Chapter Four

Tyson leaned in too. “I grew up in Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth area. Went to college at the best—the University of Texas.” He didn’t tell her that after one year there he’d transferred to Annapolis for OCS, Officer Candidate School.

“Go Longhorns,” she added with a grin.

“You a Longhorn?” he asked as an olive-skinned man pushing a cart full of desserts stopped by their table. Four shelves of mouthwatering pastries sat there waiting for their decisions, tempting their stomachs that didn’t seem so full anymore.

“No. But some of my good friends are.” She paused to point out which dessert from the passing cart she wanted to try. A bread pudding soaked in whiskey sauce. “I’m a Bulldog. UGA all the way, baby.”

He laughed. “Football fan, huh?” Tyson pointed to a triple-layered chocolate cake drizzled with rasp-berry sauce.

“Love it,” she said with rising enthusiasm. Her entire body glowed with her animation. “I watch more professional now than anything, but I still follow college.” They fell silent as their desserts were placed in front of them by a pretty young woman who was with the man; that was her only job.

“How’s yours?” Tyson asked as they began eating.

Without hesitation Jayde put some of the bread pudding on her fork and held it out across the table for him to try. As his mouth closed around her fork, he envisioned himself sucking on her mouth and other parts that he desperately wanted to give his attentions. “Mmmm…” He sighed and licked his lips. “Deli-cious. Here, try mine.”

Jayde accepted the chocolate bite. “That’s good.”

His hazel eyes never left hers as he drew the fork into his mouth to clean it off, relishing what little chocolate there was left over from her taste.

“Everything he does is erotic,” Jayde muttered softly under her breath. Not soft enough, though, be-cause Tyson heard it and his body responded, hardening to the point of being almost painful.

After dinner and dessert, they ordered hot drinks; Tyson had coffee and Jayde had tea. “So tell me why you wanted to have dinner with me,” Jayde suggested.

“I didn’t want our time together to end so soon. I wanted…and still do…want to get to know you bet-ter,” Tyson answered the woman who had ensnared him.

“Right. You just wanted my name.” Her eyes twinkled with good humor.

“That too.” He winked. Sliding his chair back he stood and walked around to her side of the table. “Dance with me.” He didn’t understand what she was doing to him; he’d hated dancing with Carrie and would avoid doing so at all cost. So why was it so important for him to dance with Jayde? Because he wanted to hold her in his arms once again.

“Okay.” Jayde stood and they walked over to where other couples were dancing. With ease he maneu-vered them out onto the dance floor. They moved around effortlessly, her head eventually resting against his chest.

Content to hold her, Tyson kept them out there for three songs. She moved so well in his arms on the dance floor; he knew they would move this well in bed together also. After the third song ended, he escorted her back to their table, his hand resting on the small of her back. They passed a large mirrored surface and Tyson got a good look at them. They made a wonderful couple. He fair, she dark. He tall, she shorter. He trim, she curvy. He also noticed that other people were watching them almost enviously.

Tyson helped her back into her chair and then reclaimed his seat, signaling for another round of drinks.

“Thank you,” she said.

“For what?”

“The dance. You are a wonderful dancer.”

“You as well. But you are welcome just the same. Tell me more about you,” Tyson said as their drinks were filled.

“Not much to tell. I lead a very boring life.”

“I doubt that. What about your family?” His eyes moved around the room before settling back on her face.

“My parents are alive and well in Savannah, Georgia. I have three brothers and two sisters. I am the youngest at twenty-nine. They all want to control my life and that’s about it.” She smiled sadly.

Arching an eyebrow, he took a sip of his coffee. “I don’t see how your life could be boring with five siblings in it. If I can ask without it being too personal, how come you were the one sent to take care of your cousin?”

“Because I hadn’t started what they considered a ‘real’ career yet. So I went to New York. But I got away from ‘the bosses’, my family, for a while. I am glad I went; sorry she died, but glad I was there with her. If that makes any sense.” Jayde shrugged.

“It does. It makes perfect sense. You needed to get away from your ‘overbearing’ family and though you are sorry it took a family member’s illness to do so, you were glad you got to go.”

“You do understand.”

“So, what is your big ‘career’ that you haven’t started yet?” he asked. She blushed and he wondered what she was thinking.

“I don’t know. I went to school for business, but I love to paint. So I doubled and got an art degree as well. But the family doesn’t think that will pay the bills so I have to find a good job. I suppose I could always work for Father, but I don’t want to. My whole life I have been the baby. The one who needs ‘looking after’ since I can’t make good decisions according to them, but I take care of them all when it comes down to it. I just want to do something for me, that I love.”

Tyson recalled the passion that flared in her eyes when she’d mentioned painting. “Then paint. Just do it.”

“Maybe.” She shrugged one shoulder. “What about you? Your family?”

“Well, I am a middle child. I have an older brother and a younger sister. I’m thirty-five and my parents are also still living. My mom is a hospital administrator and my father owns a propane business. My oldest brother and I don’t get along very well. He works for the post office as does my younger sister; she’s a gem. You would love her. I don’t get home to see her much, though. I don’t see eye to eye with my father, either; he wants me to be home with the rest of the family.”

If Jayde could see this was a source of tension for him, she didn’t pursue it further and he was grateful. However, the light chiming of a phone reached them. “Excuse me; that’s my cell phone.” She opened her purse and flipped her phone open. “Hello?” She rolled her eyes, an action that brought another smile to Tyson’s face. “I’m fine. I’m in the middle of dinner. No, Sam, it is at my hotel so I am perfectly safe. I’m fine. Goodnight, Sam.” She hung up her phone.

“Brother one, two, or three?” he asked as she brought another grin to his face with her annoyed expres-sion. Amazed at the amount of times he had smiled since he met her, Tyson didn’t want to let her walk out of his life. Even during the three years he’d been with Carrie he hadn’t smiled this much or this freely.

“Second oldest, which means the other two along with my sisters and parents will be calling soon, so I should go. Thank you very much for a wonderful evening, Tyson Kincade.” Jayde gathered her purse and opened it, bringing out her wallet.

He didn’t want the evening to end, but he’d never pressured a woman to share his time, so he waved for the bill. Jayde began to protest him paying for her portion until he gave her a silencing look.

As they walked through the dining area to the lobby she said, “You didn’t have to pay for my dinner.”

Thunder rumbled as a storm rolled into the area, similar to how the dread of leaving her rolled into him. “A date is a date. Now, I am walking you to your door.”

“Of course.” She led the way to the elevator and they got on with other guests and went up to the fifth floor where she motioned they should get off.

Tyson walked beside her down the hall until she stopped at her door. Room 5627. “Your key?” He waited for her to give him her card key and opened the door for her.

Jayde walked into her room, but Tyson remained in the doorway. “Again, thank you for dinner,” she said as he watched her intently with his hazel eyes.

“You’re welcome, Jayde.”

She licked her lips nervously. “Goodnight, Tyson.”

“Jayde?” His seductive voice caressed her.

“Yes?” She set her purse down and faced him again as she stood by the door.

“I am claiming number two,” he warned, seconds before kissing her.

Like the first time they kissed, her world spun out of control. His touch electrified her body. As his tongue stroked hers, she felt a reckless desire deep within her soul for this man. Jayde kissed him even harder. For a moment she wondered what it would be like to have a man like him in her life, to come home to everyday. Perfect, it would be perfect.

He broke it off, his own breathing fast and hard. One hand trailed down her face. “Goodnight. Dream of me.” Then he was gone. She’d blinked and he was gone, like he hadn’t been there at all. If not for her swollen lips, she would have sworn it had all been a dream.

Still trembling, Jayde shut the door and locked it. Never had a man affected her like that. Jesus, why did he have to be such a gentleman?

Before she could dwell too much on that, her phone rang again and for the next three hours she spoke to—was lectured by—her family as they called to make sure she was still breathing and to let her know they thought what she was doing was stupid and childish. Then she finally made it into the shower, letting the pounding spray ease away her tension for the man she’d just met this very day.