She had great legs. It was one of the first things he’d noticed about her. Nicely rounded calves and smooth shins. Her legs were bare, her feet shod in backless sandals. There was a silver toe ring on her second toe.
“Why are you suddenly so talkative?” she asked, tugging at the hem of her skirt. He noticed earlier she’d done the same thing. This small vulnerability reassured him. She was self-conscious about her legs.
“Why are you suddenly so defensive?” he asked brushing her hands away from her knees as she reached again for the hem of her skirt. “The fabric isn’t going to get longer.”
Tugging her hands from under his, she glanced at the door. “Why hasn’t he opened it?”
“Are you so anxious to escape?” he asked, finally he had the advantage with her and he wasn’t ready to give it up.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and then ran her hands down her torso, straightening the fabric of her floral print skirt. She looked like spring, he realized. “I don’t want to be late for my appointment.”
He consulted his watch. “You still have ten minutes.”
“I…damn. You do make me nervous,” she said at last.
Now we’re getting somewhere he thought. Though she’d seemed different than other women, she wasn’t really. He hadn’t discovered her secrets, had barely scratched the surface but that comment made him realize he could find out what made her tick. “That’s the last thing I want you to feel around me.”
“Then stop looking at my legs.”
The feisty woman was back. He liked the facets of Sarah. “I can’t help it.”
Ray opened the door. “Sorry about that. Someone asked for directions.”
Harris nodded.
Sarah slid out of the car with a smooth motion, full of feminine grace. He liked her, more than he’d care to admit even to himself. But then Harris had been focused on business for too long. Maybe that explained the lust that had been riding him since she’d entered the car and he’d caught a glimpse of her backside.
Harris decided it was a good thing she was leaving now. He needed to regain his perspective and get back to business.
“Thanks for the ride,” she said.
“You’re welcome.”
She bit her lower lip, then reached into her purse and pulled out a business card holder. “Here’s my card. Drop by my restaurant anytime for a complimentary meal.”
“That’s not necessary,” Harris said.
“It is to me. I don’t like to be in anyone’s debt.”
She turned to Ray and handed him a card as well. “Please come by some time.”
She didn’t wait for an answer but just turned and walked away. They both watched her leave. Harris more disturbed than he’d been in a long time. She rocked him from his safe moorings and he knew only one thing for certain. No way was he going to her restaurant.
Two
T
wo days later, Sarah was still thinking about Harris. Taste of Home, Sarah’s restaurant, was known for its charming warmth, good food and friendly staff. Still, she had trouble making ends meet.
Mr. Tucker, her banker, had denied her expansion loan. Rumor had it her strip mall had been sold and the new owners were tearing it down to build one of those newly popular outdoor malls. Honestly, who wanted to shop outdoors in Florida? It was hot or rainy most of the time.
On top of everything else she didn’t need this problem. All her life she’d thought she wanted to be a wife and mother. Raising her siblings had been challenging but now that they were almost launched into the world, she realized there were other things she wanted for herself. The only problem was she had yet to figure out what those they were.
She had enough trouble with the restaurant’s financial state to keep her occupied, but that didn’t stop her mind from wandering to Harris.
Situated a block from International Drive in the heart of Orlando’s theme park district, her restaurant had a hard time competing with the big chains. Locals didn’t want to fight the tourist traffic and tourists were reluctant to give her a try. Though lately, the concierge desks of several hotels were recommending her restaurant to their guests. She’d been schmoozing the hotel employees with free meals and it was paying off.
Tonight’s crowd had been light but steady. Not bad considering that October wasn’t exactly a booming month in the tourist industry. Sarah should have been jubilant, but instead she couldn’t help but wonder why Harris Davidson hadn’t come in for his free meal.
She reminded herself she was much to busy for a man in her life but that didn’t seem to matter. She liked Harris. He made her feel like a woman.
She was seated in the back of the restaurant behind the kitchen in her office. It was a small room that had at one time served as a storage closet. She’d been unable to use the more spacious office that had been her dad’s. Instead she and her siblings had decided to keep the office as it was when he died. It sounded strange but sometimes when she went in there she felt her parents presence. She could hear the culinary staff from her office and the sounds of cooking had always soothed her.
Sometimes when she was most frustrated with her life she’d spend hours in the kitchen baking. Baking was what she liked to do best, but her parents’ dream had been a small homey restaurant, not a bakery.
Her desk fit from wall to wall against the back and her chair was a battered secretary model that she’d rescued from the dump. Lhasa, the Mexican vocalist, sang quietly in the background.
Sarah knew enough Spanish to know the singer sang of the heartache of love. Perhaps it wasn’t her high school Spanish helping her out but her gut. Heartbreak sounded the same in every language.
That was part of her problem. Her entire life she’d been dreaming of finding true love and her instincts had always guided her to men who weren’t interested in anything close to love. Although Paul had been close to love, he’d wanted his own family and not a ready-made one.
Reaching for the Magic 8 ball on her desk she shook it idly. It’s not like she believed the 8 ball had special powers to see the future. It was just sometimes reassuring when she was uncertain.
She should’ve been relieved that Harris hadn’t shown up at the restaurant. She should’ve been happy to know that the guy who was not even vaguely close to her Mr. Right didn’t stop in. She should’ve been, but she wasn’t.
“Will I see Harris again?” she asked and then shook the black ball. Oh, God, if her brother saw her doing this he’d be laughing for a week.
Signs point to yes.
“Well where the heck is he?” she asked her empty office.
“Who?” said a voice from the doorway.
Sarah screamed and jumped out of her chair, pivoting to face Harris who stood in her office doorway. Damn, had she conjured him up by thinking about him?
“You gave me a heart attack,” she said, holding her hand over her heart.
“My apologies,” he said. But there was a sparkle in his eye that said he’d enjoyed startling her.
“What are you doing back here?” she asked.
“Your brother sent me back here when I asked to see you.”
“Oh, you could have just given my card to your server and told them I comped your meal.”
He walked into the room, stopping when only an inch of space remained between them. She knew it was ridiculous but she imagined she could feel his heat. He smelled of expensive cologne and was dressed again in a nice suit. She wasn’t sure of the designer.
“I’m not here for a free meal,” he said, his voice low.
She tilted her head back. A faint five-o’clock shadow dotted his chin and she wanted to touch his face. To feel the square jaw and roughness of the stubble darkening his face. She clenched her hands to keep from giving into the impulse.
“You’re not?” she asked.
He shook his head. The song switched on her CD to Amado Mio and Sarah knew she should have hit stop as soon as he entered. Listening to Spanish love songs with this man around her wasn’t a good idea.
“Why are you here?” Sarah asked.
He drew the tip of one finger down the curve of her cheek. She shuddered deep inside. His touch was light and gentle but started a riot in her senses. Deep inside the part of her that had been dormant for years woke. Not a gentle waking, it sprang abruptly to life.
“Why do you think?”
She couldn’t imagine. Contemplating Harris was something she’d given up when his finger touched her face. His hand rested against her collarbone, his touch resting on her pulse. Which she knew was beating to fast for him not to notice.
“Oh, I don’t want to guess.”
“Come on, Sarah, meet me halfway,” he said.
“It sounds like you want me to give your ego a boost,” she said, stepping back. She needed to remember this was a guy who at best would be looking for a vacation fling with her. She’d always been confident of herself and her worth. She wasn’t going to forget it now.
“Ego has nothing to do with it.”
She took his measure. He wanted something from her. She knew he’d spend the night in her bed if she offered but she needed more than just the physical from him. She’d always needed more which was probably why she’d been celibate for the better part of twelve years.
“You’re the kind of woman who leaves a man guessing,” he said after a few minutes. The music seemed too loud in her office. “You’re like quicksilver, bright and flashing, but I know I can’t hold you.”
She’d never been called quicksilver before. And it touched her that he’d thought about holding her. His voice told her that he was about more than lust. “Do you want to?”
“Of course I do. I’ve been cold for a long time, Sarah and you’re the promise of warmth.”
“What kind of warmth?” she asked.
“Physical.”
“I’m not like that,” she said. Though she burned with the heat of desire, she needed more than that with any man.
“I know. That’s why I stayed away.”
“Why’d you come here tonight?” she asked at last. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected from this businessman but him in her office wasn’t it.
“Curiosity.”
“About?” she asked.
“You.”
This was too much. She needed some important answers before this went any further. She brushed past him and led the way out into the restaurant. She needed to be surrounded by people before she did something she’d regret. Something like fool herself that his disbelief in love didn’t mean he never would care for any woman.
Ray was waiting in the main room when they reentered it. Obviously the talk Harris had with him yesterday about a driver’s proper place meant nothing to the man. He’d have another discussion with him later and remind him that staff was supposed to stay in the background.
Sarah threw him off guard. He’d pursued women before and had a fair amount of success. Sarah was different. There was something about her that called to mind long-ago dreams. He pushed half-remembered memories away, refusing to dwell on those thoughts.
There was a small dance floor set off from the tables and the same music that had been playing in Sarah’s office was piped in.
Ray quirked one eyebrow at him as their eyes met. That driver was too cocky by half, he thought.
Harris had a feeling he was going to be leaving here with some well-cooked food and that was all. He didn’t want the hired help to know about it. He’d spent his entire life aware of the line that existed between himself and the people who were paid to serve him.
An older couple was on the dance floor moving slowly to the music. The restaurant had an old-world feeling of permanency and romance. Two things that he’d never felt comfortable with.
“Is our food ready?” Harris asked. It was time to cut his losses and get out while he still could.
“Not yet. Why don’t you take Ms. Malcolm for a spin on the dance floor? I’ll check on the food,” Ray said.
“Do you dance?” Sarah asked.
Of course he did. Every Davidson was raised to socialize. But he didn’t want to dance with her. Lust was riding him hard and there was something in her eyes that said he’d never get her in his bed. He needed to get out of this restaurant which brought to mind all the things he’d always wanted but could never have.
The music switched and Rosemary Clooney started singing “Mambo Italiano.”
“How about a mambo?”
“Pardon me?” Harris asked. He’d come here tonight…hell, he didn’t know why. He wanted her. But he wouldn’t have acted on it…would he?
Yeah, right. He’d been trying to come up with an excuse to see her again. Finally, Ray had brought him here saying they had to eat. Ray had made him feel like he was hiding from a woman, which had bothered him. Harris was a man of action so when they’d arrived he’d sought out Sarah to prove something to himself.
All Harris had been able to think of was those long curvy legs of hers. He wasn’t hungry for food at all. He had a bone-deep craving for her. She’d disturbed him the last couple of days. He’d been in meetings that were long and intense. His mind had wondered at the worst possible moments, as his kept coming back to Sarah.
“Dance?” she said, moving around him.
He followed her reluctantly. He and Ray had ordered their meals to go, at Harris’ insistence. His plan had been simple. See Sarah, tease himself with her nearness and maybe if she were willing, kiss those sweet lips of hers. But he’d noticed the first time they met that logic flew out the window when Sarah Malcolm was in the room.
Her skirt swished around her knees as she walked. Her top was one of those little shirts, with barely any sleeves, that left her arms bare. She had nice arms with defined muscles. He wondered if her thighs were muscled as well. The skirt kicked up with each step she took but not enough for him to see.
“Ready?” she asked when they’d entered the main dining area. Burt, her brother, still manned the host stand.
“For what?” asked Burt. Harris liked Sarah’s brother. Though obviously still a teenager he had an air of maturity seldom found in a boy his age.
“Mambo,” Harris said.
“Oh, no. You should’ve said you don’t dance in public,” Burt said.
“Burt, hush. Harris wants to learn,” Sarah said, swatting her brother on the arm.
“Sis, no man wants to learn how to mambo.”