By Private Invitation (17 page)

Had he glanced at her when he’d said that? Did he consider her a challenge? Someone
to conquer before moving on?

“Sounds like you’re bored, Jared.”

He shrugged, drawing her gaze to his broad shoulders. “Maybe a little. Nothing a new
project won’t fix.”

“And how long does a ‘new project’ usually keep you busy?”

His mouth curled up in one of his devastating grins. “As long as it takes to make
sure everyone’s satisfied.”

Now she no longer needed the heater to keep her warm.

Luckily, he pulled into the restaurant parking lot and stopped the car. Call her a
coward but she opened her door and got out before he could do something chivalrous
like open it for her. She didn’t need any help liking this man.

He caught up to her before she’d taken more than two steps away from the car and put
his hand on her back. She barely felt his fingers through the layers but she knew
they were there.

She straightened her back so she didn’t sink into him like she wanted.

Jared stopped just before they entered. “Are they authentic?”

Turning, she found him staring at the structure with a contemplative look on his face.
She couldn’t help but smile at his expression. “Yes. They used to be dining cars on
the line from Reading to Philadelphia sixty or so years ago. The owners bought the
cars and opened the restaurant about twenty years ago. They’ve expanded the seating
areas over the years but the cars are still intact. They have great food.”

“Then I’m ready to eat. I seem to have worked up an appetite.”

Oh, she was
so
not going to respond to that one.

As they stepped through the doors into the first car, Annabelle was reminded once
again of just how small a town she lived in. Everyone in the restaurant turned to
watch them and she recognized people at no less than four of the eight tables in this
car.

Several actually stared, their mouths hanging open in surprise. Most of those were
men.

The women gave her a once-over before their gazes locked on Jared.

And really, she couldn’t blame them. The man would make a dead woman smile.

Of course, he didn’t appear to notice.

Instead, he smiled at the approaching hostess, a sixty-five-year-old grandmother of
three who ran this restaurant like a boot camp instructor. A former army nurse who’d
served in Vietnam, Ginny Donaldson’s eyes widened as she shook Jared’s hand, barely
glancing Annabelle’s way as she led them to their table.

They passed through the first car, and people turned to watch them as they walked
by. Annabelle stared straight ahead, trying to feign a composure she was fast losing.

Because she’d just remembered it was Monday.

And Monday night, Gary had a standing date at The Boxcar for dinner.

She froze just inside the door to the next car, causing Jared to almost bump into
her. He placed a hand on her back and all thoughts of Gary fled at the heat of his
body so close to hers. Images from this morning flashed through her head, making her
draw in a sharp breath.

“Annabelle? Are you okay?”

Turning her head, she glanced up into Jared’s eyes. Heat burned there, banked but
visible. For her.

This gorgeous man wanted her.

She smiled, letting all the desire she felt for him shine in her own eyes. “Yes, I’m
fine.”

“Here you go, sweetie.” Ginny waved them to the first table on the left, the one farthest
from Gary, who sat at his usual table at the far end of the car, where he could check
out everyone who entered.

His comically stunned expression made Annabelle swallow her own laughter. And when
the bimbo secretary she’d found him messing around with only a few short weeks ago
stuck her head out of the side of the booth to see what Gary was looking at, Annabelle
slid into their booth so she wouldn’t be tempted to stick out her tongue in sheer
childish glee.

“Sorry, I didn’t have a table in the other car.” Ginny’s lowered voice barely carried
over the quiet conversations of the other diners, most of whom she didn’t recognize.
“We’re a little busier than normal for a Monday.”

“No problem, Ginny.” Annabelle flashed the woman grin, suddenly feeling much better
than she had all day. “This is just fine.”

Jared’s gaze narrowed on hers as he took his seat across from her.

The high, curved backs of the booths effectively hid them from the other diners and
cocooned them in their own little space. She could no longer see Gary and, with hardly
any effort, she put him out of her mind, focusing instead on Jared.

Who only had eyes for her. “So, what’s good here, Belle?”

God, that voice. It made her shiver. And the intensity in his eyes filled her with
heat. And fire.

“Depends on what you’re hungry for.” She allowed a small smile to kick up the sides
of her mouth. “The menu’s varied and the food’s delicious.”

Jared’s eyes narrowed at her over the menu, as if he’d noticed her slight change in
attitude. “What are you having?”

Kate’s suggestion that she make the rules for their relationship and have Jared dance
to her tune flitted through her mind.

He wanted her. And with Jared, she knew what she was getting. Great sex and no ties.
She’d tried the relationship route. It hadn’t agreed with her.

Kate was right about her history. Granddad had made sure no one could discover her
secrets. And she’d taken the precaution of storing the rest of her dad’s paintings,
those hanging in her bedroom, in the temperature-controlled storage room in the shop.

Just in case Jared made it back to her bedroom.

Just in case.

“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” she said. “I’m still…debating.”

He closed the menu, set it on the table, and stared straight at her. “I have the feeling
you’re talking about more than food.”

Her mouth dried and images from New Year’s Eve rushed through her mind. The things
she’d allowed him to do. What she’d allowed another man to do…

Her cheeks heated and her lungs struggled to draw in air. His gaze burned hotter.

“We rushed things New Year’s Eve, Jared—”

“Annabelle. You look…well tonight.”

Gary’s voice threw her for a moment, and she looked up to find her ex standing at
the entrance to their booth.

His brown hair was perfectly combed to hide his receding hairline. He covered his
thickening middle with well-cut clothes but he stood stiff and straight, as if he
had a stick shoved up his ass.

The mental image made her glance back at Jared and smile.

Jared returned that smile for a brief second before he slid out of the booth and stood,
holding out his hand. He towered over Gary, making Annabelle’s smile widen.

Jared diminished Gary’s presence.

“Jared Golden. And you are?”

Gary’s expression vacillated between speculation and petty jealousy. Annabelle couldn’t
tell if he was jealous that another man was dating his ex-girlfriend or just of Jared
in general. And Gary certainly had a lot to be jealous of. Jared was ten times the
man he was.

“Gary Jarzakrak.” Her ex looked between her and Jared and back again. Then his mouth
kicked up in a faint sneer. “I see you’ve bounced back, Annabelle.”

Jared’s brows curved upward as he looked back at her. She knew Jared had picked up
on the undercurrents between her and Gary, and Jared’s smile turned deceptively bland.

“Were you sick, honey?” Jared’s tone was all concerned innocence.

Gary snorted and her blood began a slow boil. “Didn’t she tell you? We had a falling
out a few weeks ago.”

Jared stared into Gary’s eyes and shrugged, his broad shoulders moving with an elegance
Gary would kill for. “Sorry, she never mentioned you. No idea why that would be.”

Gary’s mouth opened and closed but no sound emerged.

And Annabelle was so ready to be done with the dramatics.

She reached for Jared’s hand and laced her fingers through his before turning back
to Gary. “I’m sure your date is wondering where you are. Don’t let us keep you.”

“No offense, Gary”—Jared’s tone held a hard edge now—“but I don’t want to waste my
time with Belle shooting the breeze with you. Nice to meet you, though.”

Jared dismissed the man without another look as he slid back into the booth. He looked
into her eyes, the hint of a smile in his. “Have you decided?”

Heat lit through her, starting in her stomach and radiating out. Her smile softened
and she only marginally noted as Gary slunk away.

“You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

His intense expression left her with no doubt about what he wanted. “About you, yes.”

Sighing, she shook her head. “Why did you come here, Jared? You could have very easily
FedExed the pin.”

Leaning back into the booth, he let his head rest against the tufted seat as his gaze
slid down, ostensibly to the pin. “I don’t think I can make it any more obvious. I
want to spend time with you.”

Yes, but how much time? Was he looking for a relationship or just sex?

Well, the answer to that should be clear. Sex. A man like Jared could pick and choose
his partners and for some reason he’d chosen her.

How long it lasted shouldn’t even be a question. She wasn’t looking for long-term.
But short and hot certainly wouldn’t hurt.

“Then let’s enjoy dinner.”

After they placed their order, Jared began to ask questions—about the area, traffic,
construction, development, other businesses. He kept her occupied and entertained,
his nimble mind always onto the next subject before an awkward silence could form.

Dinner was over before she realized she’d eaten her meal. Over coffee and crème brûlée
she couldn’t resist; she knew she was going to ask Jared to come home with her for
a drink.

Maybe stay the night.

She went wet just thinking about it.

Their waitress laid the check on their table at that moment, and Jared turned to smile
up at the woman, who couldn’t help but look a little dazed.

Annabelle knew the feeling. “So, I guess you need to be going.”

Jared’s smile spread into a grin. “Trying to get rid of me?”

Her gaze dipped, unsure if she wanted him to know just how much she wanted him to
stay. “No, I just figured you wouldn’t want to drive back to Philly so late—”

“No worries there. I took a room at the Horse-and-Carriage for the next week, at least.”

Jared watched Annabelle’s gorgeous green eyes widen in surprise. He’d expected that.
What he hadn’t expected was the rush of other emotions that crossed her expression.

Desire. Hope. Heat.

She dropped her gaze, staring at the table for a few seconds before meeting his again.
“I haven’t had many relationships. They’re time-consuming and most men don’t appreciate
the long hours I put into my work. When Granddad and I opened the
shop, it was with the intention that I would take over and make it my own. I’m not
about to give that up for a man.”

Damn, he really liked this woman. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to speak
her mind. “I would never ask anyone to do that. Most of my life is consumed by the
hotel. I want you, Belle. You’re a beautiful, interesting woman.”

Her chin jutted out and her gaze met his again. “I’m not looking for long-term, Jared.”

He didn’t know what she wanted him to say to that one. The phrase “long-term” wasn’t
even in his vocabulary.

She took a deep breath when he didn’t speak.

“So…yes, to your offer. I’ll help you look for a site for your spa but if either of
us decides the situation’s not working, we agree to let the other walk, no questions
asked.”

He dismantled his grin before it could start. “Agreed.”

It was her turn to look surprised. “That was fast.”

“I know a good deal when I hear it. Now, are you ready to leave?”

She stared at him for several seconds, contemplating. Then her lips curved in a sweet
smile. “Would you like to come back to my place for a drink?”

Triumph had his own grin bursting out. “Absolutely.”

Jared rose before she could change her mind and reached for her hand to help her from
the booth. Her fingers curled around his, reminding him of how they’d curled around
his cock earlier today.

He wanted her. And hopefully by the end of the night, he’d have her.

“So I thought you might want to consider featuring local products in your spa.”

He took a sip of the wine she’d handed him and liked the idea almost as much as the
wine.

“There are several wineries in the area and a world-famous microbrewery down the road.
There are organic farms for fresh produce, dairy farms, and honey growers.”

“Sounds like you and I are on the same wavelength. I’ve considered some of the same
things. And I’m interested.” Mostly in her, though her ideas were sound. Yes, he knew
they’d have to talk business eventually but not tonight. Tonight, he wanted to talk
about her. “How long have you lived here?”

She slid onto the couch next to him, which he took as a good sign, curling her legs
under her and inching her skirt almost over her knees. Not enough skin to be indecent,
just enough to tantalize.