The Danforths: Reid, Kimberly and Jake. Maureen Child
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The band slipped into another fast number, and with the music so loud, it was easy to avoid any kind of serious conversation for the next few minutes. What she couldn’t avoid or ignore was the proximity of Reid’s body. His aftershave was woodsy, masculine, and she resisted the animal urge to slide closer and draw the intoxicating scent into her lungs.
When the music shifted back to a slow number, he leaned in, making her heart skip when he brought his mouth to her ear.
‘‘With a voice like that,’’ Reid said, nodding at Jason, ‘‘why’s he working in a bakery?’’
‘‘The hours leave his afternoons and evenings free for writing and practicing with his band.’’ His warm breath on her ear made it hard to think. ‘‘Mostly, he stays because of Rachel. They can see each other every day, and manage to sneak in a little private time, too, especially when my mother’s not there.’’
‘‘So your parents really don’t know what’s going on?’’
Tina shook her head. ‘‘My father’s kitchen is his own little world, and my mother—’’ she sipped at her wine, then shrugged ‘‘—well, her vision is skewed by her aspirations.’’
‘‘What aspirations are those?’’
With the wine cooling her nerves and Reid’s voice warming her insides, Tina felt herself relaxing. ‘‘To see Sophia and Rachel married into prominence and wealth, and at least one grandbaby on the way. That’s the real reason she bumped my restaurant and rented the space to your family. She sees the campaign headquarters as a hunting ground for potential husbands.’’
‘‘What about you?’’ Reid asked. ‘‘Doesn’t she want to see you married, too?’’
‘‘Heavens, no.’’ The laugh in her throat quickly faded when she realized that if she moved just a smidgen, Reid’s mouth would be touching her neck. The very thought of it made her shiver and inch away. ‘‘It doesn’t matter that I’m twenty-four. I’m her baby. She doesn’t think of me that way.’’
He shook his head slowly. ‘‘You’re no baby, Tina.’’
Something in Reid’s voice, in his eyes, something dark and smoldering, sent heat pulsing through her veins. Was this a game to him? she wondered. And if it was, did she want to play? It would be dangerous and very foolish and she’d lose. She hadn’t the experience or the skill to take on a man like Reid.
She’d be the one left hurting, she was certain of that. Was that a chance she could take?
Before she could even consider her answer, he’d already tugged her to her feet and was pulling her toward the dance floor. And when he drew her into his arms, she wasn’t thinking at all.
The song was slow, smooth, as sexy as it was soulful. Her body molded to Reid’s, and they moved as one. They were close, a blending of soft against hard. Even if she’d wanted to, she couldn’t have pulled away. She cursed the fact that she didn’t want to. She could have stood like this forever with Reid, her head on his shoulder, his arms tightly around her.
But there was no forever, not with Reid and not with the song. When it ended, she sighed and lifted her head.
‘‘Come home with me.’’
Her breath caught at his words. Her heart drummed. Come home with me. It would be so simple to leave here with him. To fall into his bed. She was certain it would be a night to remember.
But nothing would be simple tomorrow. She was just as certain about that, too.
While the dance floor began to clear and the band left the stage for a break, she imagined what it would be like. No man had ever made her feel like this before. Made her hot and cold at the same time. Made her ache. Made her yearn.
She needed space. Standing here, with Reid still holding her, she couldn’t breathe, let alone think.
‘‘Rachel is…’’
‘‘Backstage with Jason.’’
Tina glanced at the table where they’d all been sitting. The seats were all empty now. ‘‘Reid, I—’’
He dipped his head, brushed his lips over hers. She forgot what she’d been about to say.
‘‘I…I need a minute,’’ she said breathlessly, shivered when he touched her cheek with his hand.
‘‘I’ll wait for you at the table.’’
Nodding, she turned, and on weak knees headed for the ladies’ room. What kind of spell had he woven over her? she wondered. Whatever it was, it was as potent as it was formidable. A heady mix of excitement and fear.
Anticipation shivered through her.
Inside the rest room, Tina squeezed her way through the mass of buzzing females and made her way to a sink. Dampening a paper towel, she pressed it to her cheeks and neck while the women around her slicked on fresh lipstick, smoothed their hair and adjusted their low-cut dresses and tops.
She looked at her own dress, and though it was pretty and she thought she looked nice enough, she still felt like a sparrow in the midst of swans. A daisy next to roses. For the hundredth time she wondered why Reid would want her. Even if all he wanted was a one-night stand, he had his pick of the most beautiful women in Savannah. For that matter, in the world. It simply made no sense to her.
But did it have to?
For once, did she have to be so damn logical, so sensible? she asked herself. While the women chattered and laughed and pressed all around her, Tina stared at her own reflection, not even certain who she was anymore. For once, couldn’t she just let herself be? Let herself feel? Just enjoy the moment, the night, and not worry so much about tomorrow?
She felt a hand on her arm and blinked.
‘‘Tina,’’ Rachel said, her voice quavering. ‘‘We have to go.’’
‘‘What?’’ When tears spilled from Rachel’s eyes, Tina quickly pulled her sister into a stall and closed the door. ‘‘Rachel, honey, what’s wrong?’’
‘‘We have to go. Please.’’
‘‘What’s happened? Are you all right?’’
‘‘I—’’ Rachel swallowed, then choked on a sob. ‘‘I broke up with Jason.’’
Six
He sat at the bar, nursing a beer, but he wasn’t drunk. Not yet, anyway. At 2:00 a.m., the night was still young.
Reid figured he wasn’t the first man to close down a bar thinking about a woman, and was even more certain he wouldn’t be the last. In the ongoing battle between the sexes, womankind would forever remain a confusing and incredibly frustrating creature.
Reid decided that no woman could possibly be more confusing, or more frustrating, than Tina Alexander.
‘‘Mind if I join you?’’
Reid swiveled a glance at Jason. If the singer’s face dropped any lower, it would be scraping the wood floor. After two encores his group had finished a few minutes ago. The club was starting to thin out, and even Ian had left after the music ended. But there were still plenty of late-nighters scattered in the bar. ‘‘You buying?’’
‘‘Sure.’’ Jason slid onto the stool beside Reid, then gestured to the bartender for a new round.
‘‘That was a hell of a performance.’’
‘‘A record producer was in the audience.’’ Based on Jason’s tone, he might as well have said his best friend had died. ‘‘He wants the group to come to Los Angeles next week and cut a demo.’’
‘‘Congratulations.’’
Jason shrugged, took a long