Betrayed by Love (8 page)

It was difficult to resist the urge to grind myself against his groin and my breasts against his chest. Get a grip, Linea. You are not some damned alley cat in heat. You’re not going to behave like one.

As we danced in silence, my curiosity about him was aroused. Had he ever been married? If no, why not? What kind of women did he prefer? Was he sleeping with anyone? Did he want to sleep with me? Did I want to sleep with him? Of course I did, but I wouldn’t. I already had two casual lovers in my life. I wasn’t going to add another one. And I didn’t do one night stands.

Despite my resolve, it was hard not to think about sex in such close proximity to his big body. Was he as aware of me physically as I was of him? I couldn’t tell. He kept his word. He didn’t grind against me or allow his hands to wander over my body.

The only indication he gave of enjoying the dance was the fact that he continued to guide me around several moments after the music ended. He was also slow to release my hand and to drop his arm from my waist. Even then he didn’t immediately step back.

That’s when I realized my head rested against his shoulder. My cheeks burned. I swallowed and stepped back, not allowing my gaze to rise any farther than the knot in his silk tie.

“Thanks.” He managed to infuse an incredible amount of sizzle into the one word.

I had to struggle to keep visions of falling into bed with him at the first opportunity at bay. “Sure,” I said, hoping my voice was steadier than it sounded to my sensitive ears.

“Tell the girls I said thanks.”

I bit back the urge to suggest he tell them himself—with his hands. I arched a brow. “I will.”

“So do you want to make it dinner tomorrow instead of lunch?”

Wasn’t he the pushy one? I smiled and shook my head. “And before you ask, they agree with me.”

He leaned down to touch his lips against my ear. “Are you sure? I could have sworn they wanted to be alone with me while we danced.”

“You’re delusional or have had too much to drink,” I said, stepping away from him.

He smiled. “Or you and they have gone to my head.”

“Do you always flirt so…outrageously on a first date?”

“I’ll let you know—when we have our first date tomorrow.”

I smiled.

He glanced at his watch. “I have to prepare for an early morning meeting tomorrow so I’d better say goodnight.”

I swallowed a lump of disappointment. Just as I was revving up to trade heated sensual barbs he was ready to leave?

He glanced around. “Can I walk you inside or are you staying out and enjoying the rest of the night?”

What was the point of remaining by the pool once he’d left? “I’ll go inside.”

He held the door open for me and followed me inside. In the side hallway, he turned to look down at me. “What kind of food do you like?”

“I’m a Chinese food fanatic, but I also like to be surprised.”

“Is there any type of food you dislike?”

“I’m willing to try anything as long as it’s not excessively hot and spicy.”

“You don’t like hot and spicy?”

“No. Do you?”

He locked his gaze with mine as he nodded slowly. “Oh, yes.”

His suggestive tone made it plain he wasn’t referring to food. I haven’t been shy since my late teens. I can usually trade sexual innuendos without breaking a sweat. But there was something about Grant that made me feel like a teenager crushing for the first time. Even while I told myself I didn’t like the feeling, I embraced it. Welcomed it. Relished it. Grant West was the kind of man who made a female very happy to be a woman.

I looked away, unable to maintain his gaze.

He brushed his hand against the back of mine. “Sorry,” he said softly. “I promise I’ll behave better tomorrow.”

What was up with him and his unwanted promises? I met his gaze and smiled. “It’s okay–”

“You’re clearly embarrassed.”

“It’s that obvious, huh?”

He nodded. “While I find your shyness charming, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“Charming?”

He shrugged. “Actually that’s much more appropriate than the word I’d really like to use, but let’s drop the subject before I’m tempted to say something else inappropriate.”

I nibbled my lip, staring at him. What word did he want to use?

He arched a brow. “If you keep staring at me like that, I can’t be responsible for what I’ll say next,” he warned, his gaze wandering to my breasts.

I gave myself a mental shake and tapped his shoulder. “My eyes are up here, Grant.”

“Sorry.” He flashed me a sexy smile and raised his gaze to mine. “Very nice eyes too.”

“Hmm.”

He glanced at his watch again. “I’m not sure how long my meeting will last tomorrow. Is it okay if I call you mid–morning tomorrow to let you know what time I’ll pick you up?”

“Yes.”

“Great.”

I nodded and waited.

We stood without moving, staring at each other in silence.

As when we danced, I felt my heartbeat quickening. I generally do not kiss on a first date, but I had to struggle not to part my lips and lean forward and engage him in a sensual lip lock he’d remember for weeks. If he wanted to kiss me, I was more than ready.

Apparently he didn’t feel as pressing a need to kiss me as I felt to be kissed. He brushed his hand against mine before he stepped back. “I’d better go find Jen and Jarrod to say good night.”

I nodded, swallowing a lump of disappointment. No locking lips with him tonight. Had I misread him?

“I’m looking forward to having lunch with you tomorrow.”

I smiled.

“Good night, Linea.”

“Good night, Grant.”

“Girls.” He glanced at my breasts, smiled, and then turned away.

Chapter Five

I watched him walk down the hall toward the kitchen. He had a nice ass. He’d look sexy as hell with a pair of tight jeans hanging off his hips and hugging his decidedly unflat ass. Get a grip, Lin or you’ll be obsessing over his ass the way he’s obsessing over your breasts.

I glanced down at my breasts.

And that would be a bad thing? They seemed to ask.

Smiling, I walked in the opposite direction to the living room.

Jarrod stood at the living room patio doors sipping a drink. He turned when I entered the room.

“Where’s Grant?” he asked.

“He’s looking for you and Jen to say good night. It quickly became clear you two had no intentions of returning any time soon.”

He shrugged. “I’m sorry if you found being left alone with him unpleasant.”

“What I find unpleasant is having someone else determine who I should date.”

“Understood. Can I get you a drink, Lin?”

I felt hot and confused. I’d started the day fixated on Jarrod. After having spent a few hours with Grant, it was hard to recall how or why I’d found myself weaving romantic fantasies around Jarrod. He was clearly devoted to Jen, which was endearing. He was also very ordinary compared to Grant.

I definitely needed a drink. I nodded and sat on the loveseat. “Yes. Thanks.”

“Same as before?”

“Yes.”

I watched him pour my drink.

He looked up and met my gaze.

I flashed him a quick, easy smile. It was so good to be able to look at him without having to battle lustful thoughts.

He crossed the room to hand me my drink.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He stood near the loveseat. “Do you mind?”

Hours earlier the thought of sharing the loveseat with him would have sent me into a lustful frenzy. “No. I don’t.”

He sat beside me. “What did you think of Grant?”

“He…he’s…” I sipped my drink and moistened my lips before meeting his gaze. “He’s…has he ever been married?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I assume because he’s never met anyone he wanted to marry.”

Either that or he was…“Is he…gay?”

“No! He’s not.”

That was a relief until I thought of an alternative. “Is he bi?”

“Did he strike you as bi, Lin?”

“No,” I admitted.  “But—”

“He’s straight.”

Why would a man in his position need to accept a blind date? I frowned. “Is he involved with anyone?”

He shrugged. “He’s single, attractive, successful…do the math, Lin.”

I definitely did not like the sound of that. “If he’s involved with someone, why did you and Jen go out of your way to throw us together?”

“That was Jen’s idea. Not mine.”

I gave him a cool stare. How like a man to weasel out of a difficult situation by blaming it on his woman. “Oh. So you weren’t in favor of our meeting?”

“No, I wasn’t.”

His terse answer surprised and annoyed me. “Why not?”

“You’re both attractive adults. I can’t see how either of you would need or want assistance or interference from me in arranging your personal lives.”

“Oh. That’s what you meant.”

He frowned. “What did you think I meant?”

I shrugged. “Not all men appreciate full–figured women.”

“Full–figured or skinny as a rail, I’m sure you’d have no problem capturing the attention of the man of your choice.”

Oh, he did have a way with words. But then so did Grant. Maybe it ran in the family. “Is he seeing someone special?”

“That’s something you should ask him.”

“I will, but why can’t you—”

“Of course Grant’s not dating anyone special, Lin.”

We both looked up as Jen waltzed into the room.

No longer sure I wanted to depend on Jen’s assurance, I turned my attention back to Jarrod.

But he rose and crossed the room to kiss Jen’s cheek. “Would you like a drink?”

 “No thanks. Grant said to say good night, hon,” she told Jarrod.

They sat on the sofa before Jen turned her attention back to me. “Grant told me you two are having lunch tomorrow.”

I nodded.

She smiled. “I knew you’d like him.”

I glanced at Jarrod. “No offense, Jarrod, but I didn’t actually say I liked him.”

He arched a brow, but remained silent.

Jen’s grin widened. “Well, he likes you.”

I sipped my drink, fighting to keep a wide smile from spreading across my face. “Did he tell you that?”

“Not exactly, but he did tell me he planned to reschedule a trip to L.A. tomorrow afternoon to take you to lunch. I think that speaks for itself.”

Strangely enough, so did I. I was even more convinced of that when a beautiful bouquet of flowers arrived later that night as Jen, Jarrod, and I were saying good night in the foyer.

Jen grinned from ear to ear. “He certainly knows how to make an impression. Doesn’t he?”

I nodded. “Yes. He does.”

Jen waved at the flowers. “What does the card say?”

I hesitated, not sure I wanted an audience when I read the card. For all I knew he might have sent the flowers to my breasts. My lips twitched at the thought.

Jarrod looked at Jen. “Why don’t we leave Lin alone to discover what the card says for herself?”

Jen looked as if she were about to protest, but Jarrod slipped an arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the stairs. “Come on.”

Jen grimaced but allowed Jarrod to lead her to the stairs.

I waited until they’d reached the second floor landing before I slowly mounted the stairs. I sat at the vanity in the guest bedroom and reached for the card nestled among the flowers.

Looking forward to tomorrow. GW

He was looking forward to tomorrow? I smiled. So was I. I glanced down. And so were the girls.

I studied my smiling reflection. My eyes sparkled and I could feel excitement coursing through me. After my disastrous introduction to Jarrod, I wasn’t sure how thrilled I wanted to get at the thought of going out with Grant. Normally, I liked the idea of slowly discovering the personality and tastes of a prospective lover. Recalling the games Jen and Jarrod played, and Jarrod’s seeming unwillingness to say if Grant had a special woman in his life filled me with uncertainties. What if Grant liked to play similar games? Or worse, what if he played the game with Jen and Jarrod?

Part of me didn’t want to believe that of him, but I didn’t know him. If Jen, who I’d thought I knew had a kinky nature I’d never suspected, how could I even begin to guess what Grant might be capable of? I shouldn’t care, but I did.

So there was only one way to find out. Still, I hesitated for several minutes before I made my decision. I called the airline to cancel my flight for the following night.

There. It was done. I stared at my reflection again. What now? I had no idea. I’d just take things as they came.

My decision made, I showered and slipped into bed. I lay in the dark recalling that dance out by the pool with Grant before I allowed my thoughts to dwell on him in a more intimate manner.

What would he look like in tight, revealing swimming briefs? Did he have hair on his chest? What did that sexy bottom lip of his feel like in a kiss? What would it taste like? What would it be like to have him French kiss me? What did he look like naked? What would he feel like nude?

Imagining his wide shoulders and big bare chest pressed against my naked breasts sent a rush of moisture pooling inside me. I closed my eyes, imagining his warm hands moving over my naked body. I knew he liked large breasts, but what did he think of a big ass and lots of curves?