town.
Thirty minutes later, her pewter Shelby Cobra curved into the town’s main street. She parked directly in front of the Royal Hotel but then, for a good ten minutes, she simply sat, wringing the sports steering wheel, gnawing her lower lip. She didn’t want to look desperate and knock on her architect’s door a second time. But she couldn’t sit here all day, either. And she couldn’t stop wondering …
Why hadn’t he called? Had something happened with Abigail and his idea for a new design? Was he still in town, or had Daniel left without telling her?
Her heart knocking at her ribs, Elizabeth studied her cell, lying in her purse on the seat alongside of her. She could call Abigail, ask a few subtle questions. Oh, but that seemed beyond lame, too. She and Daniel had spent an amazing day together. He’d said he’d take her away. She couldn’t believe that invitation had been nothing more than pillow talk.
Or was she as vulnerable—naive—as Chad would have her believe?
Outside, Brad Price appeared, strolling down Main with new Texas Cattleman Zeke Travers, who, word had it, was also a consultant for Brad’s security firm. On the other side of the street, Addison Harper was holding court with poor Rosaline Jamestown, who glanced over and recognized the car. Sliding down in the driver’s seat, a chill raced over Elizabeth’s skin. Eyes and ears were everywhere. She didn’t care if she was seen with Daniel. To hell with anyone who didn’t like that the Cattleman’s Club was being redefined and updated after a hundred years. But she did not want to be seen chasing after a man. She’d rather never hear from Daniel again. She had her pride, after all.
Making a quick decision, she rammed into Reverse and stepped on the gas, ready to drive away. The jolt from her back bumper hurled her forward against her belt at the same instant the crunch of metal on metal echoed through the car and her heart jumped to the top of her throat. Elizabeth threw a wild glance behind her and withered. Of all the people to run into, and this way.
Her face burning, she set her forehead on the steering wheel. She couldn’t bring herself to get out and explain.
A rap on the window forced her to edge her gaze higher over the wheel. Daniel Warren was grinning in at her, signaling for her to lower the window.
“Fancy bumping into you here,” he said, looking amused as he leaned folded forearms on the ledge when the window was down.
She fought the urge to pat her warm cheeks. “I apologize. I … I didn’t see your vehicle.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he laughed. “You didn’t look.” His gaze searched hers before dropping to devour her lips. “Anything special bring you into town?”
“Special?” While her heartbeat skipped on, she pretended to think. “Just a few errands.”
“At the hotel?”
His devilish, knowing grin had her dissolving. There was no use pretending. Angling her head, she sat back.
“Truth is I was curious.”
“About my design?”
She nodded. And other things.
He swung open her door, but she hesitated. “Are you sure you have time?”
“I always have time for you.”
Before heading off, Daniel checked the negligible damage to their cars then, taking her arm, he escorted her around folk meandering down the footpath—some clearly interested in the pair—and into the hotel foyer. As they entered the building’s cool interior, Elizabeth’s stomach knotted and she slid a look around. Just the day before yesterday, after she and Daniel had made love, she’d bumped into Chad here. But surely lightning didn’t strike twice in one place.
When they were in the privacy of an elevator, Daniel wasted no time in rotating her to face him. His palms gliding down the sensitive indentation of her back, he gathered her near and kissed her thoroughly while she melted into a grateful, pliant puddle. The time spent waiting, wondering if she might have dreamed those hours spent together, had been worth every minute.
The world was spinning when the elevator doors opened. Still, Daniel took his sweet time breaking the kiss. When his mouth finally left hers, his lips remained teasingly close. Dizzy, Elizabeth clung to his shirt, imagining the hard flesh steaming beneath as his hooded, hungry gaze searched hers.
“You’re addictive.”
Floating, she leaned in. “Feeling’s mutual.”
“We’re still on for an escape from Royal then?”
She almost buckled with relief. He hadn’t forgotten.
“Anytime you’re ready.”
Hot, strong fingers laced through hers as they stepped into the corridor and headed toward his door.
“I want to get the basics of the new design sorted first. I’ll send scans to Rand so he can work on the dimensions and scaled drawings.”
“Don’t you want to do that yourself?”
“When I’ve sketched everything out, I intend to spend time with you.”
“You might be missing New York by then.”
“Is that a hint? Do you want to spend our days visiting the Statue of Liberty and Central Park?”
“If you really want to know, I have a craving for something far more private. Maybe something tropical.”
Swiping the keycard, he winked. “Leave it to me.”
Inside the suite, they crossed to a long central table. Sketches were scattered everywhere so that only snatches of wood poked through. When something crunched beneath her foot, Elizabeth looked down. Paper lay all over the floor, too.
After clearing a square, he positioned a sheet in the center of the table and stood back, hands low on his hips.
“Tell me if you think it’ll fly.”
Stepping up, she inspected the drawings. There were scales and numbers and different angles. Confusing for a layperson, but the overall concept was clear and, to her mind, nothing short of perfect!
At her side, he slipped slim reading glasses on then ran two fingertips over the main drawing.
“Exterior material will be stone but also with a strong emphasis on glass, which will encase a tall tunnel ceiling spanning the entire length of the curving building.”
“Lots of glass … to let the light in?”
“Natural light,” he agreed, his attention on the drawing. “Light coming from the new membership and century.”
Smiling at the excitement sparkling in his eyes, she nodded then looked down again.
“And this shape?”
“I couldn’t get away from the symbol that most typifies this state as well as the club. Plastering massive steer horns on a giant cowhide door, however, was one of my less inspired ideas.”
Elizabeth
