Jeopardy Read Free

She waved a hand toward her desk. “I have too much work to do here, plus the charity ball at SwanSea is just around the comer. Since Caitlin is out of the country. I’m chairing the event.”
    As she spoke, Amarillo studied her carefully. Her dark brown hair shone with health and vibrancy, her skin glowed with its usual luminosity, her brown eyes still held that incredible velvet texture that could melt a man at fifty paces. She appeared perfectly normal. Nico must have reached her at a bad time, he concluded. Other than a mild case of exhaustion, Amarillo couldn’t detect anything that might be bothering her.
    Unlike he—who was bothered just by looking at her.
    “I read the writeup in the paper last week about the ball and your part in it. Nice picture, by the way.”
    She grimaced. She did not enjoy her picture appearing in the papers, though she realized she differed from most people In that respect. “Thanks. Anyway, as soon as I can get things under control here, I’ll be driving up to SwanSea.”
    Why did he feel so disappointed that there was nothing wrong? Amarillo wondered, glancing restlessly around the office. The clutter made a perfect setting for her. Silks and satins. High-heeled shoes and pearls. Warm, feminine, mind-destroy-ingly sexy. “How long do you think it will take to wind things up?”
    “Not long now that I’m back. I’ve nearly cleared my desk as it is.”
    “You have a unique way of working.”
    She shrugged, determined not to be swayecLby the hint of humor she heard threading through his tone. Nothing changed the fact that he was there as a favor to Nico. “I suppose I do, but the main thing is I get results. I’m really sorry, Amarillo. Lunch is out of the question.”
    “No problem. Well have dinner.”
    Despite her intention to keep this sudden new attention of his in perspective, a spurt of excitement shot into her bloodstream. He wasn’t going to let the matter drop. She drew a deep breath and tried again. “It’s very nice of you to come check on me for Nico, but you don’t have to ask me out. As you can see for yourself, I’m fine.” “I’m glad to hear it, but I’m still asking.” He had no idea why he was being so persistent, he reflected with annoyance. He had meant only to drop by, stay a minute or two, then leave. Last night when Nico had called him, he had wanted to go to her immediately. The urge had puzzled him. Nico hadn’t sounded alarmed, just mildly concerned. Still, he reasoned, Nico trusted him to take care of everything while he and Caitlin were gone, and if that included keeping an eye on Nico’s kid sister, so be it. “If you come, I promise you chocolate.”
    She laughed. “You sound like you’re bribing me.”
    He didn’t even smile, because that was exactly what he was doing. Except, he knew very well she was no longer a young girl to be tempted by a treat. “Come directly from work to my place." He drew a pad and pen from his jacket, scribbled his address on it, then tore the top sheet from the pad and handed it to her. “Seven-thirty all right?” 
    She gazed at the piece of paper in her hand. She had always been curious about Amarillo, his private life, where and how he lived, what he did in his spare time. But— “Wouldn’t it be easier to call Nico and tell him he overreacted, that I’m all right, simply overworked?”
    “I’ll do that too.”
    She shook her head, confused. “I don’t understand why you feel you need to take me to dinner.”
    His lips twisted into a wry grin. “Maybe, Angelica, I don’t want to eat alone.”
    “But I’m sure there’s someone, a woman, you would enjoy being with—”
    “There is. You."
    She gazed up at him, trying to decide what to do. All her instincts told her to remain firm. But how did she say no to this man? His jawline looked as if it had been sandblasted from granite; the golden color of his eyes drew, the secrets they seemed to guard enticed.
    “Do you already have plans?”