The moment the waiter disappeared Jason leaned forward and placed his hand over hers. "So far I've been doing all the talking," he said with another one of those soft smiles he'd been bestowing on her since the moment he picked her up. "Now it's your turn. Why don't you tell me something about yourself?"
"Like what?" Dani asked cautiously.
"Oh, you know, the usual. For instance, have you lived in Houston long?"
"Yes, all my life."
"Do you have family here?"
A little dart of panic lanced through Dani as she met his interested gaze. His face was alight with expectancy, his smile warm, and for the briefest of moments Dani debated the wisdom of telling him the truth. All of it.
She looked down, breaking contact with those mesmerizing dark eyes, and as she did caution reasserted itself and she settled for an evasive half-truth. "Yes, my family lives here."
"All of them?"
"Yes." She smiled wanly at his gentle probing and added, "My mother and father and my younger brother and sister. Oh, and my sister's husband and baby."
"What do your parents do?"
"Dad's a plumber." She gave a little shrug. "Mom has always been content to be a wife and mother, so she doesn't work outside the home."
"And your sister and brother?"
"Charlene works as a secretary for a large oil company and Chad is a junior at the University of Houston." Dani grimaced at the brevity of her answers. She knew that for Jason it had been like pulling teeth to get that much information out of her, but she simply couldn't help it. Her family background was not a subject she was anxious to discuss. Flashing him a bright smile, she asked, "How about you? Does your family live here?"
"No. They live in Arizona now. My mother has arthritis and the dry climate agrees with her more, so I bought them a home out there a few years back. Since then, Dad's taken up golf and Mom's learned to play bridge. After working hard all their lives it took a while to adjust, but they both finally learned to enjoy the good life."
Jason's mouth had quirked up in a lopsided grin as he made the statement, but Dani noted the look of satisfaction in his eyes, and she felt a melting warmth in the region of her heart. It was obvious that there was a great deal of love between Jason and his parents.
Their dinner arrived and, to Dani's relief, conversation became more general. She managed to eat a few bites of her broiled flounder, but mostly she just pushed the food around on her plate while Jason ate his steak with a hearty appetite.
Afterward, when he led Dani onto the dance floor, her heart began to pound. The mere thought of being held in his arms again was unbearably exciting, and for a few moments she wasn't sure her legs would support her. She expected conversation, for him to continue his gentle probing, perhaps flirt with her, but he merely drew her into his arms and held her close. With his jaw resting against her temple, he began to move with her to the slow, romantic music.
Dani had no idea how long they danced. One slow ballad followed after another, until she began to wonder if Jason had bribed the band leader. Almost imperceptibly, the tension began to drain out of Dani as silently, dreamily, their bodies swayed together to the slow, sensuous rhythm. After a while Jason looped her hands around his neck and encircled her with both arms, and it seemed the most natural thing in the world for Dani to lay her head against his chest and close her eyes. Relaxing even more, she nestled closer, and smiled as she listened to the strong, heavy thump of his heart beating beneath her ear.
When at last the music stopped it took a moment for her to realize that they were no longer dancing. She lifted her head and looked up at him in dreamy confusion, and Jason smiled. "Time to go, sweetheart," he said softly.
Blinking, Dani looked around, she was surprised to see that the restaurant was almost deserted and that they were the only ones left on the dance floor. The band members were packing their instruments and the waiters were hovering on the sidelines, trying busily not to look directly at them.
"Oh...yes." Dani stepped back, suddenly flustered, and would have moved out of Jason's embrace but he neatly forestalled her by keeping one arm firmly curved about her waist as he turned and led her toward their table. Calmly, with an economy of motion, he gathered up Dani's shawl and purse and escorted her out.
On the drive home they were both silent. A remnant of the dreamy lethargy still clung to Dani, and she stared out the window, dazed. She wondered at how quickly he had quieted her nerves, at how easily he had gotten her to let down her guard. At how very right it had felt to be held in his arms. If she weren't careful he could ease her into an affair before she knew it, she thought bemusedly, and was then promptly amazed at how little concern the idea aroused in her.
Without warning Jason reached over, picked up Dani's hand and laced their fingers together firmly. She turned her head to look at him, and her throat tightened as she studied his strong profile, the silvery glow of his pale hair in the dim light. His gaze was riveted to the road, but his hold on her never slackened. Their joined hands lay on his thigh, his rough palm warm and dry against hers, and heat from the point of contact flowed up Dani's arm and suffused her entire body. Drawing a deep breath, she leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.
If you don't watch yourself, Danielle Edwards, you 're going to be in over your head before you know it.
As they approached her door Dani's stomach tied itself into a hard knot, for regardless of his assurances to the contrary, she couldn't quite believe that Jason had abandoned all thought of seduction. If he pressed, she wasn't at all sure she could resist him. A part of her didn't even want to resist, she admitted to herself. Love, she was learning, had a way of overriding scruples and caution and common sense. Love created its own need, demanded fulfillment, physical expression. To give in to it would be madness, but no matter what her mind told her, Dani's body still burned with desire, and her heart ached with longing to know his love, his possession.
With hands that trembled slightly, Dani unlocked her door. Dropping the key back into her tiny purse, she turned back to Jason with an uncertain smile. She was filled with conflicting emotions. She wanted to invite him in, yet she knew how foolish that would be. But oh, how she hated to see the night end. "Well, good night, Jason. I had a lovely evening," she said, hating the trite words but unable to think of anything else to say.
"I have theater tickets for Saturday night. Will you go with me?"
"Yes, I'd like that."
They looked at each other, while around them the heavy silence seemed to throb. Another weak smile trembled on Dani's lips. "Well, good night."
"Good night." But he made no move to leave. He just stood there studying her, his dark eyes intent. A hint of a smile hovered around his mouth, and he lifted a hand to the pounding pulse in her throat. It leaped uncontrollably at his touch, and the smile blossomed on his face. With slow deliberation, Jason slipped his hand around her neck and hauled her to him.
His head began a purposeful descent, and Dani's lungs ceased to function, her eyes going wide as fiery excitement streaked through her. This was what she had been waiting for, longing for, all evening. Helplessly her lids fluttered shut and her lips parted. Her soft sigh was lost in his mouth as his warm lips settled over hers, and when his arms enclosed her she melted against him.
The tension that had been building since he first asked her out found its release in the ardent embrace. Going up on tiptoes, Dani wound her arms around his neck and kissed him with all the hunger and passion that love had imbued.
Jason groaned and deepened the kiss. With slow, evocative thrusts his tongue imitated that more intimate union, while his hips undulated gently against her in a matching rhythm, and Dani shivered violently as shock wave after shock wave of desire rippled through her.
The heat of his body was like a magnet, drawing her irresistibly. A raw, naked need began building in her, and Dani pressed closer, impatient with the thin barrier of clothing that separated them, wanting desperately to mold their flesh together, to absorb and be absorbed until they were one. Her fingers were buried deep in the thick blond hair at his nape, clutching his head, pressing him to her, while Jason's hands swept over her, deftly seeking out every hollow and curve.
The intimate embrace went on and on, until finally Jason lifted his head. Eyes still closed, Dani moaned in protest as her mouth sought blindly to renew the kiss. Jason's hands slipped up over her back and grasped her shoulders. With gentle pressure he eased her away. Dani lifted heavy eyelids and looked at him in confusion, and he smiled tenderly.
"Jason...?"
"Sssh." His big hand cupped the back of her head and he pulled her to him again, pressing her cheek tightly against his chest. She could hear the thunder of his heart, feel the heaving of his chest as he sucked air into his lungs in deep, ragged gulps. "Don't say anything . Give me a minute."
The tremors that shook his body told her more plainly than words that he was Fighting for control just as she was, and Dani knew a moment of shocked surprise. For several minutes they held each other quietly, while hearts slowed and breathing gradually became less labored.
Then Jason released a long sigh and gently set her away from him. His smile was rueful and his eyes still held remnants of passion, but there was humor there, too. "You are one potent package, Ms. Edwards," he said huskily. "So I'm really going to say good night now, before I forget all my good intentions."
He dropped a hard kiss on Dani's mouth then turned and strode away toward the elevator.
Dani watched him go, her blue eyes wide and bemused, still glazed with passion. Why had he stopped? Surely he must have known that he could have picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, and she wouldn't have uttered a word of protest. The elevator arrived, and with one last wink in her direction Jason stepped inside. As the doors closed behind him, Dani shook her head dazedly. Why?
❧
It was something she asked herself over and over in the days that followed. For, to her utter astonishment and secret delight, Jason proceeded to court her with all the gallantry of an age long past.
He took her dining and dancing, to plays, concerts, the opera. They went to art exhibits, museums, the planetarium, all the interesting places, which typically, as a native, Dani rarely thought of visiting. Once Jason even showed up at her apartment with a bicycle built for two strapped to the back of his Jaguar. After driving them to the outskirts of town, he parked his car, dumped a wicker basket into the bicycle's carryall, and they proceeded to pedal into the country for a picnic.
Jason was not in the least inhibited about publicly showing his feelings, and word of their budding relationship spread through the Stratter-Lite offices like wildfire. Dani could not help but be amused by the marked change the news made in Sam Engle's attitude toward her. The work had been going well, and she had slowly earned his grudging respect, but now he practically broke his neck to be nice to her. And, of course, Bruce Hadley followed his lead like a faithful shadow.
Jason and Dani were together almost every night. On those few occasions when they weren't he always called her, and they talked of everything and anything, both behaving like teenagers, drawing out the conversation just for the sheer pleasure of hearing the other's voice. Finally, at twenty-eight, Dani was experiencing the giddy delight of first love.
It was a marvelous, magical time for Dani. She felt cherished and adored, and as the dry sand of the desert absorbs rain, her lovelorn soul soaked up all the attention Jason lavished on her.
Jason was such a big, rugged man, so unrelentingly tough and formidable in business that he surprised her with his tenderness and sensitivity, his capacity for affection. Once he had set his sights on her, Dani had expected him to push for an affair. Instead he wooed her with patience and loving words, with a gentle touch and warm, caressing looks that made her in-sides melt. He showered her with flowers and candy and perfume and let her know in a thousand different ways that she was special to him, but never once did he step out of line.
At night when they parted he held her in his arms and kissed her passionately, but always with a rigid control that allowed him to pull back before things got out of hand.
Dani was flattered and grateful... and thoroughly frustrated. She was also going quietly out of her mind trying to figure out exactly what it was he wanted from her.
Dani's whole body was on fire with need. Her breasts felt swollen, the sensitive tips hard and aching, and there was an insistent throbbing deep within her feminine core.
She strained closer to Jason and plunged her fingers into his thick pelt of pale hair. It flowed against her skin like warm silk as she gripped his head tightly and returned his kiss with fervent, passionate hunger. Jason's body jerked, and his arms tightened convulsively around her. Dani whimpered softly into his mouth, a tiny, desperate little sound of aching pleasure and longing that sent a shudder rippling through him.
Then Jason's hands were gripping her shoulders. Slowly, he lifted his head and their clinging lips parted. For a moment Dani remained perfectly still, her head thrown back, eyes closed, lips parted and wet. Her breasts heaved with each labored breath and the pulse in her throat fluttered wildly. Finally her heavy lids flickered and lifted and she gazed up at him with eyes still glazed with passion.