All That I Need (Grayson Friends) (3 page)

“It will get done.” The words were clipped, final.

Fallon believed him. Lance wasn’t a man who impressed her as tolerating excuses—and that included himself. “Then you deserve a night to relax. Have you eaten here before?”

“No. I spent summers here growing up, but I haven’t been back since I graduated from college.” He glanced around the crowded restaurant. “Brandon has done well for himself. I hear the food is delicious, but I guess you can tell from the long line and the restaurant being booked.”

“I’ve seldom tasted better,” she told him. “One of the first stories I did on Santa Fe was on the Red Cactus.”

“How long have you been a travel writer?” he asked.

“Since my junior year at college,” she related. “I get to travel to exciting places and get paid for it.”

His dark head tilted to one side. “But I don’t think money is your motivating reason.”

Surprised delight swept through her. “It’s not.”

“Your drinks. I’m Shawn. I’ll be your waiter.” A tall, slender man dressed in a white shirt and black pants placed the glasses in front of them and took out a pad and pencil. “Are you ready to order or do you need a few more minutes?”

“Fallon?”

“I already know I want the triple sampler and the onion rings, but I don’t think you’ve had time to study the menu.” Fallon closed her menu.

Lance opened the menu, briefly glanced at it, and said, “I’ll have the porterhouse, medium, with a baked potato, butter only, asparagus, and house salad with ranch dressing.” Lance handed the man his menu.

Frowning, Fallon followed suit. “How did you do that?”

“Speed-reading.” Lance picked up his drink. “So what drives you?”

She realized two things: Lance didn’t want to talk about himself, and there was definitely more to him than his sexy good looks. “Growing up in Austin, I dreamed of being a news correspondent and traveling all over the world.” Her fingers closed around the stem of the glass. “When that didn’t work out, this sort of just happened when a magazine wanted a fresh article on Austin. The story led to another and another. By the time I graduated from college, I had logged a lot of miles on my mother’s car and written over fifty articles. I like traveling and discovering things people might have overlooked. After graduation, I just kept going and writing.”

“Where were you before you came here?” he asked.

“Where the rich and famous play, Martha’s Vineyard.” She laughed. “Besides the historic fishing villages, it has breezy beaches, adorable towns, delicious food. The lobster was out of this world.”

He gazed at her over his glass. “The wealthy are here as well. Is that what drew you?”

“No,” she answered. She would not be miffed with him. “People and places draw me. Martha’s Vineyard and here can be expensive, but both can be enjoyed by families on a budget, one of the things I take great care to point out.”

He placed his glass aside. “You’re different.”

“Good or bad?” she asked.

“I haven’t figured it out,” he said, staring at her intently.

Butterflies took flight in Fallon’s stomach. She reminded herself that she was leaving in less than a week and hoped she listened.

“Your food.” The waiter served them both. “Is there anything else I can get either of you?”

“Fallon?”

Fallon mentally shook herself and looked at her plate. “I’m good.”

“Same here. Thanks.”

Fallon tucked her head to bless the food, then reminded herself this was a thank-you dinner. Finished, she reached for her quesadilla and took a generous bite. Moaned. Savored. She did love good food. When she opened her eyes Lance was staring at her. The heat in his eyes almost singed her. He wasn’t being distant now.

He broke contact first and reached for his knife and fork. “Why didn’t the news correspondent dream work out?”

Fallon wondered how he could revert back to being impersonal after eating her with his eyes, then realized it took practice. But why would he have learned such self-control? Her natural curiosity to see what others didn’t kicked in.

He looked up when she didn’t answer. “I hope I’m not being too personal.”

She reached for her drink. She sipped and studied him over the rim of her highball glass. He didn’t fidget, just kept her gaze. That took practice as well. There was definitely more to Lance than met the eye. Perhaps he deserved the whole story, but not tonight. “Something tells me you wouldn’t care if you were.”

The corners of his sensual mouth quirked. “How is your food?”

“Delicious.”

“That’s always good to hear.”

Fallon glanced up to see Brandon Grayson, owner of the Red Cactus, a wide grin on his handsome face. “You couldn’t cook a bad dish if you tried.”

Brandon’s grin widened. “If you ever have trouble getting a table, ask the hostess to find me.”

“I’ll do that,” Fallon said, pleased. She’d met Lance and Brandon at a late luncheon at his wife’s family-owned hotel,
Casa de Serenidad
.

Brandon shook Lance’s outstretched hand. “Good seeing you again.”

Lance nodded toward Fallon. “Thank Fallon. She suggested we eat here.”

“But Lance was smart enough to get reservations,” she said, amused. “So this is a joint effort.”

“Faith taught me that two is always better than one.” Brandon glanced between Lance and Fallon.

Fallon hoped she wasn’t blushing. She didn’t dare look at Lance. “Your wife is wonderful. Naomi is so excited about the wedding reception at her hotel. She still can’t believe she and Richard were able to obtain one of the smaller ballrooms.”

“Nothing Faith likes better than planning events for special friends and family.” Brandon shook his dark head, the long braid hanging down his back moving sensuously. “She, Mama, and Catherine were on the phone early this morning talking about place settings and flower arrangements for the tables.”

“This morning Richard and Naomi were going over the final guest list,” Fallon said. “His parents arrived yesterday, and tonight they’re going over it to finalize everything.”

“It will be good seeing Uncle Leo and Aunt Gladys again. When we talked last night, they sounded just as happy as always,” Lance mused. “I bet they never thought they’d come home to find Richard planning his wedding.”

Fallon’s brow lifted. “You sound as if you never expected him to get married.”

“Marriage isn’t for everyone,” Lance said, the amusement gone from his face.

“Maybe not for everyone, but I’m glad I found Faith,” Brandon told them. “Enjoy your dinner.”

Fallon picked up a taco but watched Lance. If she didn’t miss her guess, there was a certain woman in Lance’s past and it hadn’t ended pretty. Fallon continued eating for a bit but couldn’t resist asking, “You don’t approve of Richard marrying?”

“I never said that.” He polished off his steak and shoved the plate aside, his annoyance obvious. “I haven’t gotten a chance to know Naomi very well, but she appears sweet and loving. Exactly the type of woman for Richard.”

It was on the tip of Fallon’s tongue to ask Lance about the type of woman he thought suitable for him, but thankfully she caught herself before blurting it out. “Yes, she is and, after what she went through with her first marriage and a few days ago, she deserves to be happy.”

“Richard will see to that, and that her ex never bothers her again,” Lance said with a hint of anger in his voice. Any man who hit a woman was scum—no matter the provocation. For all the hurt Ashley had put him though, physically harming her had never entered his mind.

He picked up his glass and saw Fallon watching him with those bedroom eyes of hers. She was trying to figure him out. He’d also caught her watching him during dinner. She was still interested in him. If he was honest, he was more than interested in her. But if things went further, she had to know it would be purely physical. No emotional involvement or happily ever after.

“What about you?” he asked abruptly. Fallon might be the kind of woman who wanted forever.

She straightened, her tempting breasts jutting forward. Lance tried not to stare and worked not to let his body go into overdrive. Nothing was happening tonight—if ever.

“I beg your pardon?”

“What’s your view on marriage or are you engaged already?” he asked, irrationally angry at the thought of her marrying anyone.

“I fully intend to marry one day and have a family, but it’s difficult with traveling so much,” she told him. “I’m seldom in one place longer than a few months. Hardly long enough to have a lasting relationship with anyone.”

So, she wanted forever. That left him out. Even without traveling, lasting relationships were difficult. He should know. “Would you like coffee or dessert?”

“If I eat another bite I might pop.” She wrinkled her nose. ‘”I’ll have to get the cheesecake another time.”

Lance signaled the waiter. “The bill, and please add a slice of cheesecake in a to-go container for the lady.”

“Certainly, sir.”

Fallon reached for her purse. “My invitation. My treat.”

“My reservation.” He reached for the bill presenter as soon as the waiter approached. Lance barely glanced at it before shoving a large bill inside and handing it back to the waiter. “Thank you.”

“Thank you, sir, and a good evening to both of you.”

It would be better if it ended with both of them in a bed, but that wasn’t happening. Lance stood, picked up the to-go container for the cheesecake, and reached for her chair. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

Fallon came to her feet and glanced at him over her shoulder. “That’s not necessary.”

“Since I plan to follow you home, I think it is.”

*   *   *

Fallon kept looking in the rearview mirror. First dates—if they went well—usually ended with a good-night kiss. But considering theirs had started out as a business/thank-you, Fallon wasn’t sure what to expect at the door. Lance had certainly sent out mixed signals. She couldn’t get a handle on him.

For once, the parking spot in front of her door was vacant. She pulled in next to Naomi’s SUV. There was a light on in both of their apartments, but since it was barely eight thirty Fallon was sure Naomi and Richard were still at his parents’ place.

Shutting off the motor, Fallon got out of her car with the cheesecake and searched the parking lot for Lance. She saw him seconds later. It was easy to pick out his muscular build, the easy stride of his walk. He appeared self-assured, but there was something there that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. With her leaving at the end of the week, she wouldn’t have time to figure out what.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I couldn’t find a parking space.”

“That’s all right,” she said, horrified to hear the breathlessness in her voice. She quickly reached into her bag for her key and turned to open the door. It opened on the first try despite her shaking hand.

“Most women have to search for a key.” Lance shoved his hands into the pockets of his dress slacks. “I should have known you’re too smart for that.”

“Comes from traveling and moving so many times,” she said. Then she faced him and took the plunge. “Would you like to come in?”

“I should get back,” he told her, his expression bland. “There’s still a lot of paperwork and tagging to be done before the auction.”

She honestly didn’t know if she was disappointed or not. Starting something with Lance might feel good, but she wasn’t sure it would be good for her. “Good night, and thanks for today and dinner tonight. And this.” She held up the dessert.

“You’re welcome. Good night.”

She entered her apartment and couldn’t help one long, last tempting look at him. She’d see him at Richard and Naomi’s wedding, but somehow Fallon knew if she and Lance didn’t connect now they never would. She started to swing the door shut.

The flat of his hand stopped it. His hand flexed on the door as if he wasn’t sure of himself. “It goes without saying that if you want to come out to the house again, you’re welcome. I’ll be working there all day tomorrow.”

Fallon couldn’t keep the wide grin off her face. “I’ll be there the same time. I want to write up my notes.”

“I’ll see you then.” Reaching out, he closed the door.

Fallon threw the dead bolt and headed to her bedroom. She hadn’t gotten the kiss, but tomorrow was another day.

*   *   *

Fallon woke up with a smile on her face. She didn’t even think of denying it was because she was going to see Lance. He intrigued her as much as he made her want to take a bite out of him. Laughing, Fallon bounded out of bed and hit the shower. She’d never had such a crazy thought in her life.

Twenty-three minutes later, she was knocking on Naomi’s back door. In Fallon’s hands were two mugs. One held a mixture of coffee creamer and sugar. The other mug was empty. She might bum coffee, but she always came with what she wanted in it.

It was seven ten, but Fallon knew her neighbor and friend would be up and alone. Naomi taught kindergarten and would be up getting ready for work. And since her ex was no longer a threat, Richard wouldn’t be spending the night.

Fallon heard the locks disengage seconds before the door opened. “Good morning,” Naomi greeted. “Help yourself to coffee.”

“Bless you.” From long practice, Fallon prepared herself a cup of coffee, then sipped.

“I fixed extra waffle batter,” Naomi said. “If you hurry you can tell me about your date before Kayla joins us.”

Taking another sip, Fallon went to the stove to check on the sizzling sausage patties. She picked up a metal spatula. “Nothing to tell.”

Naomi closed the lid to the waffle maker and faced Fallon with a frown. “Richard said he asked about you a couple of times before you went out there yesterday.”

“That was then and this is now, as the saying goes.” Fallon lifted two turkey patties from the skillet.

The whistle of the waffle machine sounded. Naomi removed the waffle and added more batter. “How do you feel about that?”

“I’m leaving at the end of the week.”

“Don’t remind me.” Taking the spatula from Fallon’s hand, Naomi removed the other patties. “If you weren’t coming back for the wedding in six weeks, I’m not sure I could stand it.”