The corners of his mouth curled upward. He sure as hell hoped Nataleigh didn’t bring that bird along as a bodyguard on their date.
* * * *
Throughout the remainder of the week, Janice pestered Nataleigh unmercifully about what Nataleigh was going to wear on her date with Keelan. Her continued efforts to shrug Janice off only resulted in bouts of eye-rolling frustration from Janice. On Friday morning, Janice cornered Nataleigh as she was cleaning Deon’s cage.
“You’re out of time, Nataleigh. Your date is tomorrow night and you still haven’t decided on what you’re wearing. You should go out on your lunch hour and purchase a gorgeous new dress.”
“My current budget doesn’t allow for a gorgeous new dress,” Nataleigh murmured, filling one of the dog’s water bowls.
Janice eyebrows drew together in consternation. “Really? Are we not paying you enough? Goodness, Nataleigh, why did you say something before now? We’ll sit down with Emmitt and discuss giving you a raise. I mean every woman’s budget should allow for new clothes on a special night out.”
Nataleigh laughed. “What if a woman has a special night every night? Could get rather expensive, don’t you think?”
Janice scowled at her. “I’m serious.”
“Janice,” Nataleigh responded, her smile fading as she turned to face her boss, “you and Emmitt pay me a very generous salary, and you’ve give me semi-annual raises. I can’t complain in the least in that department.”
“Then why can’t you buy a new dress? I find it hard to believe that you have a gambling addiction or whatever. Right, Deon?”
“Right, Deon,” the bird said, waddling along the table. “You’re gorgeous. Give me the bird, Keelan.”
“Quiet down, Deon. You are already on Nataleigh’s bad side.”
Nataleigh exhaled heavily. “It’s not that dramatic. You know I have a younger brother and sister.”
“Yes, one is a freshman at University of Texas of Arlington, the other a sophomore.”
“And UTA is a relatively expensive school to attend. Angela and Devon have part-time jobs at a restaurant, but it is difficult to work very many hours and keep your grades up. Believe me, I know. I’ve been there.”
“Can’t your folk’s help out?”
“Oh, they do. Our parents are wonderful, but my mom is a receptionist and my dad drives a public city bus. There has never been money for a lot of extras. So, I…well, I stretch my budget to include money for some of Angela’s and Devon’s school expenses.”
“Why didn’t you tell me any of this before now? You have been with us for what…over three years now. You’ve said you have a close-knit family you adore. That’s it. Nothing else. I didn’t have a clue that funds are so tight for you.”
Nataleigh shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. That’s just the way it’s always been. That’s why I’m a veterinary technician and not a full-fledged veterinarian.”
“I see,” Janice murmured. “I owe you an apology for nagging you about buying a new dress. I had no idea that—I’m sorry.”
“Oh, please, don’t worry about it. Look, I have a nice dress in my closet that is perfect for tomorrow night. Everything will be fine. Besides, a dinner date with grumpy Keelan isn’t exactly a moment of a lifetime. It truly isn’t a big deal.”
Yeah right.
Nataleigh wished the butterflies in her stomach would get that memo. She’d become increasingly nervous about tomorrow night as the days passed since her telephone conversation with Keelan. She just wanted the evening ahead to be over and to be safely back in her comfortable and modest apartment.
“Well, I hope you have a great time on your date with Keelan. I’m sure the outfit you have planned to wear is nice. Just promise me you will try to have a good time.”
“I will.” The instant the words left her mouth, Nataleigh realized just how much she meant them.
Chapter Four
The next night, Nataleigh stood in front of the full-length mirror mounted on the back of her bedroom door and resisted the urged to roll her eyes and stick her tongue out at her reflection. But it wouldn’t help her to relax. Not in the way she needed to. What was wrong with her? The last thing she needed to do was get herself so worked up that she couldn’t function properly on this date.
She turned to the side, continuing to study herself. Tilting her head to the side, she frowned. While the dress had seemed like the perfect thing to wear in her mind, now that she had it on, she disagreed.
Exhaling deeply, she glanced at her watch. She needed to change and didn’t have much time to do it. Nataleigh rushed to her closet and opened the door.
Think, she ordered herself, shoving the hangers aside and trying to calm her racing thoughts. “Hurry up, Nataleigh,” she murmured. “You’re running out of time.”
The corners of her mouth curved upward as she came across an outfit she knew would work. She changed clothes quickly. When she returned to the front of the mirror, she was much happier with the results. Another glance at her watch told her she had a few minutes to spare. Just enough time for her to sit down, relax and get her heart rate to return to normal.
She walked into her living room and sat down on the couch. She took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself. A task she was successful at until a sharp rap on the door echoed through the quiet space of her living room. She jumped to her feet. She stood still for a moment, willing her racing heart to return to a normal tempo. After taking several deep breaths, she managed to produce a polite smile, then crossed the room to answer the door.
* * * *
Keelan stood in front of Nataleigh’s door in a state of confusion. When he’d entered the courtyard of the apartment complex and looked around, the three-story structure was simple. He’d checked the numbers as he walked up the sidewalk.
Weird, he thought, as he took the stairs to the second floor where her apartment was nestled. He’d expected Nataleigh to live in a bigger and newer apartment building. While the one she resided in wasn’t in bad shape, one couldn’t camouflage all of the usage of an older building. After all, she was a certified professional who was employed by an uptown veterinarian. Her career and probably consequent income certainly didn’t match her choice of residence.
Well, when he thought about it, that statement was true in regard to where he lived, as well. But Nataleigh didn’t see eye-to-eye on that subject, as evidenced by the argument they’d had. Still, he had to admit the more he learned about her, the more she intrigued him. His internal musing was interrupted when the door swung open and Nataleigh appeared.
Keelan opened his mouth to greet her, only to close it again in the next instant when he realized he suddenly had no air in his lungs.
Her dark hair surrounded her face in a halo of soft curls that enhanced her delicate features. Her eyes appeared bigger, brighter. Her lips were accentuated with a tinted gloss and begged to be kissed.
And, oh man, what was she wearing? He bit back a groan as desire surged through him. She was the flawless example of alluring. The vanilla scoop neck sweater molded around perfect breasts he never would have guessed existed from their first meeting. Then again, he had been distracted.
Almost as much as he was right now. Her sweater had the ability to send a man over the edge, playing an enticing game of peek-a-boo that was bound to have his jaw clenched the entire night.
Nataleigh had paired the top with a pair of chocolate-colored slacks that contoured to the feminine slope of her hips to perfection and had added high heel shoes, which made her slender legs seem to go on forever. Oh, man, he was dying, right there in the doorway of her apartment.
“Keelan?”
“Huh?” He cleared his throat. “Yes, hello. Good evening. How are you? You look…you look stunning, Nataleigh.”
“Well, thank you,” she said, then cleared her throat in what seemed to be nervousness. “Would you like to come in?”
“Sure.” Keelan stepped into the living room and Nataleigh closed
the door behind him. This was going to be a very interesting night.
* * * *
Nataleigh took a deep breath, trying to buy herself some time to recover from the impact of Keelan entering her apartment. He looked good in the black button down oxford and charcoal dress pants. No, the man was gorgeous. Her hands itched to reach out and caress his shoulders. To find out if they were as solid as they looked underneath his shirt. Oh, sweet mercy, she had to pull herself together.
“You have a nice place,” he stated, as he glanced around.
She wondered if he really liked her small but immaculate apartment or if he was just being polite.
“I like it,” she stated, turning to face him. “It’s warm and cozy. More importantly, it’s mine. My first apartment.”
“Did you live at home while you were attending college?”
“Yes. My younger brother and sister are at home as well. My brother is a sophomore and my sister a freshman at the University of Texas at Arlington. My parents are almost beside themselves at the fact that all three of their children have gone to college.”
He smiled. “And they should be. Do both of your parents work?”
“Yes. Why?”
“No reason.” He shrugged. “I’m just making conversation. Are you ready to go? I made reservations.”
“Yes. Just let me get my purse.” She rushed across the room and into her bedroom, taking care to step out of Keelan’s viewpoint when she entered the room. Pressing one hand to her chest, she drew in a steadying breath.
She looked stunning, Keelan had said. She held back the laughter that threatened to bubble up to the surface. She couldn’t believe she’d caused a man like him to fumble over himself, even if it was brief. After she grabbed her purse, she rejoined him in the living room. She really hoped they could make it through the night without any issues.
It didn’t take her long to lock up and a short time later, she and Keelan walked along the sidewalk edging the courtyard in her apartment complex. He informed her that he made reservation at a restaurant nestled in Highland Park off Turtle Creek.
She nodded, but remained silent as she recognized the name of the establishment as one of the area’s most exclusive places to dine, and one she most certainly had never been to. She smiled inwardly, glad she had changed her attire. This outfit was more appropriate.
The car Keelan assisted her into was a black sleek sports car that was obviously very new. She wiggled further into the soft bucket seat and inhaled the pleasant aroma of the new car. “It smells so good in here,” she murmured, as Keelan pulled away from the curb.
He chuckled. “That’s it? My car smells nice? Now I’m sure a woman as astute as yourself would have read at least one magazine article that said a man’s vehicle is his favorite toy, his most prized possession and that he expects a woman to praise it greatly.”
“No, I guess I must have missed that.” She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “I’m more inclined to wonder whether you’re concerned about a car as valuable as yours being stolen from the neighborhood in which you live.”
He laughed. “See you are observant. I rent a garage space several blocks up from where I live. Oh, and for the record…I’m not berserk over this car. I simply like to drive something with enough control and power to allow me to maneuver easily in heavy traffic.” He paused. “The streets of Dallas are always congested and it gets worse as time goes by. Don’t you get nervous in your van?”
She shrugged. “Not really. It gets me where I need to go…in one piece. My brother and father keep my van in as good as condition as possible. There’s no sense in complaining over something I can’t do anything about.”
Keelan looked at her, then quickly returned his attention to the road. “You have a very easygoing…for the lack of a better word…attitude about things, don’t you?”
She laughed.
He shifted slightly in his seat with a frown.
The action made her nervous, but she did her best not to let it show. “That’s a nice way of putting it,” she murmured. “My brother can’t stand my constant good outlook on life either. He always tells me that he wants to see me flip my lid at least one time.”
Keelan laughed.
Nataleigh shot him a glare he didn’t see, mentally telling him that the sexy sound should be outlawed and he needed to stop.
“Being a positive person isn’t a bad thing,” he replied, “as long as you keep that frame of mind in its proper perspective.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if it’s too automatic, you could give up too easily, accept things as they are, live within the status quo before you have to. If you even have to. You might actually do more, have more, if you tried.”
“I guess that’s a reasonable theory, but only to those it applies to.”
“Does it not apply to you?”
“Mr. Robinson, I assume you are going somewhere with this,” she responded, a slight edge to her voice. “But I’m missing it. Why don’t you just come right out and tell me what it is you are trying to say?”
He exhaled softly. “I’m sorry. We are heading down a wrong path again—a collision course with an argument waiting to erupt. Ignore what I said.” He cleared his throat. “So, Ms. Brown, did you happen to notice all of the stars in the sky tonight? Very pretty.”
Her intention to get clarification of the hidden meaning behind the comments Keelan had made, demand an explanation, was pushed aside by his attempt to change the subject. Although he did have a good point. The night sky was beautiful. Even with the bright city lights, she could make out most of the stars. More importantly, she didn’t want to argue with Keelan again. She was on the way to a wonderful restaurant in the company of an extremely gorgeous man. Even though she had never dined at such an establishment, she was going to hold her own tonight.
If there were ever a Cinderella moment in her life, tonight was it. Her fairy godmother had appeared with a magical wand in hand. No, she didn’t intend to have any disagreements with Keelan. She was going to relish every minute of the night ahead, even if she was entering a world where she’d never been, nor probably would ever go again.
During the rest of the drive to the restaurant, she chatted comfortably with Keelan about a bestselling book that was about to be released as a movie, the ever changing weather and the local sports teams.
With each passing mile, she became more relaxed, allowing the mental image in her mind of being Cinderella in a fairytale land to settle over her completely. She was content, but a growing sense of anticipation and excitement rushed through her at all the possibilities that lay ahead.
In some ways, she felt like she was dreaming as Keelan turned into the parking lot of the restaurant. After handing the keys over to a valet, Keelan led her inside where they were greeted immediately by a hostess. A short time later, they were seated at a cloth-covered table with a lovely centerpiece. A well-dressed waiter appeared, handed them an oversized menu and announced he would return shortly.
As Keelan studied the selections, she took inventory of the large, yet intimate area. Exquisite, she thought. Everything was so special, so beautiful. There were sparkling, crystal chandlers handing from the ceiling, the table were arranged to allow for privacy, the other patrons dressed in attire that made it clear this wasn’t your average restaurant.
There was a sense of mystical make-believe about it all, like a movie set where everyone had been put in place to perform a magical role with precision.
Keelan sat his menu to the side, folded his arms over his chest and looked at her. She tried to reign in some of her delight. It was hard to do as her eyes made one more sweep of the room, cataloging and memorizing everything she saw.
She hadn’t ever been to a restaurant this expensive and classy. Why? Because she couldn’t afford it. Nor could the men she tended to date. Still, she had always secretly desired to go a live theater performance or attend a symphony. Maybe she would sometime, but for right now,
being here was enough.
While she usually dealt in a world of reality, tonight seemed to be strictly for her imagination. Her gaze traveled across the table. Keelan was a nice guy, but he definitely wasn’t Prince Charming. She needed to let that fairytale go and look at this evening for what it truly was—an offering of peace. Nothing more. The waiter reappeared at the table.
“Nataleigh, have you decided what you would like to have for dinner?”
“Hmm?” She blinked slowly, then comprehended Keelan’s question. “Oh. No, I’m sorry. I haven’t even picked up the menu. I’ll just have what you’re having.”
“Are you sure? You can take as much time as you need to decide.”
“No, no, your suggestion will be fine. Just pick fish or poultry and you can’t go wrong. I’m sure our waiter has enough to do without having to come back to our table to get my order.”
Keelan gave a brief nod, selected a wine, then requested prime rib for himself and a fancy sounding tilapia dish for her. She spread the dark blue linen napkin on her lap, smoothing it into place. The beautiful napkin was made of material finer than any tablecloth she had ever owned, or her mother for that matter. No matter how exhausted her mom had been after hours of hard work, she’d always set a pretty table for the family’s evening meal. How excited her mother would be to have linen napkins like this one.
“Nataleigh, are you okay?”
Nataleigh’s head jerked upward and she smiled. “Oh, yes, I’m fine. I was just admiring this beautiful napkin.”
Keelan frowned. “The napkin?”
“This material is lovely. Don’t you think this is a gorgeous shade of blue? The color blends perfectly with all the other décor in the room.”
Keelan placed his palms on the table and leaned slightly toward her. “You’re serious aren’t you?”
Hard to Resist Page 5
