some talk of high
density. Jamie is stubborn and has been holding out against that.” Her tone softened.
“She grew up right here and hates the idea of anything that would spoil the
lake.”
“I don’t
blame her. Do you think she’d mind if I took a look at it?”
“I can’t
speak for her, but I think she’d welcome your input as long as you’re not
talking about jamming in a bunch of vacation homes.”
“I’ll look it
over tomorrow.” He was silent for a few moments and Leeza studied what she
could see of his face. A sliver of moon had crept up behind the trees on the
far side of the lake, bathing them in silvery light. His cheekbones and jawline
were sharply defined, in striking contrast to his generous mouth. She looked at
his mouth and swallowed involuntarily. She was drawn to this man like a moth to
a flame. A fitting image, when she considered how she’d get burned if she got
involved with him. The rational part of her mind told her that, but she wasn’t
listening. She wanted this man with a fierceness that must be obvious to anyone
who looked at her.
He spoke,
breaking into her thoughts. “Listen to me going on about property. I asked you
out here to see the meteor shower and I end up talking business.”
“That’s okay.
The meteors were spectacular.” She looked into the sky, afraid to let him see
the longing in her eyes. “Thanks for inviting me to see them.”
“That was
purely selfish. I enjoy your company.” He looked at her for a moment and seemed
to be debating with himself. “Would you like to have breakfast together
tomorrow, or do you have to work?”
“No!” She was
rewarded by a look of disappointment in his eyes. “I mean no, I don’t have to
work.”
“That’s
great.” He stood up, and pulled her to her feet. For a moment she thought he
was going to kiss her, but then he dropped her hand at the last minute.
“Somewhere around nine? Is that okay with you?”
“Perfect.”
She bent to pick up the sleeping bag.
“No leave it.
I’ll get it later.”
“Later?” She
looked around. The place wasn’t exactly a hive of activity.
“I mean after
I walk you to your place.” He pretended to shudder. “Who knows what kind of
critters are out there?”
She laughed.
“My cottage is just over there.” She pointed downhill to the back of her
cottage.
The walk was
far too short; they were there in moments. Two steps led up to the small
screened porch. They stopped, neither knowing what to say.
“Well, I
guess I’ll say goodnight,” she said at last. “See you in the morning.”
“Right.
Goodnight then.” He waited until she’d gone inside and then turned away.
Leeza watched
him through the window until he rounded the corner. Matt Weber was a hard one
to figure out. At one point she’d thought he might be interested in her, but
now she wasn’t so sure. If he was interested, he was keeping it to himself.
Who are
you kidding? she said to herself, not for the first time. He’s married
and in all sorts of trouble. She was setting herself up for a fall and she
knew it. Trouble was, she was willing to accept the consequences in order to
find out.
* * *
Matt walked
toward the sleeping bags. Thankfully he could see them in the thin moonlight.
He picked up
the first one and started to fold it but Leeza’s scent lingered in the fabric.
He brought the soft flannel to his nose and inhaled.
What was he
going to do about his growing attraction for her? It couldn’t have come at a
worse time in his life. She had everything going for her here, and with the new
spa development, she had a bright future ahead of her.
He couldn’t
say why he was attracted to her; he just was. Maybe it was because she was the
polar opposite of Cassandra. He thought of his wife; tall, blonde and
undeniably elegant, they had been working together in the business for just
under six years. He shook the sleeping bag and started to fold it, still
thinking of Cassandra.
They had been
in love
density. Jamie is stubborn and has been holding out against that.” Her tone softened.
“She grew up right here and hates the idea of anything that would spoil the
lake.”
“I don’t
blame her. Do you think she’d mind if I took a look at it?”
“I can’t
speak for her, but I think she’d welcome your input as long as you’re not
talking about jamming in a bunch of vacation homes.”
“I’ll look it
over tomorrow.” He was silent for a few moments and Leeza studied what she
could see of his face. A sliver of moon had crept up behind the trees on the
far side of the lake, bathing them in silvery light. His cheekbones and jawline
were sharply defined, in striking contrast to his generous mouth. She looked at
his mouth and swallowed involuntarily. She was drawn to this man like a moth to
a flame. A fitting image, when she considered how she’d get burned if she got
involved with him. The rational part of her mind told her that, but she wasn’t
listening. She wanted this man with a fierceness that must be obvious to anyone
who looked at her.
He spoke,
breaking into her thoughts. “Listen to me going on about property. I asked you
out here to see the meteor shower and I end up talking business.”
“That’s okay.
The meteors were spectacular.” She looked into the sky, afraid to let him see
the longing in her eyes. “Thanks for inviting me to see them.”
“That was
purely selfish. I enjoy your company.” He looked at her for a moment and seemed
to be debating with himself. “Would you like to have breakfast together
tomorrow, or do you have to work?”
“No!” She was
rewarded by a look of disappointment in his eyes. “I mean no, I don’t have to
work.”
“That’s
great.” He stood up, and pulled her to her feet. For a moment she thought he
was going to kiss her, but then he dropped her hand at the last minute.
“Somewhere around nine? Is that okay with you?”
“Perfect.”
She bent to pick up the sleeping bag.
“No leave it.
I’ll get it later.”
“Later?” She
looked around. The place wasn’t exactly a hive of activity.
“I mean after
I walk you to your place.” He pretended to shudder. “Who knows what kind of
critters are out there?”
She laughed.
“My cottage is just over there.” She pointed downhill to the back of her
cottage.
The walk was
far too short; they were there in moments. Two steps led up to the small
screened porch. They stopped, neither knowing what to say.
“Well, I
guess I’ll say goodnight,” she said at last. “See you in the morning.”
“Right.
Goodnight then.” He waited until she’d gone inside and then turned away.
Leeza watched
him through the window until he rounded the corner. Matt Weber was a hard one
to figure out. At one point she’d thought he might be interested in her, but
now she wasn’t so sure. If he was interested, he was keeping it to himself.
Who are
you kidding? she said to herself, not for the first time. He’s married
and in all sorts of trouble. She was setting herself up for a fall and she
knew it. Trouble was, she was willing to accept the consequences in order to
find out.
* * *
Matt walked
toward the sleeping bags. Thankfully he could see them in the thin moonlight.
He picked up
the first one and started to fold it but Leeza’s scent lingered in the fabric.
He brought the soft flannel to his nose and inhaled.
What was he
going to do about his growing attraction for her? It couldn’t have come at a
worse time in his life. She had everything going for her here, and with the new
spa development, she had a bright future ahead of her.
He couldn’t
say why he was attracted to her; he just was. Maybe it was because she was the
polar opposite of Cassandra. He thought of his wife; tall, blonde and
undeniably elegant, they had been working together in the business for just
under six years. He shook the sleeping bag and started to fold it, still
thinking of Cassandra.
They had been
in love
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