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“Then you still see him?” Noah persisted
“It can’t be avoided . . . because of Emily.”
“Is he good with your daughter?”
“Yes . . . I suppose so. Does it matter?” Sheila asked, experiencing a hot flash of indignation. She didn’t like discussing her feelings about Jeff with anyone, especially not a man she was beginning to admire.
“Doesn’t it matter, I mean?”
“To me, yes. But why do you care?”
His voice lowered at the bitterness in her words. “I didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject.”
Sheila stiffened, but pushed back the hot retort forming in her throat. It was none of Noah’s business. Her divorce from Jeff had been a painful experience, one she would rather not think about or discuss.
“I think I had better leave,” she stated evenly. She reached into the front pocket of her purse and fished for her keys. The conversation was getting far too personal.
“You mean you want to run away, don’t you?”
“What?”
“Isn’t that what you were doing when I found you out on the veranda, leaning over the rail? Weren’t you attempting to avoid a confrontation with me?”
“You were arguing with your son! I was only trying to give you some privacy.”
His eyes darkened. “There’s more to it than that, isn’t there?”
“I don’t know what you’re suggesting.”
“Sure you do.” He moved from the fireplace to stand only inches from her. “Any time the conversation turns a little too personal, you try to avoid me,” he accused. A dangerous glint of blue fire flashed in his eyes.
Sheila stood her ground. “I came here to talk about business. There was nothing personal about it.”
“Save that for someone gullible enough to believe it.”
She glared at him defiantly but held onto her poise. “Quit beating around the bush and just say what it is that’s bothering you.”
“You came over here with the intention of contacting Ben. You were sidestepping me. Don’t take me for such a fool. I know that you were deliberately trying to avoid me.”
“Only because you were being completely unreasonable!” she snapped. He was impossible! When she looked into his intense cobalt eyes, she felt as if she wanted to float dreamily in his gaze forever. The smell of burning logs mingled with the earthy scent of Noah’s wet body. Raindrops still ran down the length of his tanned neck.
“I’m not an unreasonable man,” he stated calmly. His hand reached up to touch her chin, and Sheila felt a shiver skitter down her spine. His eyes studied her face, noting in detail the regal curve of her jaw, the blush on her creamy skin and the seductive pout on her full lips. “Please stay,” he implored.
“Why?” She longed for an excuse,anyexcuse to spend some more precious time with him.
“We could start by talking about the winery and your plans for it.”
“Would you change your position on the insurance settlement?”
The corners of his mouth quirked. “I think you could persuade me to do anything.” His finger trailed down her chin and throat to rest against the collar of her coat. Her heart fluttered.
She stepped away from him and crossed her arms over her chest. Eyeing him suspiciously, she asked, “What would it take?”
“For what?”
“For you to listen to my side of the story.”
He shrugged. “Not much.”
