thought I was easy! I know the rules, even if I don’t always follow them. Women don’t call men.”
“I wouldn’t have minded.” He kept his tone gentle, his gaze glued to hers. He reached across the desk and caught her hand. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
“I don’t know.” She went strangely breathless when he touched her. “I feel…nice, around you. Very aware and alive. I like that. I kept thinking of you, and I just wanted to hear your voice. Don’t get me wrong,” she added when he frowned again. “I’m not husband hunting or trying to claim love at first sight. It’s just that I haven’t met a man I was really attracted to in a long time, and it has nothing to do with how handsome you are. It’s more that you’re different, just as I am.” Then she groaned. “Oh boy, now I sound insulting. I mean, I know most people think I’m kind of weird. I wasn’t suggesting you’re weird, also.”
“Shadow.” Brent reached one long arm across the desk, gently laying his fingers over her soft lips, silencing her. “I don’t think you’re weird. Different, certainly, but in a refreshing way. I like you, too, all right?”
Since his fingers were still on her mouth, Shadow could only nod.
“Good. Now, why don’t you call and have your number changed, then let me know what it is.” He leaned away from her to pick up a pencil from her desk, then pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket. “My home phone number,” he said, showing her the paper. “I’ve only just settled into the house, and the number is still new to me. I can’t remember it myself yet.”
After copying it down for Shadow, he handed it to her. She glanced at it and said, “You have the same exchange as me. Where did you move to?”
“Woodbine Haven. Are you familiar with it?” Brent already knew the answer to that. He was, in fact, only a few blocks from where Shadow lived. He’d been pleased when he read her file and realized how close they would be. He waited for her reaction.
She disappointed him when she said only, “I know where it is.” For another moment she was silent, then, sounding disgruntled, she said, “You really are rich, aren’t you?”
What could he tell her? Woodbine Haven was a section of older, grand houses renovated and advertised as a prestigious neighborhood. It was a private section, containing only about twenty houses, and each was huge, with much of the original architecture from over a century ago. Seeing Shadow’s disappointment and not really understanding it, he asked, “Is that a problem?”
“No. Not really.” Her soft lips twisted in a wry grimace. “But I’ve known wealthy men and they tend to assume women will do anything they want just because they have money. They’re arrogant and condescending and egotistical.”
“Probably,” he said, his back going stiff with memories, “because most women will do anything for money. I can tell you firsthand how attractive women find the size of my wallet.”
Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “Don’t you have any other sizable assets that could distract them, instead?”
Exasperation crowded out the more unpleasant emotions. “Shadow…”
Laughing, she raised her hands. “I meant your new home, of course! Woodbine Haven is positively extravagant!”
Brent shook his head in mock reproach. “As soon as I can manage it,” he warned softly, “you’re going to view the rest of my assets, firsthand.”
She attempted to hide her grin and failed miserably. “Well, in the meantime, how about filling out the entry form? Please.”
With a dramatic sigh, Brent agreed. “If you insist.”
Shadow stood to clear away the remains of their lunch, and it was then Brent realized she hadn’t removed her coat yet. It wasn’t cold in the office, but he’d at first assumed she wore it to ward off the chill caused by her trip to the coffee shop. He asked her now, “Planning on going somewhere?”
Shadow gave him a puzzled look as she threw the trash in the can. “No.”
“Then why don’t you take your coat off?”
Heated color rushed to her cheeks, but she lifted her chin. “I don’t want you to see my dress.”
He sat back, prepared to be amused again. “Why not?”
“It…well…”
“Stammering, Shadow? This is different.”
Her mouth tightened, then she said, “It seemed kind of cute this morning when I first dressed, but now I’ve decided it would be better if I kept it under wraps.”
Predictably enough, Brent’s gaze went to the coat concealing her dress. “Now you’ve intrigued me.” He stood and moved closer to her. “Take it off.”
It wasn’t an order, more like a coaxing suggestion. Shadow shook her head. “You’ll think I’m being suggestive again.”
With infinite care, Brent reached out and began to undo the buttons of her soft, down-filled coat. When Shadow didn’t object, holding her breath instead, he continued. She began to babble.
“It’s silly, really. Just one of those joke items I’ll be selling this holiday season. I wouldn’t wear it anywhere but the shop, but I was in a holiday spirit this morning, and not really thinking about how it might look if someone separated me from the items I sell.”
“Hush.” Brent was busy giving his eyes free rein over her body. Damn, she was fine. More than fine. He had only to think of her and his muscles tensed, heated. He wanted her, and he’d have her. Soon. He parted the coat.
The dress ended well above her knees and was made of dark green knit, soft and clinging to the dips and swells of her upper body, but with a full skirt. The front, imprinted with a glitzy, decorated Christmas tree, caught and reflected the office lights off the many small sequins and buttons and beads. Brent knew it was the message printed above the fancy tree that Shadow was now feeling timid over.
Deliberately, he read it out loud. “There’s Something Special under my Tree for You.”
Since her body was under the tree, branches reaching across her breasts, the base ending at the notch of her thighs, Brent could understand her shyness. That she looked unbelievably enticing in the dress would only add to her dilemma. Brent skimmed the coat completely off her shoulders and down her arms, then tossed it onto the chair he’d just vacated. His hands went to her shoulders, straight and broad for a woman, emphasizing the tiny span of her waist.
“I don’t ever want you to be embarrassed with me, Shadow. Promise me.”
Nearly speechless, Shadow whispered, “I promise.”
He caught her face in his hands. His thumbs stroked over the softness of her cheeks and chin and jaw, his fingers delving into her dark, loosely curling hair. So incredibly soft, so warm. For an endless moment he stood there like that, enjoying the differences in their sizes, the light, feminine fragrance of her, the way she watched him, her thoughts now transparent without her speaking a word. Then he released her and stepped away. “You’ll have your phone number changed tomorrow?”
Shadow cleared her throat, then took several
