by Francis Ray
Which wasn’t saying much, since the last three in a four-week period had been self-centered and rude. Trying to keep a smile on her face, Ayanna said, “Sheri, summer is the restaurant’s busiest season. I appreciate your effort, but I really have to say no this time.”
“You can’t,” Sheri wailed, her expressive brown eyes staring at Ayanna in alarm. “He’s too good to let get away. I met him a couple of months ago at a fund-raising dinner. He’s a good conversationalist and a great dancer. You know you love to dance.”
Ayanna resisted draining her glass of wine and then asking Sarah to bring her a double gin and tonic. The only thing she’d accomplish would be a splitting headache in the morning, and if she drank that much Sheri would still be after her to date another total dud. “Sheri, just look around you. I have payroll, worker’s comp claims, insurance, financial reports, and bills to pay. I don’t have time for dating.”
Sheri jerked straight in her chair, causing the multicolored scarf draped stylishly over one shoulder to slide off. “But you have to, Ayanna! How else are you going to find a man and get married? I can’t imagine my life without Reginald. He’s everything to me.”
The double gin and tonic was looking better all the time. Sheri was a hopeless romantic, in love with Reginald since they were in the seventh grade. Four months ago, Ayanna had been Sheri’s maid of honor when she’d married Reginald in a lavish garden wedding. Two hundred guests were in attendance. Sheri was happier these days than Ayanna had ever seen her and, unfortunately, even more determined that Ayanna experience the marital bliss she’d found … whether Ayanna wanted it or not.
“I’m happy for you and my cousins, too, but I simply don’t have time for a relationship,” Ayanna insisted. Now, more than ever, with her cousins and partners in Leo’s taking on the added responsibility of wives, the business needed to maintain its profit margin. It didn’t matter that the wives were financially solvent. Her cousins were surprisingly old-fashioned that way. Ayanna didn’t plan on letting any of them down. She’d always be thankful to them for asking her to be a partner and for naming the restaurant after Leo Hardcastle.
Unfortunately Sheri’s attack didn’t seem to be abating anytime soon. “I love being married and I bet they do, too. Please, just one more blind date. You and George can double-date with Reginald and me to Judge Wyman’s sixtieth birthday party. Like your father, George’s father and the judge go way back.”
The noose closed tighter around Ayanna’s neck. Judge Wyman had been a friend of her father’s since he’d been a cadet, fresh from the police academy, and the judge, right out of law school, had been a public defender. They’d fought bigotry and cussed meanness each day, just to do their jobs. The other police officers hadn’t wanted to be a partner with her father; Wyman’s clients wanted a white lawyer. Her father had gone on to become the chief of police in D.C. before he died from a stroke ten years ago. The judge sat on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
“Come on, Ayanna. You’ll be there anyway,” Sheri pointed out. “So will your mother.”
Ayanna went into a full panic. Her mother was worse than Sheri when it came to trying to get her only child married. It was time for some straight talk. “Sheri, I couldn’t love you more if you were a sister, and Reginald is a wonderful man, but you have a bit of difficulty picking out men for me.” Ayanna refrained from pointing out it was probably because Sherry hadn’t dated any man except her husband.
“What do you mean?” A frown worked its way across Sheri’s brow.
Ayanna raised her right hand and enumerated, one finger at a time. “Blind date number one thought he should get a discount on the meal because we had dinner here.” Up went another finger. “Number two wanted to know about my portfolio before we got to his car. Number three thought the evening should end in bed.”
Shock broke out on Sheri’s face, then it quickly cleared. “You won’t have to worry about any of that with George. He’s wealthy, and since we’re double-dating, the three of us can pick you up last and drop you off first. It will be perfect.”
Ayanna refrained from beating her head against the table. Sheri worked in the Department of Education as a reading specialist. She had to deal with enough governmental red tape not to become discouraged when something hit a snag. She simply tackled it from a different direction. Ayanna would have to do the same.
“I already have a date for Saturday night,” she lied.
Sheri had already lifted her hand to brush aside any excuse by Ayanna. Her mouth gaped instead. “What? Tell me you aren’t kidding.”
Ayanna felt a twinge of guilt when she saw the excitement on Sheri’s pretty nut-brown face, then thought of her horrendous experiences with the last three blind dates. “I’m not kidding.”
Sheri’s squeal garnered only a few interested looks. Ayanna wasn’t surprised.
Besides being well known for its fine food and atmosphere, Leo’s also had a reputation for people finding love there. It happened so often that the restaurant kept a supply of champagne on hand for these occasions. Her friend’s squeal was hardly cause for a celebration. She just hoped Sheri would believe the fib she’d just told.
“I’m so happy.” Sheri leaned forward and propped both arms on the table. “Details. I want all the details of how this great event came about.”
Ayanna floundered, then took a sip of wine to gather her thoughts, realizing why honesty was always the best policy. Sooner or later the lie came back to nip you on the backside. She was putting together the next one in her mind when a dark-eyed man sitting two tables over caught her attention.
Men had stared at her before, but she’d never felt the need to stare back, or the slight tingling sensation that was now racing over her. She had always been attracted to men with beards. His was midnight black and neatly trimmed, just like his hair. The beard lent a roguish quality to his handsome face. The civilized trappings of a tailored gray pinstripe suit and crisp white shirt with a burgundy silk tie couldn’t quite mask the untamed glint in his dark eyes. The erect set of his shoulders announced to the world that he was ready to take it on if necessary. He was a throwback, a renegade, a man who took what he wanted.
Ayanna shivered. She sensed that everything she’d read about Tanner Rafferty had been true. She’d never met him, but she recognized him from all the press he’d received since coming to D.C.
Tanner Rafferty, hotel developer, was the newest darling on the city’s social scene. His family owned one of the largest conglomerates in the country. They had started out in manufacturing and then diversified. Tanner, his younger brother, and his sister Raine each headed their own successful division of the company. The well-heeled and well-connected had been doing back-flips in glee over him since his arrival. He was on everyone’s “A” list, feared in the boardroom and coveted in the bedroom.
The women were welcome to him, Ayanna thought. She’d loved her father and he had loved his family, but he had been passionate about his work. Ayanna and her mother had always known that his job came first.
From what she’d read about Tanner, he felt the same way about his hotels. One article had reported that The Rafferty Grand was almost booked to capacity for its first year. No one had to tell her that his time was seldom his own. If she ever decided to dip her toe in the shark-infested waters of a relationship, she’d come first or not at all.
“Ayanna?”
She started, then looked at the frown on Sheri’s face and realized she must have been trying to get her attention for some time. “What? I’m sorry.”
“What were you looking at?” Sheri asked. Glancing in the same direction of Ayanna’s stare, she gasped. “My goodness! It’s Tanner Rafferty. What an eyeful! He’s even better looking in person. I wonder if the stories I’ve read about him are true. He’s known as ‘The Renegade’ because he doesn’t always stick to rules of business or society. He takes what he wants.”
“I believe it,” Ayanna answered, her gaze unerringly returning to Tanner,
her voice husky.
Sheri’s attention bounced from Ayanna to Tanner. “My goodness, he’s looking at you! Like—” Sheri gasped again. “It’s him, isn’t it? Your date. It has to be. You never pay attention to men and he’s looking at you as if he wished we’d all disappear. This is absolutely fabulous!”
Ayanna attributed the sudden racing of her heart to relief that Sheri had inadvertently provided her with a way out, and not to the way she said Tanner was looking at her. Ayanna smiled knowingly and looked at her plate.
“Oh, girl, I should be upset with you for not telling me, but I’m just so happy for you!” Sheri twisted around, grinned at Tanner, then confronted Ayanna. “Introduce us.”
“What?” Ayanna’s head came up with a jerk. “I can’t do that.”
“Why?” Sheri asked, obviously perplexed.
Ayanna looked at Tanner and thought she saw an amused smile on his dark, handsome face. She twisted in her seat and took another sip of her drink. “We’re keeping it a secret.”
Sheri rolled her eyes. “This is D.C. Nothing stays a secret for long. Certainly not this. You’re both too well known. Please,” she cajoled. “I want to meet the man who’s the talk of the town.”
Ayanna faltered, promising herself that she’d never tell another lie if somehow she got out of this situation. Just then Tanner, lean and elegant, rose from his table. Relief swept over her. He was leaving. Everything was going to work out. She wouldn’t have to admit she’d lied, or embarrass herself and upset Sheri.
“I bet he’s coming over here,” Sheri said in excitement, turning toward the approaching man.
Ayanna wasn’t paying attention. Her mind was racing, trying to think of a way to explain why Tanner wasn’t stopping without breaking the promise she had just made not to tell another lie if she got out of this mess.
“Good evening, gorgeous. I couldn’t stay away a moment longer.”
Ayanna went very still. Although she had never heard Tanner’s voice, she instinctively knew it was him. The smooth baritone rumble made her skin prickle. She was instantly aware of the close proximity of his lean, powerfully built body, his hand that rested lightly on the back of her chair, the light pressure of his knuckles brushing against her silk dress. Heat and an unwanted something she didn’t want to think about zipped though her.
She jerked her gaze up and stared straight into the deepest, most hypnotic black eyes she had ever seen. They promised to fulfill a thousand fantasies. No wonder women fought to be in his bed.
“It seems our secret is out, sweetheart, and I’m afraid I can’t deny myself another second.” A smile curving his sensual lips, his head descended toward her upturned face.
Instead of telling him no or, at the very least, placing a hand on his magnificant broad chest to stop him, Ayanna simply stared and waited for his kiss.
TWO
Tanner watched her eyes widen. They were deep chocolate, beautiful, and alluring. If he’d seen fear in them, he would have stopped the slow descent of his head toward the flawless perfection of her honey-colored face. He was a man who seized opportunities where he found them, but never without warning.
He’d heard the women’s entire conversation. His relief that she was unattached was short-lived when he heard her say she had a date. He was stunned moments later to hear his own name.
Women had tried to trap him since he was old enough to shave. He might have thought she had similar thoughts if he hadn’t seen the desperation in her face when she was trying to get out of the blind date, and then the shocked look on her face when her friend insisted on meeting him.
Now he watched her long, sooty lashes drift shut just before his lips brushed lightly against her cheek. A jolt of awareness shot though him. From the sudden intake of breath, she felt the same sensation.
His eyes narrowed. He hadn’t expected that to happen and apparently neither had she. He enjoyed women, but it took more than a kiss to excite him. Interesting.
“Ah, hmmm.” Sheri cleared her throat and grinned as Ayanna avoided her eyes and Tanner straightened. “Mr. Rafferty, I’m Sheri Moore, Ayanna’s best friend. At least, I thought I was until she kept you a secret.”
Tanner straightened and flashed a smile that had been charming females since he had his first tooth. His hand remained on Ayanna’s chair. He was a possessive man and made no bones about it. “Please, call me Tanner, and I hope you’ll allow me to call you Sheri.”
Her smile widened in pleasure. “Please do.”
Tanner glanced back at the silent Ayanna. He wanted to see her reaction when he said her name for the first time. “Forgive the secrecy. My fault entirely. It was my idea, not Ayanna’s.”
She swallowed and licked her lips. Pleased, he said to Sheri, “I hope you and Ayanna will join me at my table.”
Sheri glanced at her watch, then shook her head with regret and stood. “My husband is out of town and he’s going to call me in less than thirty minutes. If I’m not at home, he’ll worry.”
“I understand,” Tanner said graciously, aware that Ayanna remained silent. “Perhaps another time.”
“That would be nice. Good night, Tanner.” Sheri looked at Ayanna. “I’m calling you first thing in the morning.” With those words of warning she walked off.
Tanner took the seat next to Ayanna. “I seem to have forgotten where you live and where we were going. Perhaps you can help. I certainly wouldn’t want to miss our first date.”
Ayanna heard the unexpected teasing note in his deep voice, and shook herself to keep from being affected by it. It was easy to see how he had gained such a notorious reputation with women. However, she didn’t plan to be next on his list. A momentary lapse in judgment was one thing; going headlong into certain heartache was another.
“Mr. Raf—”
“Tanner, please.”
Ayanna moistened her lips, wishing he’d move back. His body wasn’t crowding her, his overpowering presence was. “Please accept my deepest apologies for involving you. It wasn’t intentional.”
“I know. I heard you trying to get out of the blind date.” His grin widened. “And I was your way out.”
Ayanna finally stopped being embarrassed long enough to realize he must have been listening to their conversation. “You eavesdropped on a private conversation?”
“For which we both should be thankful,” he said, not seeming the least disturbed by her hard stare, “since we both get what we want.”
She folded her arms over her chest. Another egotistical, rude man. “And what exactly is that?”
He leaned closer until she caught a whiff of his citrus-and-spice cologne and a scent that was elementally male and dangerous. “You get out of a blind date you were dreading, and I get an introduction to you that might lead to a date.” He stuck out his wide-palmed hand. “Tanner Rafferty, and you are Ayanna …”
It was the smile in his eyes that had her unfolding her arms and extending her hand. She’d always liked men who didn’t take themselves too seriously. “Hardcastle.”
His hand closed gently but firmly over hers. “Where would you like to go Saturday night, Ayanna?”
She pulled her hand free and sat back, ignoring the tingling that started in her hand and radiated all over her body. “I’m busy—”
“Sheri will be unhappy to hear that.”
Ayanna made a face. “She’ll get over it.”
“I won’t,” he said, his voice drifting over her like a caress.
Ayanna felt her body heat up. He should wear a sign that said “Lethal to Females,” she thought, twisting in her seat. He moved closer.
“You two at it again?” Sheri picked up her scarf from the floor. “I can never keep track of my scarves.”
Ayanna tried not to look guilty. “At least you still have that one. You’d better hurry if you’re going to be home for Reginald’s call.” Sheri lived twenty minutes away, near the marina.
Sheri turned to Rafferty. “Tanner, I hope to see you Saturday night at
Judge Wyman’s party.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” he said easily.
“Good. I’ll see you two then.” Looping the scarf around her neck, she turned and left again.
Ayanna waited until Sheri neared the mahogany front doors and the hostess opened it for her to exit. “Why did you do that?” she hissed. “I am not going anyplace with you.”
This time Tanner was the one who folded his arms. “I have an invitation to the judge’s party.”
She might have known. Judge Wyman’s wife, Edith, was a renowned hostess. The elite of D.C.’s society vied for an invitation from her. Sheri would want to know what happened if they weren’t together.
“She’ll probably introduce you to my replacement,” Tanner commented lazily, as though he’d read her mind.
Pointing out that he didn’t have a replacement since she wasn’t going out with him didn’t seem as important as trying to figure out how she was going to get out of the mess she had put herself in. As hard and as long as she thought, nothing came to mind that didn’t require her admitting she lied, which, since Sheri had introduced herself to Tanner, would embarrass her best friend as well.
“My mother will be there,” Ayanna mumbled, not sure if she wanted reassurance or to frighten Tanner off.
He gave her reassurance and a smile guaranteed to make a sane woman act irrationally. “Mothers like me.”
Ayanna resisted, but it wasn’t easy. What mother wouldn’t want to see her daughter with him? He was handsome, successful, charming. She’d envision cuddling beautiful dark-haired grandchildren who looked like him.
Ayanna blinked, berating herself for that unwanted thought. Her body had picked a heck of a time to come out of sexual hibernation. And definitely with the wrong man. She was telling the truth when she told Sheri she was busy. She didn’t help out in the restaurant at night unless they were busy, but she did catch up on paperwork at her home office.
“I could pick you up, we could wish the judge a happy birthday, and be on our way in thirty minutes,” Tanner suggested persuasively. “Sheri would be happy, and I’d have the pleasure of taking you out. It’s a win-win situation.”