She sat with her back to the door, staring at herself in the mirror. She gathered her long, red curls and lifted them from her neck, then let the heavy mass drop back to her shoulders. She’d repeated the process several times before noticing him in the mirror. Before he had a chance to slip away, she said, “Did you want something?”
Luke took a deep breath, pushed the door open and stepped inside the room. Tapping at his wrist watch, he said, “It’s almost seven.”
“Thank you. I can tell time.” She was dressed in a champagne colored sweater and matching silk slacks.
He looked at her for what seemed like forever. “You look … nice,” he said finally.
She seemed surprised by his compliment. Her fingers toyed with the ends of her hair. “Thank you.”
That nagging pain returned to his neck, and he reached a hand around and massaged it. “Well, have a nice time tonight.” He turned around to leave, but her voice stopped him.
“Can I ask your honest opinion about something?”
Honest? Luke pivoted around. He wanted to laugh. He’d been anything but honest with her since the first day they’d met. “Sure.” Maybe she was going to ask him if she should cancel her date with Richman. In which case, he’d have to say, “Yes.” She was making a big mistake, and he wanted to tell her so.
“Do you think I should wear my hair up or down?”
Swallowing hard, he studied her thoughtfully. She lifted her hair off her neck the way she’d done moments earlier when he’d watched her in the mirror. He loved it down. Loved the smell of it. Loved to think about running his fingers through the thick, silky tresses. Which is why, of course, he said, “Wear it up.”
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely,” he lied with conviction.
“Thank you.”
She turned her back on him, picked up her hairbrush and began wrapping her hair around one hand when the doorbell rang.
She jumped at the sound and glanced over her shoulder at Luke. “That’s probably Tyler. Would you mind getting the door while I finish getting ready?”
Luke shrugged. “Sure, why not?” Underneath his facade, he gloated with malicious pleasure. It was just the opportunity he needed. He’d wanted to speak with Richman alone, and now was his chance.
He bounced down the stairs, threw the front door open and put on a happy face. “Hey, Richman. Come in. Rusty’s almost ready.” Luke threw an arm around Richman’s shoulders. “Let me buy you a drink while you wait.”
Luke led the way into the study, grabbed two glasses from the sidebar and filled them with ice. “You know, Rusty’s a little anxious about tonight.”
“I’m a little nervous myself,” Richman admitted.
Luke looked at the man over his shoulder. He did seem a little fidgety. He grabbed a bottle of bourbon and poured a generous amount into each glass.
“Do you have any ginger ale to mix with that?”
“Sure.” When he finished mixing the drink, he handed it to Richman. “Have a seat.” He gestured toward a leather chair in front of the fireplace. Richman sat down, but Luke remained standing. After taking a healthy swallow of his drink, he asked, “Do you really think it’s a good idea to take Rusty to your house on a first date?”
Richman’s blue eyes widened. “I assure you I have only the best intentions. I just wanted to show her what a good cook I am. Pasta primavera.”
He was definitely starting to hate this man. “The only reason I mentioned it was that I know Rusty would feel more comfortable in a public place. Until maybe your eighth date or so.”
“Eighth?” Richman took a sip from his drink and grimaced. “You think maybe we should go out to a restaurant instead?”
Luke nodded and rested his hip against the mahogany desk. “Yeah, I think that would be a little more appropriate. I mean, she’s upstairs right now worried sick that you’re going to try and put the moves on her. You know what I mean? And with Beth just recently dying and all, well, Rusty would probably lose a lot of respect for you. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”
“Well, no, but …”
“Good. Because I tried to convince her you weren’t like most guys. That you weren’t going to try to get her into bed until after you were engaged for maybe a year, maybe two.”
He sat up straighter in his chair. “Jeez, Luke, I never realized you were quite so old fashioned.”
“Yeah, well. I just don’t want to see anything happen to Sam’s daughter. She’s like a sister to me. We’re close. In fact she tells me everything.”
“Really?”
“Yep. As a matter of fact, you know what she told me right before you got here?”
Richman looked slightly uncomfortable. “No, what?”
Luke chuckled. “First, promise me you won’t tell her I told you.”
“Sure, I promise.”
Nodding, he said, “She said what she’d really like to do tonight is go bowling. And then maybe out for a good greasy burger and some French fries.”
“Bowling? I didn’t think Rusty looked like the bowling type.”
Luke threw back his head and laughed. “That’s Rusty, she’s full of surprises. She loves to bowl. But she was too embarrassed to suggest it to you. It’s not the type of sport a woman like her normally engages in, so don’t be surprised if she says she’s never bowled in her life.”
Richman regarded him skeptically.
“Hey, if you don’t believe me …” Luke shrugged. “I was only trying to help.”
“I believe you. It’s just that—” At the sight of Rusty entering the room, Richman quickly got to his feet.
“Rusty,” Luke greeted her with enthusiasm. “How about a drink before you leave?”
“No, thank you,” she said coolly. “Hello, Tyler.” She offered the man her brightest smile.
“Hello, Rusty. You look ravishing.” At Luke’s scowl, Richman quickly amended his words. “I meant lovely.” His face deepened to a bright crimson.
“Thank you, Tyler.”
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes. I just need to get my coat.”
“I’ll get it,” Luke offered. He went to the hall closet and pulled out her full length mink. Her housekeeper had kept her word and sent more of Rusty’s things. They’d arrived the day before and among them was the mink.
In the hall, he helped Rusty shrug into the fur, then opened the front door. “Well, you kids have a great time.”
Rusty turned around and stared at him, a pensive look in her green eyes. Luke smiled easily and winked at her. After a moment, she walked out onto the porch and was led away by Tyler Richman.
Luke slammed the door shut just as Richman opened the car door for Rusty. “That little prick!”
“YOU’VE BARELY EATEN ANY of your burger, and you haven’t touched your fries,” Tyler said. His blue eyes implored Rusty’s from across the booth. “If you don’t like your meal, I can order you something else.”
She smiled politely. “No, it’s delicious,” she lied. “Really.” She stabbed a grease soaked fry with her fork and placed it in her mouth, trying not to gag as she chewed and swallowed. Quickly, she rinsed it down with a gulp of lemonade. “I’m just not very hungry.”
“You’re not a very good liar,” he said. The tenderness in his expression touched her. Tyler moved her plate to the side. “You don’t have to eat it.”
“I’m sorry, it’s just that I don’t eat red meat, and I’ve never cared much for fried foods.”
“That’s interesting. I wonder why Luke told me you loved greasy burgers and fries?”
“He said that?”
Tyler nodded, placed his arms on the table in front of him and leaned back in the booth. “Yes, he did. I’d planned to cook pasta primavera for you tonight, but since you felt uncomfortable about going to my place …”
Rusty’s spine stiffened and she felt her neck and cheeks flush. “Who told you I felt uncomfortable? Mr. Galloway?”
“Look, I don’t blame you, Rusty. I didn’t even think about how that would make you feel. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date. I assure you, though, I never meant to be disrespectful in any way. Nor did I have any intentions of trying to take advantage of you. Please believe me.”
Reaching across the table, she touched his hand briefly. “Those thoughts never crossed my mind, Tyler.” It had been Luke Galloway’s dirty mind that had thought those things. “And I would have loved to try your pasta primavera.”
Smiling, he said, “Really?”
“Really,” she confirmed with a smile of her own. Something made her wonder if Luke was the one to suggest Tyler take her bowling, but she refrained from asking. Her thumb and elbow still throbbed with pain from throwing that heavy ball. Not to mention that she’d felt like a fool. She supposed she wasn’t much of an athlete. Although Tyler hadn’t seemed to mind. He’d been extremely patient with her and had even offered advice on where to stand and how to hold the ball.
“Why don’t we get out of here? The grease is so thick in this place it’s starting to plug my sinuses.” He threw some money on the table and slid out of the booth. “Why don’t we take a walk and then I’ll drive you home.”
“That sounds nice.” Rusty stood and reached for her mink, but Tyler was quicker. “Here, let me help you. I love the feel of this thing. And I love the way it looks on you. It’s classy, just like you.”
“Thank you,” she said as they walked outside. Tyler was such a nice man and he was easy to talk to. She already considered him a friend.
Neither of them spoke much on the drive home. They simply enjoyed the moonlight and the CD as it played. Tyler loved classical music, too.
It was after eleven when they pulled into the drive. The lights were on downstairs, which meant Luke was still up. She wondered when the man slept. He never went to bed before midnight, was always up before the crack of dawn, and gone and back before Rusty lifted her head from the pillow each morning. In the afternoons, he usually worked in his study, handling the books and making calls. Then after dinner, he would disappear for several hours. Yet working sixteen hours a day didn’t seem to wear him down any. He still had plenty of aggression at the end of a long day. It was as if he saved it up to use on her.
“How’s your thumb?” Tyler asked, putting the car into Park.
“I’ll live,” she said, looking at the swollen digit. “I had no idea those balls were so heavy.” She hadn’t dared mention the ache in her elbow. He’d seemed so excited about taking her bowling.
He looked at her funny. “You were telling the truth when you said you’d never bowled before, weren’t you?”
“Why would I lie about something like that? I bowled a forty-two and a forty-seven. Surely you didn’t think I was a pro, did you?”
“No, of course not. But I think Luke has been trying to tell me something.”
Rusty sucked in her breath. “Tyler, let’s not talk about Luke Galloway. I’m not very fond of the man. In fact, he repulses me.”
He turned more fully toward her. “I thought you two were close.”
Rusty laughed. “We barely tolerate one another.”
“It all makes sense now,” he said, rubbing at his chin. “He’s interested in you. I think he’s been trying to stake his claim.”
“His claim? What does that mean, exactly?”
“He’s been trying to tell me to back off, without coming right out and saying it, of course.”
Rusty laughed again. “Oh, Tyler, surely you’re mistaken. Luke despises me almost as much as I despise him.”
Tilting his head to the side, he studied her in the dark car. “You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
“Then he won’t mind if I kiss you?”
“I don’t care if he minds or not. I’d love for you to kiss me.”
Grinning, he reached across the seat and pulled her close. He placed his lips on hers with just a hint of pressure and slowly kissed her. She’d thought the kiss was over, when he angled his head and deepened it.
He smelled of cologne, a woodsy scent. It was pleasant enough, although she preferred the way Luke smelled. Like soap, fresh from a shower.
Rusty gave in to the kiss, waiting for her skin to tingle, for her insides to turn to hot lava, the way they had when Luke had kissed her just a few nights ago.
But nothing happened.
And then it was over.
Tyler let his breath out on a sigh and smiled as he pulled away. “That was nice.”
“Yes, it was,” she said, smoothing a strand of hair into place. “Do you want to come inside? I can make you some coffee, or tea.”
He glanced uneasily over her shoulder toward the house. “Can I take a rain check? Somehow, I don’t think Luke would approve.”
“Tyler, I’m a grown woman. I don’t need Luke Galloway’s permission to invite a friend into my father’s home.” She’d tried not to sound agitated.
“Yes, well, I think he was watching us from the window just a moment ago.”
Rusty twisted around in her seat to stare at the front window. There was no sign of Luke, but she wouldn’t put it past him to spy on her. In fact, it would be just like him to do something perverted like that.
“Maybe we’d better call it a night,” he suggested. He got out of the car and came around to her side.
As they walked toward the house, she thanked Tyler again, kissed him on the cheek and said goodnight.
Now it was time to deal with Luke Galloway.
Luke threw his head back against the sofa and feigned sleep when he heard the front door open and close. After all, how would it look if Rusty saw him pacing the floors, the way he’d been doing for the past two hours? She’d think he was some kind of jealous fool, that’s what. He wasn’t, of course. He’d simply been … concerned. Yes, concerned. That was it.
Who the hell was he trying to kid? When he’d looked out the window and seen Richman kissing her, he’d wanted to punch the guy silly. But he’d restrained himself. And he was proud of himself because of it.
He heard the click of her heels on the polished hardwood floor as she entered the room. Peering from one eye, he watched her remove her coat and warm her hands in front of the fire. Her back was to him when she said, “I know you’re not asleep, Mr. Galloway.”
He squeezed his eyes tightly shut, then slowly opened them.
Pivoting around, she stared down at him. A strand of hair escaped her French twist and he got a funny feeling in his gut. Suddenly he had a vision of Richman’s fingers toying with her silky red hair and the thought made him sick inside.