eye contact even when she wanted to look away. She had to be firm. “It’s risky. It’s…well, the timing is completely wrong.”
He rubbed his jaw. “How do you know?”
Biting down on her frustration, she wished he would just accept it and move on. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“No. Explain it to me.” He folded his arms over his broad chest. “I admit I’m new at this.”
New at asking a woman out? She swallowed a laugh. He was the expert. Not her!
“Look, I could make a dozen excuses, but the truth is, I don’t have any plans. And I don’t want any. If I were to make up something, it would mislead you. Then we’d be right back in the same place. Let me make it as plain as I can. I’m a recent widow. I’m not interested in romance…or anything else. I don’t think—”
“I wasn’t asking you out.”
Confused, she blinked. “Excuse me?”
His mouth quirked into a semblance of a smile. He chuckled, but his gaze smoldered like a banked fire. “But if that’s what you want—”
“No.” Embarrassed heat flared inside her. What have I done?
You’ve made a complete fool of yourself, that’s what!
“Let me explain,” he continued, erasing the amused smile pulling at his lips. “I’m interested in looking over a piece of property near the Double Crown Ranch. It’s actually a winery. I hear there are several vineyards in this part of Texas. It’s a growing industry, here, as well as in Australia. I think it might be a good investment for our newly merged company. And it would expand the ranch even more.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t say anything else. She wished she had a magic button that would make her disappear.
“I was hoping you’d go with me. It borders the north side of the ranch.”
“Isn’t the Double Crown Ranch kind of large?”
“Approximately five hundred thousand acres.” He spoke as if that was a drop in an old bucket.
“That could take a while to cross.”
“We have to go around but it should be only a three or four hour drive. You could help gather information for my presentation to the board. But I understand if you’re not comfortable—”
“Forget what I said.” How could she have been so stupid? The only way for her to not look like a fool was to go with Brody. What had she done? “Please, just forget everything I said.”
He quirked a brow. “What are you saying?”
“Basically that I’ve been a complete idiot. I’m sorry, Brody. I—I…”
“Then you’ll go with me? To see the property, that is.”
Why did she think she’d regret this? Not for the usual reasons, but because it was now so obvious that Brody wasn’t interested in her.
“If you n-need me,” she stammered. “I mean, need me for work…for…” Flustered, she tried to mask the sudden twinge of disappointment…and irritation. Why didn’t he want to go out with her? That thought placed her in dangerous territory. She shouldn’t care what he thought about her. Or if he could ever be interested in her as anything other than an assistant. It shouldn’t matter.
But somehow it did.
Four
You’re just asking for trouble. Amy’s words haunted Jillian as she drove across San Antonio to reach Brody’s apartment punctually at nine o’clock the following Saturday morning. She’d suggested they go in her battered Camry, since she knew her way around Texas better than Brody did and they’d have to take back roads to reach the winery. He wasn’t the type to willingly turn control over to anyone, but he had reluctantly agreed.
Her palms began to sweat as she turned into the circular drive of the Remington Heights’ high-rise luxury apartments. She convinced herself that her rattled nerves were from the snobbish look the valet gave her as she parked outside the sliding-glass door entrance. But she knew the real reason.
Brody.
“Can I help you, miss?” the valet asked, meeting her as she opened her car door.
“I’m here to see a fr—my boss. Brody Fortune.”
He squinted down at her, his slicked-back hair reflecting the sun’s rays. “Is he expecting you?”
“Yes.” What did she look like, a groupie? “He is.”
“Very well.” Although obviously doubtful, he relented. “If you’ll step into the lobby, the receptionist will ring his apartment. In the meantime, I’ll drive your car around back.”
Probably so it wouldn’t be an eyesore in front of the swanky building. She handed over her keys in exchange for a valet ticket. “Fine.”
Jillian’s nerves chafed raw as she waited for the female receptionist with French-manicured nails and mink-colored hair to ring Brody. In a haughty tone, the woman said, “Mr. Fortune, pardon me for disturbing you, but there’s a woman here who says she has an appointment with you…a…”
“Jillian Tanner,” she answered the receptionist’s silent question.
The woman paused, listening to Brody’s response. “Yes, sir, I’ll send Ms. Tanner right up.” She placed the receiver back in its cradle. “He said he was expecting you.”
Imagine that!
The woman flicked a contemptuous glance over Jillian’s khaki slacks and butterscotch top. “Take the elevator to the seventh floor. Mr. Fortune is in apartment 7-D.”
“Thank you.” A satisfied smile pulled at Jillian’s lips. She stepped into the oak-paneled elevator, almost relieved that she only had Brody to face.
Before the doors closed, she heard the receptionist mutter, “Wouldn’t have thought she was his type.”
Well, Jillian wasn’t Brody’s type. She never had been. Never would be. This was business, she assured herself, and that’s all.
When the elevator reached the seventh floor, she walked down an elegant hallway, her steps muffled by the muted brandy-and-forest-green runner that stretched the length of the hardwood floor. Along the way, she passed polished tables decorated with impressive silk flower arrangements, Queen Anne-style armchairs and gold-framed paintings in the tradition of Monet. It didn’t take much to remind her that she and Brody were from very different worlds.
She paused at the last apartment and swallowed the rest of her reservations. Why did she feel like a pauper about to enter the king’s palace? Staring at the massive twelve-foot-tall door, she felt her stomach twist into a rock-hard knot.
After ringing the bell, she waited. And waited. A few anxious seconds passed, and she glanced at the gold-plated plaque again—7-D. Where was Brody? Hadn’t he
