Сандра Хьятт – A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess: A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess (страница 9)

“Thanks, Tony. I hope you’re keeping most of my people.” “We’ll have a meeting concerning that later this week.” “I’ll see you tonight,” she said, and left his office. The day was busier than she had expected and she got home with only a little over half an hour to get ready for dinner.

Was she already making a mistake by going out with him? But she had made her career decision and had no intention of fretting about it. She wanted to celebrate and she had begun to feel ridiculous for making such an issue about avoiding him. She should be able to treat him the same as any other man, Mr. Morris, Dylan, anyone. Just go to dinner, keep a distance, stay composed and cool and Tony Ryder would move on soon and forget all about her. No flirting. No intense reactions. Dinner with a new boss. Nothing more.

After showering, she changed into a red dress with long sleeves and a V-neck. She fastened her hair on both sides, allowing it to fall loosely down her back. Finally she stepped into red high-heeled pumps.

On impulse, she picked up the phone and called Dylan to tell him about her promotion.

“Awesome! That is terrific, Isabelle,” he said, his tone changing from enthusiastic to somber. “He remembered who you are and wants to go out with you.”

“Yes, he did. Whatever his motive, I couldn’t turn it down. It will give me a jump in the corporate world. Even if I just stay a few months, I can get a better job than I had.”

“As you told me, think about it. Be careful. His family is also Sydney’s family. They won’t accept you.”

She laughed. “Dylan, they won’t have to. Ever. Whatever I do, Tony Ryder isn’t going to propose marriage. He’s wrapped up in making a bigger fortune. I’m just going to work for the man. Speaking of Sydney. How’s it going between the two of you?”

“We’re talking. She wants to get back together. I still think it would be supremely selfish of me, yet I keep discussing it with her.”

“That ought to tell you something right there. You want to be with her.”

“Hell, yes, I do, but I can’t be the one to cost her a family split plus losing her inheritance.”

“Dylan, stop and think. She’s studying to be a doctor and you’re successful in graphic arts. You can both live comfortably and well. Multimillions aren’t a guarantee of happiness.”

“I’m not going to be the one to take her away from her family. Those kind of bitter feelings sometimes last lifetimes and that would be terrible. She’s been close to them.” He was quiet for a moment, then said, “Want to go to dinner? We’ll celebrate your job offer and I’ll buy your dinner.”

“I’d love to, but Tony asked me if I wanted to go to dinner to celebrate and I accepted. Had I known, Dylan, I would have turned him down. I thought I’d be sitting here by myself. And I didn’t want to make such a big deal out of trying to avoid him.”

“Ah, sorry I didn’t talk to you sooner. Call me on a night you’re free and we’ll go.”

When they hung up, she stared at the cell phone before she placed it on the dresser. She hated to see Dylan hurt and Sydney had seemed like a fine person. She wished she were having dinner with a friend instead of Tony. Isabelle thought about Tony supporting his sister. Perhaps family wasn’t as far down his list of what was important as she had first thought. She shook her head. She’d better not fool herself on that one.

When the doorbell rang, her heart thudded. Impeccably dressed, Tony wore a dark topcoat and his charcoal suit with a red tie. Only the thick, unruly curls proclaimed a streak of wildness in the handsome corporate tycoon whose whole life was wrapped up in his work. That and the look in his eyes, indicating his approval as well as his longing, made her pulse beat faster.

“You look gorgeous,” he said, taking her coat to hold it for her.

“Thank you,” she answered. “I’m excited over my promotion, whatever motives you have behind it.”

His smile broadened. “I want you in my company. I want us to work together. I’ve already told you, I want more than that, but we’ll go slowly. Have you told your family? If I recall correctly, you have a large family.”

“You really do remember me,” she said as they headed toward a waiting black limo. “A limo, Tony?”

“Sure. It’s easier.”

A chauffeur held the door and she stepped into luxury. Tony shed his coat and asked if she wanted to wear hers.

“I’m comfortable,” she said, looking at the fine leather and walnut trim of the interior, realizing what a difference there was between their lifestyles, something easier to forget at the office.

“This is beautiful and makes the evening seem even more of a celebration—at least to me. You’ve been riding in limos all your life.”

“I’m glad you like it. I didn’t remember what you were majoring in when we met. After I recognized you, it came back to me that you were interested in graphic arts even back then.”

“Yes. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

“If I had recalled that, I would have known you and Jessie were one and the same. I debated the possibility that you were Jessie and dismissed it. You’re more sophisticated now. You’ve been far cooler, less receptive, not the party girl I recall from that night.”

“Responsibilities. Also, some resentment over your buyout of Morris, something I can’t help. They’ve been great to work for and I had a dream staff.”

“Hopefully, you’ll like your new life even better. I’ll see what I can do,” he said, his tone conveying a promise that sounded removed from work.

“I’ll manage,” she replied, thinking he had incredibly dark brown eyes, almost black now in the faint glow inside the limousine.

He touched a lock of her hair on her shoulder. It was a casual touch, yet it was as fiery as a caress and made her wonder whether she was tempting fate by going with him.

“You’re decisive—another good trait,” he said. “Simplifies life. It’s always good to know exactly what you want to do.”

“One trait we probably have in common,” she answered, thinking she usually was decisive, but she hadn’t been around Tony.

Tony’s cell phone buzzed and he reached for it, giving her a nod. “Sorry, I better take it.”

“Of course,” she answered, turning to look at the scenery outside as they sped along the freeway. She heard Tony discussing a business problem with renovations on a hotel that wasn’t connected with Morris, so she ceased paying attention to his conversation, surreptitiously studying him when his focus was elsewhere. If she could continue to appear as cool and composed the entire evening, she should be able to get through this dinner, perhaps making him lose a degree of interest in her. She would have a celebration of sorts if she could only ignore the man beside her, but that was impossible. She focused on the new title and job prospect, clinging to it, feeling a tingly excitement over her promotion and trying to ignore who had caused it and why. Finally he put away his phone and turned to her.

“Sorry for the interruption. Tell me, what’s gone on in your life during the years between when we met and now?”

“Graduation, getting started in business, gaining experience at my job, making friends. What about you?”

“Mostly business. Nothing unusual. Have you told your family about your promotion?” he asked.

“No. Simply because I was late getting home from work and had to rush to get ready for tonight.”

He was staring at her. “I like your hair. I like it best completely down—the way I remember it. Maybe before the evening is over.”

“I doubt it,” she said. “This is a partial concession. I rarely leave it down and unfastened. As for my family—I’ll call them tomorrow night.”

“Are they all here in Dallas?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. Makes it easy for us to get to gether.”

Shortly after, the limo turned into a private driveway, passing a pond with fountains as they drove to a canopied entrance with sparkling lights lending a festive atmosphere. She had heard about the restaurant, a famous one in the area, but beyond her means. Another reminder of the differences between her life and Tony’s.

The door was held open for them and inside, the maître d’ knew Tony, motioning them to follow as soon as they arrived. They were led to a cozy alcove with a fire burning in a fireplace and a view of the dance floor and stage where a small combo with a bass fiddle, a piano and drums played.

The table was covered in white linen with a bouquet of white gardenias floating in a crystal vase. She could detect the flowers’ sweet scent, but her attention was held by the handsome man she was with. A candle highlighted Tony’s prominent cheekbones, catching glints in his midnight curls.

A bottle of champagne on ice already waited and the sommelier appeared to uncork the Dom Pérignon. As soon as he received Tony’s approval, he poured the pale, bubbly liquid into crystal flutes. Iced shrimp, a steaming artichoke dip and a plate of bruschetta were brought for appetizers. Menus were placed before them.

When they were alone, Tony raised his glass. “Here’s to a fabulous promotion in your career and a night to celebrate.”

“Thanks to you,” she said, thinking he still made it sound as if work was the last thing on his mind even though he referred to her career.