LITMIR.BIZ

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life as you know it. I’ll probably stay single,” he replied, and Marissa wondered how many broken hearts he had left in his wake. “Maybe someday…” David said. He paused to eat and then said, “I’m getting the hang of baby care with Autumn. She’s a lovable little thing. Maybe I’m seeing her through your eyes.”

      “No, you’re not! You haven’t known me that long.”

      “You make your personality felt. When you were growing up, I’ll bet you played all sorts of games and had all sorts of kids around,” David said, watching her and imagining her life, which was a contrast to his.

      “You’re right,” she said, giving him a dimpled smile. He touched her cheek.

      “Your smile makes me want to smile.”

      Marissa warmed to his words, but didn’t want to. As far as resisting him, on a scale of one to ten, she knew she was definitely one.

      As they continued eating a long, leisurely dinner, they talked about their lives. She learned a little more about his background, listened to him talk glowingly about the ranch, and she realized he was a cowboy at heart and loved ranching.

      She was unaware of time passing, but finally he pushed away from the table. “We’re finished, let’s move to the sofa.”

      “We should clean this up.”

      “That’s what I pay Gertie to do. Just leave everything and come here.” He held her chair and then took her arm, leading her to the sofa.

      Too aware of his fingers lightly touching her arm, Marissa felt her heart race, and she had a silent argument with herself whether to sit down beside him or move away to a chair and keep some distance between them. While she debated, he stopped and faced her. “Now, close your eyes. I brought you a surprise today.”

      Five

      “A surprise for me?” Marissa asked, startled. “David, you barely know me!”

      He framed her face with his hands and her heart thudded as she gazed up at him. “I intend to know you better,” he said, his honeyed voice escalating the reactions to him that she had already been having. His hands were warm on her face while his expression showed unmistakable desire. Her lips parted and she drew a deep breath, finding it difficult to get any air.

      Torn with conflicting emotions, she caught his wrists. “This is a job. You’re my employer. David, we should keep this businesslike.”

      “Give me one good reason,” he said quietly.

      “So one of us doesn’t fall in love and get a broken heart.”

      “Are you ready for a serious relationship?” he asked.

      “No! That’s what I’m trying to tell you!” Marissa exclaimed. “I trusted my ex-husband completely, and he used me and broke that trust. He was unfaithful and I don’t think he ever intended to stay married. He was just waiting while I worked to help put him through medical school. Right now, I don’t want to get involved with anyone again.”

      “I don’t, either,” David replied. “That makes us immune to hurts. Just relax and lighten up. You were hurt, you need to get out and live a little, and some of the hurt might go away.”

      “You should be in sales,” she said dryly, wondering if he was more than barely listening to her. “That’s the argument of someone who’s never been hurt.”

      “I’ve never been through divorce,” he admitted, “but you can’t shut yourself off from life. Not you. You’re too filled with life yourself to withdraw from the world.”

      “Argue all you want,” she said with exasperation, too aware of his thumbs moving lightly on her cheeks. “I’ve had enough experience with getting hurt and I know what I’m talking about.”

      “You’d think I’m getting ready to propose. This is no big deal. Relax and enjoy yourself. I don’t think you’ve done that for a long time. Now, close your eyes, Rissa,” he instructed softly.

      The nickname was a lick of fire along her veins. No one had ever called her Rissa or any other nickname. Said in his husky voice, it was special, filling her with warmth. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

      “I’ll be right back. Keep your eyes closed.”

      She never heard him leave, realizing he could be very quiet when he wanted, but she knew when he stopped touching her. Why did she have such an intense reaction to the man? Why couldn’t she see him like she saw other men? Her excitement grew, more over David than over possibilities of a surprise. Why was he giving her a surprise? He had continually caught her off balance from the first moment she had looked across the counter into his green gaze.

      “All right, open your eyes.” He stood in front of her holding a stack of boxes. “These are for you. Open the big one first,” he suggested. “Then the others make more sense.”

      Conscious that he stood nearby watching her, she moved aside smaller boxes and lifted the lid on the largest box. Shuffling aside layers of tissue paper that crackled to the touch, she held up a lightweight black wool dress. It was slim, tailored and beautiful. “David, it’s gorgeous!” she exclaimed, and then realized all the implications.

      “I can’t take this!” she gasped, turning to look at him. “This is a bribe, David Sorrenson!”

      “Of course you can take it. It’s yours now. It’s not something I want,” he added dryly. “And it isn’t a bribe. It’s a gift.”

      “You know I can’t take this. Sneaky and underhanded is what I’d call this,” she said, feeling as if she were drowning in his persistence and her own needs, knowing she was hurtling headlong into hurt with every moment they were together.

      “Sneaky and underhanded sometimes gets you what you want. Now, stop arguing. It’s yours. Wear it with me Saturday night. I want to take you out. The Texas Cattleman’s Club has dinner dances twice a month on Saturday night. I want to take you to this one. Now, open your other presents.”

      “You’ll go to any lengths to get your way,” she muttered, exasperated and delighted at the same time. He was coming on too strong, too fast, and she was too attracted to him, too susceptible. “Absolutely—”

      He placed his fingers lightly on her lips. “Shh. Think it over before you disappoint both of us.”

      He stepped close, sliding his hand around her waist and tilting her chin up to look down into her eyes. “As to going to any lengths to get my way—guilty as charged. Especially when what I’m after is a beautiful, sexy woman who has ruined my sleep and is driving me wild with her arguments. Wear the black dress and go out with me,” he coaxed softly in a seductive voice. “Let’s go out Saturday night.”

      “What about Autumn?”

      “I already have that taken care of,” he answered.

      “How can I say no to that?” she whispered, lost in the depths of his gaze.

      “Good!” he replied, taking the dress from her hands and tossing it on a chair. He leaned down to switch off the lamp, leaving only the flickering light from the fireplace and the light in the other part of the kitchen behind them.

      Her breathing altered as he straightened, letting his gaze drift down to her mouth. “I’ve been waiting since yesterday, Rissa,” he whispered.

      “I know I should say no to you.”

      “Never,” he whispered, trailing kisses along her throat and over her ear. She inhaled deeply, looking at him so close. He was clean-shaven, his thick raven hair neatly combed.

      “David, listen to me,” she protested, placing her hands on his forearms, a tactical error because every physical contact turned her brains to more mush.

      “You listen to me,” he whispered, brushing her lips lightly, so tantalizingly, with his.

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