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“Don’t argue with me. You won’t win.”
A little annoyed, she let the matter go and stood when he pulled her chair back. She really wasn’t comfortable with him paying for her. His clenched jaw, however, told her any further argument would be useless.
With his hand on the small of her back, Dylan guided her through the crowded restaurant. The heat emanating from his large hand seeped through the light sundress she wore, nearly scorching her skin.
She wanted to quicken her pace and dislodge his hand. At the same time, she wanted to lean into it. Lean into him. The powerful sensations his innocent touch sent through her body were exquisite. Callie hadn’t felt this physically drawn to a man in a long time.
That fact scared her.
No, correction, it outright terrified her.
She couldn’t be attracted to this man. Only heartache could come from such an attraction to a man like him.
I’m not attracted to him. He’s only affecting me this way because my emotions are already on overload and because I’ve been single for so long.
She’d let her social life become nonexistent when her mom was ill. Since her mom’s death, she hadn’t felt up to dating. When she got home, she’d make an effort to date more, Callie promised herself as he opened the car door for her. A new gym teacher had started in the district the month before and he was cute. The few times she’d spoken with him, he’d been friendly. Maybe he’d like to go for a coffee or something one afternoon. She’d also look into the dating site Lauren kept telling her about.
Yes, as soon as she got home, she’d take control of her social life again.
Once they were both settled, the Aston Martin’s powerful engine roared to life, but remained idling in the parking lot. Dylan turned his body so he faced her. “How does a drive by the water sound? There’s a great cafe near First Beach where we could stop for coffee.”
Lord, it’s warm in here.
She wasn’t sure if it was the confines of the small sports car or not, but suddenly Dylan seemed bigger, more masculine than before. If that was even possible.
“Or if you like jazz, there’s a great Jazz Club on Thames Street.”
Uncomfortable under his direct gaze, Callie shifted in her seat. The sound of her sundress moving against the leather seat seemed unusually loud in the silent car.
For the life of her, she couldn’t understand why he wanted to prolong their time together. Although she hadn’t thought it necessary, she understood why he’d taken her to dinner. He felt obligated because of his association with her father. With dinner over, he’d completed his duty as a host. There was no reason for them to spend any more time together.
Have I grown a second head? Dylan couldn’t read the expression on Callie’s face. Since proposing ways to continue their outing—he refused to think of this as a date—she’d sat staring at him with the most unusual look on her face. He didn’t know what to call the expression exactly. To some extent, it bordered on confusion, but at the same time there were elements of excitement and fear.
The splash of fear confused him the most. Fear was an emotion women never exhibited around him. At least not the women he usually took out. Perhaps a few business executives feared him. He could be ruthless in a boardroom when the need arose. Women, though, tended to look at him with expectation. The expectation of an expensive gift. Or the expectation of a great night of sex.
“If there’s something else you’d like to do, just say the word.” He couldn’t sta
nd the silence or her unreadable expression any longer.
If she doesn’t like my ideas, let her come up with some.
Even as the thought passed through his mind, Dylan knew there was more to her silence than the fact that she didn’t like his suggestions. In the deep recesses of his mind, he knew her silence had something to do with him personally. In the same tiny corner of his brain, he also knew his efforts to spend time with her had nothing to do with playing host until his stepfather arrived. His efforts also had nothing to do with determining if she had a hidden agenda where Warren was concerned.
Callie moistened her lips, and Dylan couldn’t help but follow the tip of her tongue with his eyes. He’d seen women of all ages do exactly the same thing. Yet it’d never aroused him before. When she did it though, he found himself wanting to run his own tongue along her lips. Taste her. See if any hints of the Merlot she had with dinner lingered.
“Thank you for dinner, Mr. Talbot. It was very nice, but you can just take me back to my motel now.”
Though she hadn’t said it, he knew Callie was telling him she didn’t expect or need him to entertain her.
You must be losing your touch, old man.
Dylan couldn’t recall ever meeting a woman more reluctant to spend time with him. Then again, it was probably better if she kept her distance. After all, he wasn’t looking for a relationship. He was merely playing host in Warren’s absence. A pang of guilt jabbed him swift and hard at the thought of Warren, quickly dousing the desire he’d felt seconds earlier. This was his stepfather’s daughter. Under no circumstances should he be feeling anything toward her.
“If that’s what you want.” He shifted the car into first gear and eased it out of its parking spot. He wasn’t going to try to change her mind on this one. He doubted he could anyway. Just look how much effort it took to get her down to Newport in the first place. No, he’d drive her back to her motel and not waste any more thoughts on her.
Chapter 4
Warm sand heated the back of her thighs as Dylan slowly trailed kisses across her jaw and down her neck. Without warning, he sat up, yanking her shirt up and over her head. His own shirt followed. “You’re beautiful,” he said in a whisper before covering her body with his.
