She plopped her elbows on the table, nestled her chin in her hands and then closed her eyes. She was completely exhausted. She’d barely slept last night, had tossed and turned for hours. When she did manage to drift off, she’d dreamed about Keelan Robinson, the rotten jerk.
In one of her stupid dreams, Keelan had been decked out in a dark suit and was spinning around the dance floor with a six-foot parrot. The bird was the same colors as Deon and she knew, just knew, that the trouble-making creature has been in subconscious cahoots with Keelan to rob her of peaceful, blissful rest.
But then the scene had shifted to misty clearing in a wooded area. The trees had leaves of glittering silver that sparkled and shimmered like a million stars. Keelan was still wearing the dark suit, but this time she was his dance partner, emerging from the circle of magical trees in a gorgeous, full-length dress to step into his embrace.
Nataleigh exhaled softly as she allowed the dream to replay in her mind like a movie. What a beautiful couple they made as they danced to music that floated over them from a source unknown. Even now, in the light of the new day, she could recall the heat of passion that had swept through her in the dream, and could vividly recall the desire reflected within Keelan’s compelling dark brown eyes as he kept his searing gaze upon her.
He’d lowered his head and she’d known, and gloried in the fact, that he was about to claim her lips in what would be a searing kiss. Closer and closer his mouth had come to hers. Closer and closer and then…
“I woke up,” Nataleigh grumbled, opening her eyes and hitting the table with the palm of one hand. “Darn it. No, forget it. I wouldn’t want to kiss that over opinionated, rude man anyway.”
Keelan Robinson was a major distraction. He was totally wrecking havoc on her peace of mind. Yes, her quiet lunch in the park yesterday had soothed her jumbled nerves regarding the angry outburst from the students at Carter high.
She understood why she’d upset the teenagers, although she still felt it wasn’t her fault. Someone should have informed her about what to say, or not to say, before being thrown in front of the hostile crowd. Honestly, she couldn’t remember a time when she would have reacted the way those students had yesterday. However, the students of this generation were on an entirely different thought processing level than she’d ever been.
Regardless, this was a live and learn sort of situation. What she wanted to do right now more than anything was to put the disastrous event behind her. Yet the image of Keelan refused to be vanquished from brain. The living room furniture was eye-catching dark chocolate. A deep coloring that reminded her of Keelan’s intense eyes. She closed her eyes and groaned at the thought. This was usually one of her favorite times of the day in her little abode, with the morning sun shining in through the sparking clean windows, touching everything with a warm, golden glow.
But not today.
Not with the thoughts of Keelan Robinson still plaguing her, seeming so close, so real, she might as well offer him a cup of coffee.
Anger bubbled up within her at the ridiculous thought. Why couldn’t she just forget about Keelan and the memories of the fiasco at the school? Why could she still feel that incredible heat that swept through her when their hands brushed against each other? Why could she hear the rumble of his sexy chuckle, see those breathtaking chocolate-covered eyes, his wide shoulders, muscled legs and that gorgeous tush—that Deon had bitten? Why did Keelan have such a distracting, lingering, sensual affect on her?
“Heck if I know,” Nataleigh murmured aloud, then drank the last of her coffee. “But I’ve had enough of this ridiculous nonsense. So stop wasting my time and get out of my brain.”
“Great,” she muttered, getting to her feet. “Now you actually have me talking out loud to myself. Way to go, Keelan.”
Yet, none of it truly mattered. She was on her way to work to spend the day with kind, wonderful animals who wouldn’t do, or say anything to mess up her current thought process anymore than it already was.
As long as she managed to stay away from Deon.
A short time later, she arrived at the clinic. Mercifully, it was busy. The appointment book fully scheduled. When the noon hour approached, a frantic woman came rushing in the door with a small whining dog bundled in a fluffy towel. The canine proceeded to calmly deliver four puppies on one of the examining tables. Nataleigh had to wave an ammonia stick beneath the woman’s nose to keep her from dropping into a dead faint.
Sylvia went to lunch and Nataleigh settled into the receptionist chair to answer the phone for the next hour. Emmitt and Janice came up behind Nataleigh to take a look at the appointment book that would tell them what was on the agenda for the afternoon. The bell over the door chimed as someone entered the office.
“Oh, Emmitt,” Janice said, “are those for me? What’s the occasion? Did I forget something important? Aren’t the flowers beautiful?”
“Well, I…um…” Emmitt stammered.
The deliveryman placed a vase of variously brightly colored flowers on the counter, then looked at the paper on the clipboard he carried.
“Nataleigh Brown?” he asked.
Nataleigh’s head jerked around and her eyes widened as she got a better look at the exquisite bouquet. She stood slowly and moved toward the counter. “These are for me? Are you sure?”
“Yes,” the deliveryman responded, “if you’re Nataleigh Brown.”
“I have never received flowers before,” Nataleigh murmured with a frown.
“Well, someone has sent you flowers now,” Janice retorted, grinning. In the next instant, she elbowed Emmitt on the arm. “Hey, mister, why aren’t they for me from you?”
“I knew—was going to get in trouble,” Emmitt grumbled, rolling his eyes. “I just knew it.”
Nataleigh signed the paper on the line the man pointed to, then the deliveryman left the office, whistling off-key. Nataleigh buried her nose in the elegant blossoms and inhaled deeply. So lovely,” she whispered. “They smell so good.”
“Nataleigh, if you don’t open the card,” Janice said, with a tone hinting at impatience. “I’m going pitch a fit. I can only take so much curiosity before I am ready to snap.”
“Dear, wife, did you stop to think that the identity of Nataleigh’s admirer is none of our business?”
“Oh please. Don’t be silly,” Janice responded, followed by a sniff. “Nataleigh’s a part of our family. Therefore, it is most definitely our business. Nataleigh, the card, dear.”
Emmitt chuckled and shook his head.
Nataleigh pulled the small white envelope free of the plastic pronged stick and withdrew the card. Oh, my,” she whispered, feeling a warm flush stain her cheeks.
“Are you blushing, Nataleigh?” Janice peeked over Nataleigh’s shoulder and read the message on the card aloud. “I’m sorry. Dinner? I’ll call you. Keelan. Keelan? Who’s Keelan? What is he apologizing for?”
“Keelan Robinson?” Emmitt asked. “From David W. Carter High School?”
“Well, I…um, yes, I…” Nataleigh stammered.
“What’s he sorry about?” Janice questioned, a protective expression taking over her features. “What did he do to you that you didn’t tell us about?”
“Nothing,” Nataleigh responded quickly. “We had a disagreement of sorts over my speech. You know, my telling the students how much Deon is worth and that his owners are traveling the world. Keelan has some very strong opinions about…a few things, that’s all.” Like her working for the Sanders, Nataleigh thought, and catering to the wealthy, and so on and so on.
“Oh,” Janice murmured. “Well, your Keelan clearly feels bad about your argument.”
“He’s not mine,” Nataleigh protested quickly, the flush on her cheeks deepening.
“Just a figure of speech,” Janice responded. “Is Keelan attractive?”
“Gorgeous,” Nataleigh replied. “What I meant is, he’s…he’s good-looking in a masculine, rugged, yet handsome… Oh, I so need to stop while I’m ahead.
”
“Well, now. Isn’t that interesting,” Janice murmured. “Very interesting indeed. Keelan, huh? Yes, very good. I hope he takes you to a nice restaurant as a part of his apology. What are you going to wear?”
“I didn’t say that I was going to accept Keelan’s invitation to go out.”
“Why wouldn’t you?” Janice asked, her brows arching high on her forehead.
“Because we have such opposite views about quite a few things. All we would end up doing is arguing,” Nataleigh stated in a low tone, placing the florist card back into the envelope. And because she could still remember the startling heat that had swirled with her, then lingered for so long after Keelan’s hand had brushed hers. Because when she looked into those incredible eyes of his, she felt as though she was drowning in their depths. Because Keelan Robinson did tricky little things to her sense of rational self, made her too acutely aware of her own femininity compared to his blatant sensual masculinity, it was discombobulating to say the least.
“Then just avoid talking about those issues,” Janice replied in a low tone as she reached for a pen.
“Excuse me?” Nataleigh blinked as the words pulled her attention from her scrambled thoughts.
“Hmm, you are really out of it today. Keelan Robinson has you going in circles, doesn’t he?”
“Oh please. He does not.” Nataleigh protested with a scowl. “I don’t even like him.”
“Only because the two of you got off to a shaky start,” Janice responded with a smile. “So avoid talking about stuff like how much Deon cost and what have you. Don’t mention any of the topics that you don’t see eye to eye on and enjoy a lovely evening out with a gorgeous man as you put it.”
“Believe me when I say that really wouldn’t be a good idea,” Nataleigh muttered.
“Of course it is,” Janice stated. “You’re dating a full-time working grad student and a law student, both of who are dead tired and too broke. When they do remember that you exist and offer to take you out, it is for fast food of some sort or to an event that’s cheap or free. They aren’t keepers in the least.”
They’re safe!
While Nataleigh would never say the words aloud, it was the main reason why her dating life was in such sad shape. Both men were focused on achieving their career goals, had no long-term plans when it came to her. They simply enjoyed her company when they managed to squeeze a few hours free from their busy schedules.
But Keelan Robinson? He was dangerous.
He was the sort of man who could rend a woman speechless and unable to think clearly. It wasn’t hard to imagine waking up in Keelan’s arms after a wondrous night of lovemaking and wondering how in the world she had gotten there.
Keelan could cause daydreams to become dreams of deep heartfelt yearning of a home and beautiful baby girls with dark hair and eyes.
Oh, yes, Keelan was very, very dangerous.
“Nataleigh? Hello?” Janice pause, emitting a chuckle. “You’ve drifted off again.”
“What? Oh. No, I was just thinking.”
“Good. I assume you are contemplating what you are going to wear on your dinner date with Keelan.”
“Janice,” Emmitt interrupted with a smile. “Leave the poor girl alone already. Why would Nataleigh want to spend the evening with a man she doesn’t like?”
“Well, in all fairness,” Nataleigh intervened, “that is a rather harsh statement, I guess. I certainly don’t like his attitude about…some things and he was very grouchy and pretty much rude, but I did create a disaster at the assembly and I suppose that’s enough to grate anyone’s nerves because you wouldn’t believe how unruly those students became in the blink of an eye. Of course, it wasn’t all my fault because no one told me what to say, let alone what not to say. Then again—am I babbling?”
Janice and Emmitt nodded in unison.
Nataleigh released a pent-up breath. “I thought I might be. Look, I need to think this over. Keelan said on the card that he would call about the dinner date. I’ll use the time until he calls to mull it over, sort out the pros and cons, the—”
The telephone rang.
Nataleigh was so startled by the sudden shrill sound that she nearly dropped the little white envelope.
Emmitt answered the phone. “Sanders Veterinary Clinic,” he stated cheerfully into the mouthpiece. “Nataleigh Brown? Why, yes, she is right here, Keelan.”
Nataleigh’s eyes widened and her heart began to beat in an erratic tempo. “I haven’t had a chance to think this over yet,” she whispered frantically to Janice. “I can’t talk to him now. Tell him I died and to call back later.”
Emmitt covered the phone as a throaty chuckle escaped him.
Janice just shook her head, clear amusement on her face. “No, you go talk to him now. This way is better. You were going to wear yourself out with your thinking it over. Listen to what Keelan has to say, then go with your instincts.”
“I am a hundred percent positive that I was absent the day good instincts were passed out, especially those of the feminine sort. I don’t have any.”
“Of course you do, dear. You just need to dust them off and use them.”
“Nataleigh?” Emmitt said, holding out the receiver to her.
Nataleigh took the receiver, looked pointedly at Emmitt and Janice, then sighed when she realized they weren’t going to leave to allow her some privacy. “Hello?” she mumbled into the receiver, hoping her voice hadn’t really sounded as close to Deon’s pitch as it seemed to.
“Nataleigh? This is Keelan Robinson. Did you receive the flowers?”
“Yes, they just arrived a few minutes ago and they are very lovely. Thank you.”
“Well, I truly am sorry I was so tough on you. Flowers can’t erase my behavior, but I hope you’ll accept them as my attempt at an apology.”
This is so not fair.
On top of all his other attributes, Keelan was now literally oozing gentlemanly charm.
“Yes, I do. But to be truthful, I flew off the handle a little myself during our…discussion. That isn’t usually the way I conduct myself. So, I apologize to you as well. I hope you will accept mine, too.”
Take that, Keelan Robinson, she thought smugly. Tit for tat. A serving of saccharine charm given for one received.
“I most definitely do accept. Now we can start over with a clean slate. I like that. It means our dinner will be even more pleasant.”
“Oh, no, that isn’t necessary. I assumed that the dinner invitation was just another part of your apology. Since I have accepted your apology and you mine, there is no need now.”
“Nataleigh,” Janice whispered fervently, “you’re blowing your chance. Treat the dinner as a separate thing.”
Nataleigh glared at Janice.
“No, you misunderstood my invitation,” Keelan stated. “It is separate from my apology.”
Nataleigh took the receiver from her ear for a second, stared at it, then at a beaming Janice as though Keelan and Janice were communicating somehow through the device. She pressed the receiver back to ear. “Oh,” she murmured.
“Dinner? This is Wednesday, so say Saturday night?”
Nataleigh frowned. “Why?”
“So we can get to know each other better over a nice meal instead of a combat zone. We can go somewhere special, have a wonderful evening together.
“Um…” Nataleigh replied slowly.
“Seven o’clock?”
“I guess that would be—”
“Excellent. What’s your address?”
Nataleigh heard herself rattle off her address, bid Keelan a pleasant goodbye, then watched her hand replace the receiver. “Why in the world did I do that?” she asked, ignoring Janice’s cheer of approval. “Why on earth did I do that?”
* * * *
Keelan stared at the telephone on the wall in his kitchen. What did I just do? He blinked slowly. What the hell did I just do?
He shook his head, looked down at his watch and got to his feet.
He’d gone to his house to use the telephone during his lunch hour and needed to get back to the school. He grabbed a pear from the bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter and left the house.
As he made the short drive back to the school, chomping on the fruit, he knew he was frowning at his decision-making abilities or rather the lack of rational ones in regard to Nataleigh Brown.
All he’d set out to do was satisfy his nagging conscious about yelling at her. Then for reasons he couldn’t begin to explain, he’d added the query Dinner? to the florist car.
“Why?” he asked aloud, then took another bite of the pear. And if that wasn’t confusing enough, he talked nonstop to convince Nataleigh she should accept his invitation. The apologies on both their parts made their disagreement null and void. Dinner wasn’t necessary to mend fences.
A knot had twisted in his stomach when he heard Nataleigh hesitate, inform him that dinner wasn’t needed to smooth the situation over. Like an adolescent who was besotted by the popular, pretty girl, he’d panicked for several heartbeats over the realization that Nataleigh might actually refuse his invitation.
“I’m losing my mind,” Keelan murmured as he pulled into an empty parking spot.
Nataleigh Brown wasn’t even his type, not even close. His determination to see her again was insane, absurd, didn’t make any sense at all. And equally as puzzling was the fact that he couldn’t avoid the truth of the knowledge that he was really looking forward to his dinner date with Nataleigh on Saturday night.
“Strange,” he mumbled as he entered the school, tossing the core of the pear into the trash. “Very strange.”
“Hey, Coach,” a boy yelled, “you wanna a cracker?”
Keelan chuckled and raised one hand in acknowledgement of the razzing. The students were still having a field day with having witnessed Coach Robinson being bitten on the butt by Deon, the Killer Parrot. He was being a good sport about it, as it wasn’t everyday of the week that student caught an authority figure at an embarrassing disadvantage. He’d let them have their fun until the kids grew bored and they moved on to something else.
Hard to Resist Page 4
