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“Yeah, it would be a shame to fall asleep during one of the speeches.” Shane laughed.
“Maybe I better plan on taking a nap tomorrow afternoon,” she said as they entered the bedroom.
“I’ll plan to take one with you,” he said, giving her a wicked grin.
“You’re insatiable, Mr. McDermott,” she said, shaking her head.
He took a step toward her. “And I intend to show you just how ravenous I am as soon as we get into bed.”
As he and Lissa walked into the Jarrod Ridge Grand Ballroom for the festivities, Shane knew beyond a shadow of doubt that he was with the sexiest, most beautiful woman in attendance. Lissa had put her long blond hair up in some kind of soft, feminine twist, exposing her slender neck. He would like nothing more than to kiss every inch of it.
But the long, shimmery black evening dress she wore was what had his libido shifting into high gear. Slinky and form-fitting, it emphasized every one of her delightful curves and each time she moved it reminded him of a sleek jungle cat’s elegance and grace.
Remembering where they were, he tried to rein in his unruly hormones. If he didn’t get things under control soon, everyone in the whole damned place would know exactly what he had on his mind.
He spotted Clara Buchanan on the other side of the room and concentrated on how she would react to the evidence of his wayward thoughts. That was enough to take the wind out of any man’s sails.
“There’s Blake and his secretary, Samantha,” Lissa said, bringing him back to reality. “They’ll be seated at the head table with Erica and the rest of my brothers.”
“What about us?” he asked. “Is that where we’re sitting?”
“No. As an investor, you’ll have your own table and I told Guy to have the kitchen staff put my place card next to yours.”
“You’re both looking very nice tonight,” Trevor said, walking up to them. Lissa’s brother had a pretty, young brunette clinging to his arm.
“Good to see you again,” Shane said, shaking Trevor’s hand.
After a few minutes of exchanging small talk, Trevor and his date moved on. “I wish he would settle down a bit,” Lissa said quietly. “I’ve seen Elmer and Clara watching him, and they don’t look all that pleased.”
Putting his arm around her bare shoulders, Shane kissed her temple. “I agree that your brother is known to play it pretty fast and loose with the ladies, but it’s really none of Elmer’s or Clara’s business what he does or how he chooses to conduct his life.”
Before Lissa could respond, several of the regular resort guests came over to greet them and pay their compliments to Lissa’s family on another spectacular event.
“The food in past years has been very good, but the cuisine this year is outstanding,” George Sanders, a food critic from Los Angeles, said enthusiastically. “As soon as I find him, I intend to let Guy know the resort’s pursuit of culinary excellence will be the focus of my next column. The crème brûlée is to die for.”
“I’m sure Guy will be very pleased to hear that,” Lissa said, smiling.
Once the portly gentleman stopped gushing about the food and moved on, Shane placed his hand on Lissa’s back. “Why don’t we find our table and see who our dinner partners are?”
He could use a reprieve and he was sure Lissa felt the same way. Besides, hearing himself repeat the same greeting at least twenty times, his face felt as if it had frozen in a permanent grin.
When they found their table close to the main table at the front of the room, Shane held Lissa’s chair, then settled himself onto the one beside her. “It looks like we’re hosting the politicians,” he said, glancing at the place cards on the elegantly set table.
She nodded. “I just hope they put their political differences on hold for the evening.”
“I’ll see what I can do about that,” Shane offered. “I happen to know that Senator Kurk and Representative Delacorte are both into fly-fishing. If it looks like the conversation is going to turn into a debate, I’ll invite them both to go fishing next spring on the Rainbow.”
“Thank you,” she said, looking grateful. “I would really like for the evening to remain free of controversy.”
“Shane, my boy, I hoped I would see you here this evening,” Senator Kurk said, approaching their table. “I think you know my wife, Beatrice?”
Shane stood up while the older woman sat down. “It’s nice seeing you again, Mrs. Kurk,” he said nodding. He shook the senator’s hand, then sat back down. “I’m glad you could join us.”
