrose, he’s not making any moves! They haven’t been alone together since the Christmas party at the church, and I’m not sure that counts because they were in the community center the whole time. Why, they spent more time together on their first date than they have in the past few weeks.”
“He’s a gentleman.”
Joyce took a deep breath. “I thought you wanted a son-in-law and some grandbabies?”
Ambrose thought about it for a
moment. He wanted Amy to find a special man, someone who would love and appreciate her. On the other hand, he didn’t want her to wait until she was too old to experience the joy of having children. Amy was a warm and generous woman who would make a wonderful mother. The sooner, the better.
Joyce was right; he had to keep his priorities straight. “Maybe you have a point.”
“I know we do. Thelma and I have talked about it, and we’ve decided Amy and Gray need a little boost.”
Ambrose leaned forward in the seat and smiled, his own budding romance pushed aside for the moment. “What did you two matchmakers come up with?”
IN THE REMAINING DAYS before Christmas, Amy barely had time to keep up with the increased cases of colds, flu and upper respiratory infections. Her father was able to see more patients as his ankle improved, but a combination of the weather and the holiday season conspired to bring more people into the clinic than was normal. Amy even had to cancel her Wednesday afternoon off to keep up with the workload.
The town seemed to be celebrating the holiday season excessively, inviting her and Gray to everything from small dinners to Chamber of Commerce parties. He’d been a real sport, arranging his work schedule so he was available for early evening events. He’d delegated some responsibilities to his managers so he didn’t need to leave town. From his comments regarding his company, Amy believed the move to Ranger Springs had benefitted both his business and his personal life.
Tonight he’d escort her to a small party at the Four Square Café hosted by Thelma for Springs Gazette employees and special guests. The opportunity to get photos into the paper was not to be missed, the editor had added when she’d cornered Amy and Gray at the Chamber of Commerce Christmas party. Gray had graciously accepted the invitation, no doubt thinking of the free publicity any photo would bring his company.
Their dates had become social events. He hadn’t made any personal suggestions for Christmas shopping trips or quiet dinners away from the public eye. He hadn’t given her intimate looks, held her hand when they were alone, or otherwise made her feel as though they were actually a couple. She was grateful, and yet…
The Best Blind Date in Texas Page 9