Dare to Love Page 5

  really does like you.”

  Lucy smiled at Bob and leveled a smirk in Jake’s direction. “I’ll keep his tendency to

  lie in mind. By the way, I’m Lucy Fairchild.”

  “Bob Dixon.” Bob shook Lucy’s hand, then made his escape.

  Oh sure, Jake thought. Desert the captain of the ship as he’s about to be boarded by a

  ruthless pirate. A very irritated one at that.

  “Sorry,” he said as she stepped into the room. “Foot in mouth disease. I get it a lot.”

  “I meant what I said,” she said, looking not at all comfortable standing in the middle

  of the room.

  “Relax and sit down.” He pulled a chair for her in front of his desk. “It’s a little cramped in here, but you don’t need to hover in the middle of the room.”

  “I’m fine standing.”

  Yeah, right. She looked about ready to sprint out the door. He wanted her to stay so

  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 ball gown not revealing too much cleavage, check. Lipstick not stuck to her teeth, check.

  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 a
t 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 index finger against his pursed lips. “New money, then.”

  Jake laughed. “Any money I make is new to me.”

  She had to separate these two before an explosion occurred. She smiled sweetly at

  Jake. “I’m starving. Let’s go inside and find our seats.” Jake held out his arm and Lucy slipped hers through. “Later, Sheldon,” he said.

  “I’ll be counting on it,” she heard Alex reply before she dragged Jake into the ballroom.

  Jake couldn’t hide his proud smile as they walked through the double doors into the

  ballroom. He never lost the thrill of seeing the finished product of what he’d started. Ten

  years ago he’d worked on this hotel. He remembered the intricate sloping roof that

  caused him and his crew fits.

  “Why are you smiling?” Lucy asked.

  “Just remembering the construction. I helped build this hotel.” Her eyes widened. “You did? It’s a marvelous piece of architecture.”

  “It was a pain in the butt to weld the steel together.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. What the architects put on paper and the ease with which it transfers to steel

  erection are often like oill and water.”

  “I hadn’t thought about that. But it truly is lovely, Jake. You should be proud to have

  been a part of it.”

  He was. Everything that carried part of his work he looked on with pride. He’d worked damn hard to get where he was, to learn what he’d learned through the years.

  Jake allowed Lucy to lead him through a throng of people, most of whom she knew

  and waved at or stopped to greet. Which was fine with him since it gave him the chance

  to ogle her without her knowing.

  Damn, she looked incredible. And way out of his league in the minors versus majors

  way. The black velvet dress dipped dangerously off her shoulders. Her full breasts swelled over the top of a low cut V-shape in the top, and every time she inhaled they

  threatened to spill over. He wond
ered how long it would take him to whip off his tux

  jacket and throw it over her in case her breasts accidentally fell out the top of the gown.

  She wore no jewelry other than little pearls in her ears. But she didn’t need any.

  The

  dress and the body in it were enough.

  They reached a table at the front of the room, and Lucy directed him to his assigned

  seat next to her. It didn’t take long for her father to come bearing down on them.

  “What is he doing here?” he whispered.

  Lucy heaved a breath. Jake tried to keep one eye on her father and the other on her