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“That boy doesn't exist any longer,” he told her.
She looked at him so intently that he almost squirmed, wondering what she saw. “What happened to him?” she asked finally.
A dozen years worth of images flashed through his mind, and few of them were pleasant ones. “Life happened.”
“Daniel, tell me what you've been doing since you left the ranch.”
“Surviving.” He gave her hands another gentle squeeze, then released her and stood. “We should get ready for dinner. I'll wait out here while you change.”
“We have to go out? We can't eat in here?”
Though he would have liked very much to give in to the plea in her eyes, he shook his head regretfully. “I'm afraid we have a dinner engagement.”
She winced. “Please tell me we don't have to eat with Creepy Guy.”
“I'm afraid we do. I'm sorry, I'll try to get us away early.”
B.J. was on her feet and shaking her head, her expression turning mulish. “Tell him I have a headache and can't join you this evening.”
“I need you to do this with me, B.J. Please.”
For a moment he thought she was going to refuse— and short of carrying her bodily downstairs, there was little he could do to force her to accompany him. But then she sighed and pushed a hand through her hair. “Damn it.”
He knew better than to smile at her disgruntled expression. “Is that a yes?”
She jabbed a finger into his chest—hard enough to leave a dent. “Your debt to me is mounting—and be warned, I fully intend to collect.”
“I have no doubt that you will.”
B.J. wore the little black dress for dinner. Sleeveless and fitted, with a moderately deep V neckline, it looked good on her—but it was the color that seemed to suit her mood best that evening. Just the thought of dining with Creepy Guy Drake made her want to dress in black.
Daniel's charcoal jacket was only a shade lighter than her dress, but his white shirt and light gray pants lightened it up. Studying him as he ran a comb through his glossy dark hair, she decided maybe the evening wouldn't be a total washout as long as she had Daniel to look at.
“You were a pretty teenager,” she commented with a tilt of her head, “but you're even better-looking now. I guess that comes in handy for a con man.”
She was amused when he dropped the comb. “You say the damnedest things.”
She shrugged, rather pleased with herself for rattling him. “Just stating facts.”
Turning toward her, he crossed his arms over his chest. “Actually you were a rather gangly child last time I saw you. All braces and legs and elbows.”
Now it was her turn to be self-conscious-as he had no doubt intended. “I never claimed to be a beauty,” she said gruffly.
“And I never thought you would turn into one.” And then he smiled and cradled her face between his hands. “But damned if you didn't anyway.”
She felt a flush start somewhere around the hollow of her throat and work its way up to the roots of her hair. “Stop that. We both know I'm not…”
“No. You're the only one who has doubts about your attractiveness.” His right thumb moved against her cheek, pausing very close to the corner of her mouth. “As for myself, I've spent the past forty-eight hours trying not to notice how desirable you are. And failing miserably, I might add.”
Her heart was suddenly racing, her pulse fluttering so rapidly in her throat that she could hardly speak. But he was simply trying to get back at her for embarrassing him—and he was doing a darned good job of it. “Now you're just being irritating again.”
“Actually I'm being lamentably honest.” He kissed the end of her nose, then dropped his hands and stepped back. “We'd better go. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can come back to the suite.”
And when they did return, B.J. thought, turning rap idly toward the door, she was going to lock herself in the bedroom and leave Daniel to fend for himself.
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sp; Drake was already waiting for them in the resort's most formal restaurant. The table to which B.J. and Daniel were escorted was located at one end of the main dining room, slightly elevated and surrounded by a glass-brick half wall that screened but did not completely conceal it. The table overlooked the other diners and was serenaded by a small orchestra that faced that way. The crystal chandelier hanging over Drake's table was slightly more elaborate than all the others.
