“I suppose you could say that.” She accepted the sparkling wine he handed her and took a sip. “But I’m more impressed by the horses than I am with the people owning them.”
He looked thoughtful. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
She nodded. “Owners like the sheikh and the prince were born into their positions in life. They didn’t have to work to get where they are. But every horse starts out the same. They may have impressive bloodlines, but they still have to work and prove themselves on the track. That’s something to be admired.”
They fell silent for several moments before she felt him watching her.
“Is something wrong?”
“Not at all.” His smile caused her pulse to speed up. “Do you realize you’re the most beautiful woman here tonight?”
“I really hadn’t given it much thought,” she said truthfully.
She had, however, thought a lot about how handsome he was. Dressed in a tuxedo she knew for certain hadn’t come off of a rack, he looked absolutely amazing.
When a beautiful young woman stepped up to the microphone in front of the orchestra and began to sing the song “At Last,” Jake set both of their glasses on a nearby table. “Let’s dance.”
He took her hand and leading her out onto the dance floor, took her into his arms. The awareness suddenly arcing between them was spellbinding. Gazing into the other’s eyes, neither spoke as the orchestra played and the young woman sang about finally finding love. Jake held her close, and swaying in time to the music, Heather knew that she’d remember the moment for the rest of her life.
When the song ended, the orchestra immediately played the beginning notes of another slow, dreamy love song and he pulled her more fully to him. Resting her head against his broad chest, she closed her eyes. She’d never felt more cherished, more secure than she did at that very moment in Jake’s arms.
“Honey, I want you more right now than I’ve ever wanted anything in my entire life,” he whispered close to her ear.
His warm breath caused a shiver to course through her. She could deny that she didn’t want him just as much, but she was tired of lying. From the moment he arrived at the farm, she’d fought what she knew now to be the inevitable. Jake’s touch, his drugging kisses and being held in his arms had worn down her defenses, and she’d lost the battle she’d waged with herself. She wanted him just as much now as she had the night they’d conceived Mandy.
Leaning back to stare up at him, the heat in his cobalt gaze stole her breath.
“How long are we expected to stay at this thing?” he asked.
Her heart sped up. “We’ve put in an appearance. That’s all that’s expected.”
“Then what do you say we call it an evening and go home?” The promising look he gave her sent excitement coursing through her veins.
Before she could answer, he led her off the dance floor and out of the ballroom straight to the concierge desk. Requesting that their limousine be sent to the front entrance, Jake helped her into the backseat. He raised the window between them and the driver, then gathered her into his arms.
Touching her chin with his index finger, he smiled when their gazes met. “You do know what’s going to happen when we get back to the farm?”
Her smile robbed him of breath. “Yes.”
Crushing her to him, he covered her mouth with his and it suddenly felt as if the temperature in the car went up a good ten degrees. As she put her arms around his neck, she parted her lips and he didn’t hesitate to deepen the kiss.
Her eager response sent blood surging through his veins and he didn’t think twice about slipping his hand inside the low cut neckline of her evening gown. Caressing her breast, he touched the beaded tip with his thumb. Her moan fueled the fire building in his belly, but when she moved her hand upward from where it rested on his thigh, the rush of heat tightening his groin made him feel as if the top of his head might just come off. He would have liked nothing more than to strip her of the sexy dress and make love to her right then and there. But he hadn’t made out in the backseat of car since he was in his teens and he’d forgotten just how uncomfortable it could be.
Breaking the kiss, Jake breathed in some much needed oxygen as he removed his hand, rearranged her dress, then tucked her to his side. As much as he needed her at that moment, he didn’t want their lovemaking to be rushed. He wanted their first time together again to be special.
When she snuggled against him and rested her palm on his chest, he covered her hand with his. The ride to Hickory Hills seemed to take twice as long as it should have and by the time the chauffeur stopped the limo in the circular drive in front of the mansion, Jake felt as if he had enough adrenaline running through his veins to run a marathon. Without waiting for the driver, he opened the door and helped Heather out of the car.
Neither spoke as they walked the short distance to the veranda and climbed the steps. Opening the door, Jake stood back for Heather to enter and once they stood inside the foyer, he put his arms around her.
“Is Clara babysitting Mandy in her quarters for the night?”
She nodded. “She volunteered and since I wasn’t sure how long we would be out this evening, I took her up on the offer.”
Kissing her until they both gasped for breath, he slipped his arm around her waist. “Let’s go upstairs, honey.”
When they climbed the stairs and started down the hall toward the master suite, he forced himself not to pick her up and sprint the short distance. He wanted her with a driving urgency. But he focused his entire attention on taking things slowly and refreshing her memory of how good they’d been together in Los Angeles.
Entering his bedroom, he guided her over to the side of the bed, then turning on the bedside lamp, gathered her into his arms. He kissed her forehead, her eyes and the tip of her nose.
“I’m going to kiss you all over and by the time we’re finished there won’t be a single inch I haven’t loved.”
As he nibbled his way from the hollow behind her ear down her delicate throat to her collarbone, he reached behind her to unzip her cream-colored sequined gown. When the garment lay in a glittering pool at her feet, his heart stalled at the sight of her white lacy garter belt, sheer nylons and spike heels. He didn’t know a man alive who didn’t have some sort of fantasy about a woman wearing one of those little scraps of lace and a pair of impossibly high heels.
“If I’d known you were wearing this, we’d have left after that first dance,” he said, meaning it.