“Maybe it’s genetic, or maybe he taught me to love such regal animals.”
“Could be a little bit of both,” he said.
She smiled. “What about you?”
“Me? What about me?”
“Same questions.”
“I like to ride, too. I have a great affection for all animals, but I’ve been around horses all my life, and they seem more human at times than the real thing.”
“I know, right? What else?”
“I’d never refuse a round of golf, either. I take it as a personal challenge to better my game. I guess you could say those are my hobbies.” He blew out a ragged breath. “But this year has been rough. I’ve spent most of my time trying to clear the family name and keep the company going. As you know, we were dealt a raw hand with Keith Cooper. That guy nearly destroyed Wingate, but we’ve been able to relaunch the hotel chain with a new brand and we’ve kept WinJet strictly in the US now. It’s really helped our public image.”
“Beth filled me in on some of it. I know it was tough on the family.”
He nodded. It’d been all over the news, but the worst scandal was when the Wingate name was associated with drug runners. Thankfully, that was disproved pretty quickly. “Well, then you know the truth.”
“I do, or I wouldn’t be here right now.”
“Fair enough.”
“Go on. What’s your favorite subject?” she asked.
“Gracie 101.”
She shook her head and fought a smile. “Corny.”
“Yeah, it was, but you did smile. A little.”
That made her smile more and it was beautiful, as was seeing her eyes lighting up with pure, unabashed joy. She didn’t smile enough around him.
“Okay, I’ll be serious. Don’t hate me, but math is my favorite subject. It comes easy to me, though Beth says it’s a four-letter word. I remember tutoring her after school, but either you get it or you don’t. I like that the answers are all there in black-and-white, and there are no gray areas.”
“If only life was that simple,” Gracie said on a sigh.
Somehow, he got the feeling they weren’t talking about math anymore. Was she in a gray area in her life? She didn’t have to be. He reached across the table and took her hand. She didn’t flinch or pull away, but a quick gasp escaped her mouth when he lifted their entwined hands and brushed his lips across her knuckles. The connection sparked life between them. Made him want her more. “It can be, Gracie.”
Skepticism touched her eyes. But the pull they had was real. He felt it sizzle through him. One touch and he was a goner.
“There’s more to life than physical attraction,” she said softly.
“That’s very true, but it helps.” Sebastian grinned and then tugged his hand away. He promised no pressure and he had to abide by that even as his body heated up from having her so irresistibly near.
The waiter brought over an array of dishes—pastas and eggplant and shrimp scampi. It was all beautifully arranged on several platters, more food than they could possibly eat in one sitting.
“Thank you,” Sebastian said to the server.
Gracie took a look and opened her eyes wide. “I know I’m eating for two, but this is enough for a football team. It’s amazing.”
“I hoped you’d like it. Wanna dig in?”
She nodded. “I shouldn’t. I’ve already eaten so much. But I’ve got to have a little taste of everything.”
Sebastian refrained from helping her fill her plate. Gracie wasn’t the wilting-flower kind of girl. He had to remember that. She helped herself and then offered to serve him. Since she already had a big serving spoon in her hand, he agreed. She was generous with her portions, giving him much more than he needed. He enjoyed watching her pick out items to set in his plate.
They ate quietly, Sebastian sipping lemonade, Gracie’s drink of choice. It felt good being in sync with her, even if it was just by sharing food and drink. They spoke about her day at The Eatery and how the place had fared on the second day of business. The conversation was light, nothing too intense. And just doing these normal things together made him feel closer to her, closer to the baby.
A three-piece band walked onto the stage, and soon old Sinatra classics filled the dining room. The lead singer had a deep voice, his pitch-perfect tone catching the attention of everyone in the restaurant.
A few couples got up to dance. It was intimate and cozy, and the need to hold Gracie, if only for a few fleeting minutes, overpowered his good intentions. He rose from the table and offered her his hand. “Dance with me?”
Gracie glanced around the restaurant, as if measuring her options. Then she gazed at his outstretched hand and looked into his eyes. She sighed, as if losing a mental battle, and placed her hand in his.
He led her to the dance floor and took her in his arms, leaving a decent amount of space between them. It was harder than he thought, holding her and not drawing her close, not feeling her soft, supple body nestled up against his.
“Are you having a nice time?” he asked huskily.
She hesitated for a moment. “Yes.”
Their eyes met then, and he nodded. “Good. Me, too.”
“Is this another box you wanted to check off?”
“Dancing with you? I’ve thought about how we danced the night away at the ball so many times, and I can hardly believe we’re doing it again. I was convinced I’d never find you,” he whispered.
“You were shocked to find out it was me,” she whispered back.
“Surprised, yes. But I was also glad it was you.”
To his relief, Gracie began to slowly relax as they both found themselves swept up in the music. Her scent flavored the air around him, her body moved with rhythm and grace, and every so often, some part of her would touch him somewhere. Sebastian relished it all—her hair brushing his shoulder, her breasts grazing his chest, her legs teasing his thighs...
There was no doubt heat and desire had lodged between them, prickling his skin, making her skin flush. Like a slow-building fire, the longer he held her, the hotter it grew...until he felt a desperate, frenzied need to act on his impulses.
“Gracie,” he whispered in her ear. And then she snuggled his neck and lifted her head up, locking her eyes with his. There was an openness on her face that he hadn’t seen before, a sweet invitation.
He bent down and kissed her, a gentle tasting of her lips that sent him reeling. He had to remember where he was and stick to his promise to keep it chaste tonight. But she indulged in the kiss, keeping a tight grip on his neck as their lips brushed again. He wanted so much more from her. If only he could keep holding her and kissing her all night long. If only he could weave his fingers through her long, shiny hair, and inhale her delicious scent. If only he could make love to her again. Knowing full well who she was.
When the song ended, their eyes met again, searching, pondering and then silently acknowledging their incredible chemistry.
He cleared his throat. “Looks like Chef is ready to serve dessert,” he said, as Tony came out personally with a dish of Italian pastries. “We shouldn’t keep him waiting.”
“Uh...no,” she agreed, a little breathless. “We shouldn’t.”
He took her hand, leading her back to the table, and then greeted the chef again. The pastries were out-of-this-world appetizing. Yet, no matter how delectable the dessert, tonight nothing would match the taste of Gracie’s lips on his.
Four
After Sebastian walked her to her front door, Gracie put the key in the lock, realizing this was a pivotal moment for the two of them. If she invited him in, she was pretty sure what would happen. And she didn’t know if she was ready for that. She didn’t know if she could forgo all of her misgivings about getting romantically involved with him.
This date tonight was a chance to get to know each other
better. It was a way to find out who they both were. She wasn’t that mystery woman any longer. And he wasn’t her mysterious lover. That fantasy was over; she now had to deal with the real-life Sebastian. Was he someone she could let into her life? Her child’s life?
Tonight had been scary good. Sebastian had been a perfect gentleman, except maybe for the kiss on the dance floor. She had to be honest with herself, though—it wasn’t all his doing. She’d wanted him to hold her close, she’d wanted him to kiss her again. The emotion wrapped up in their encounter had been mind-blowing, so she couldn’t fault him for something she’d subtly invited.
“I had a great time tonight,” he said. “I hope you did, too.”
She spun around to face him. Oh, boy, her fifteen-year-old self would hardly believe she’d actually gone on a date with Sebastian Wingate. That he was actually pursuing her. But she wasn’t fifteen anymore. And things were different now.
“I did. It was...fun.”
He nodded, his eyes gleaming. “I want to see you again.”
She figured. And the idea wasn’t making her stomach ache.
He went on, “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“I plan to be at The Eatery helping out. I’ll be doing the books.”
“Will it take all day?”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I have something in mind. Can you clear up your afternoon?”
“I...think so.”
“Great, I’ll pick you up at two. And dress casual, although you do look amazing tonight.” His gaze moved over her, a quick glint of approval, and a river of heat rushed down her body. “But tomorrow, just jeans and a jacket.”
“Aren’t you going to tell me what we’re doing?”
“No, you’re just going to have to trust me. Can you do that?”
She slanted him a look. “I’ll...try.”
“Great,” he said, leaning forward and giving her a little peck on the cheek. “Sleep well, Gracie.”
“You...too,” she murmured, somewhat dumbfounded. But before she could utter another word, Sebastian had already turned away and was walking to his car.
So much for worrying about putting him off. She didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. With Sebastian, her heart always warred with her head. But when it came down to their date, this was by far the best one she’d had...ever. But dating wasn’t the issue. She worried about blurring the lines between her deep attraction to Sebastian and doing what was right for the baby. It was something that still confused her, still caused her ill ease.
Half an hour later, after she’d had a luxurious soak in the tub, her cell phone rang. She threw her arms into the sleeves of her cozy pajamas and picked up on the third ring. “Hello.”
“Hi, it’s Sebastian.” The deep, sexy Texas drawl in his voice threw her off-kilter. Her heart began to pound.
“Hi.”
Was he calling to break their date tomorrow?
“Am I disturbing you?”
Always. Despite her caution and worry, she’d had him on her mind all evening. Her body still hummed from their date—from dancing in his arms, from laughing with him and kissing him and secretly dreaming of so much more. “No, not at all. Just got out of the tub.”
There was a long pause on his end. Dummy, why did she tell him that?
“I won’t say what I’m thinking right now.”
She chuckled. She deserved that. “Thank you.”
“Gracie, as I told you earlier, I had a great time tonight. And well, I could make something up, a reason for the call, but the truth is, I just wanted to hear your voice one last time before I turned in. Hope that’s okay.”
She was taken aback by his sincerity. “Yes, actually that’s very nice.”
“I told you I’m a nice guy.”
She paused. She knew it deep down in her bones, her instincts telling her so, but could she trust them right now? There was too much doubt and caution warring with the good stuff in her head. He could be charming, but he could also be quite ruthless. She wasn’t forgetting his ploy to hold back the sale of the estate to get what he wanted. So no, she couldn’t give him everything right now. A phone conversation, yes; other things, no. “You keep telling me that.”
“Maybe if you hear it enough, you’ll start to believe it.”
She chuckled again. “So that’s the strategy?”
“I wish I was that clever.”
“You’re not?” she asked.
“Not when it comes to you, Gracie. I’m actually a little...thrown off by you.”
She felt the same way about him. Only, he’d been throwing her off for years. He’d never shown an interest in her or given her even a little reason to flirt. She’d grown to believe she wasn’t in his league—he’d dated some high-profile women in the past—and had resigned herself to the fact that she just wasn’t up to his standards. It’d hurt her and made her feel less worthy. And so all of this sudden adulation was hard to measure. “I could say the same.”
“I never want to give you a reason to doubt me,” he admitted gruffly.
She didn’t know what to say to that. “Thank you,” she whispered, for lack of a better answer. Yet, she did still have doubts. And one late-night phone call wasn’t going to change that.
“Well, I’d better let you get some rest. Sweet dreams, Gracie,” he said softly.
“Good night, Sebastian.”
She had to admit, this man sure knew how to get what he wanted. He was chipping away at her resistance, slowly but surely.
Was he true-blue, or was it all a ploy to secure what he wanted?
* * *
Sebastian hung up with Gracie and sighed. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, the way she’d looked tonight, how it felt to hold her tight in his arms. She was so pretty, but pretty wasn’t enough. He was really trying to get to know her. She was the mother of his baby, for one. They both had an equal stake in this, but he wasn’t going to deny Gracie had the upper hand. Slowly, she was letting him in. It wasn’t fast enough for him; he wasn’t a patient man. He wanted more than one night with her. But right now, that wasn’t happening.
His cell phone rang and he glanced at the screen, puzzled to see his ex-girlfriend’s name come up. “Hello.”
“Sebastian? I’m so glad I reached you. I’ve been trying you for a few hours.”
He’d shut his phone down during his date with Gracie, wanting no interruptions or distractions. “Hi, Rhonda. How are you?”
He hadn’t seen Rhonda Pearson in over a year, but they texted from time to time. Her supermodel status had taken precedence over their relationship, and things hadn’t worked out between them. But it had been an amical breakup. “I—I need your help, Sebastian. Can we meet somewhere?”
“Now? It’s late. Can it wait?”
“It’s about L-Lonny.”
Sebastian’s nerves rattled, hearing Lonny’s name come up. There was desperation in Rhonda’s voice. “What about Lonny?”
She was raising her fifteen-year-old brother all by herself, and the boy seemed lost at times, not having the stability a teen needed. Sebastian had taken to the kid, and the boy looked up to him. Not staying in touch with Lonny was one of Sebastian’s biggest regrets. He’d planned to, but then Rhonda had thought a clean break would be better for the boy. Then Sebastian’s business had gotten into trouble and suddenly he was persona non grata. So he’d stayed away.
“He’s out of control. I don’t know what to do with him. I just need someone to talk to, you know? He’s always admired you. And well, you were really good with him.”
“Rhonda, I can meet you tomorrow night. I wish it could be sooner, but I’ve got a full day of appointments.”
“Tomorrow night is good. Thank you, Sebastian,” she said gratefully. “I want to keep this as private as possible. You know my life�
��s an open book, but not Lonny’s. I don’t want this to get out.”
“It won’t... I promise.” Damn, Sebastian had always worried about the boy. He should’ve stayed in contact with him despite his business woes. Despite Rhonda thinking severing ties would be best. That boy needed direction and focus, and Sebastian had let him down. “Come to my office at eight o’clock and we’ll talk. The place should be cleared out at that hour,” he said.
“Okay. See you then, Sebastian. And thanks again.”
* * *
The knock came precisely at two o’clock and Gracie was ready. She’d gotten home just twenty minutes ago and changed into a pair of skinny jeans. How long would she be able to wear them? Right now, the fit was perfect. She also wore a taupe ribbed sweater under a rust leather jacket and matching midlength boots.
She opened the door to Sebastian, who was dressed pretty much how she was—boots, jeans and a jacket over a tan shirt. He looked smoking hot. Her heart began to race and she mentally cursed. He hadn’t said a word yet and she was already losing it.
“Afternoon, Gracie.”
“Hi, Sebastian. You’re right on time.”
“Did you get your work done today?” he asked.
“Most of it. I brought some home to look at later.” She gestured to her attire. “Do I...need anything else?”
“You look perfect, Gracie. I have what we’ll need for the afternoon.”
She scrunched her brows, suddenly not feeling so sure about this. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
He smiled. “You’ll see. If you’re ready, let’s go.”
She locked the door behind her and he led her to his BMW. A minute later, they were heading toward the Wingate, uh, the Diaz estate. “What’re you doing?” she asked. She had no idea what he was up to.
“You are a curious thing, aren’t you?”
“Yes, when my sanity is at stake.”
“Believe me, you’re going to like this. And no more questions. Deal?”
One Night in Texas Page 6
