Like Silk. Mary Baxter Lynn

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      Ten

      Collier was about to get out of his vehicle when he heard a noise behind him. He peered into the rearview mirror and cursed. Lana had pulled into the driveway.

      He should be ashamed for not wanting to see her. But then, he didn’t want to see anyone right now except… Cursing again, he shut that thought down and tried to improve his mood. What was the matter with him? He should be thrilled to see Lana. After all, he was thinking about marrying her. He must have strong feelings for her.

      Her timing was bad. That was all. After his encounter with Jackson, he was in a pissy mood and wanted to be alone, get a hot shower, down a couple of beers, then hit the sack.

      So much for that plan.

      “Hey,” he said, after getting out and watching her exit her sleek Jag and walk toward him. No doubt about it, she was a looker. Tall and model thin, with highlighted brown hair, gray eyes and a full lower lip. That lower lip gave her a petulant look that matched her personality perfectly. If things didn’t go Lana’s way, there was hell to pay. But then, things rarely didn’t go her way. Her daddy saw to that. He had more than his share of money and clout in this country. And he doted on his only child.

      Lana smiled back at him, then grazed his cheek with her scarlet lips. “Hey, yourself.”

      “What brings you here this time of day?”

      She poked him in the chest with a matching nail. “You.”

      “That’s nice.”

      Lana gave him a suspicious look. “You sure don’t sound like it.”

      “Sorry, it’s just that it’s been a helluva day and I’m beat.”

      “All the more reason why you’re coming with me.”

      “Where?”

      “To dinner.”

      “Not tonight. I’m only fit for bed.”

      She gave an angry toss of her head, then complained, “You’re not being fair. I haven’t seen you in ages. If you won’t have dinner, then at least have a drink with me.” That same long nail made its way slowly and deliberately up and down his chest. “Please.”

      Usually such a blatant gesture raised the hair on the back of his neck. Not tonight. Maybe not ever again, he thought with alarm.

      “Collier, darling.”

      He forced another smile. “Uh, sorry. You name the place.”

      “Get in.”

      He shook his head. “I’ll follow you, so you won’t have to bring me back home.”

      “Maybe that’s exactly what I had in mind.”

      He leaned over and kissed her lightly. “I’ll be right behind you.”

      A few minutes later they were facing each other in the bar area of one of the nicer hotel restaurants, a favorite haunt of Lana’s and her women friends. For what was considered happy hour, the place was fairly deserted, Collier noticed, perusing the area. He was glad. He wasn’t in the mood to make small talk with anyone.

      “I’ve missed you,” Lana said, her voice dropping to a husky pitch as she laid her hand on the back of his.

      “Me, too.”

      Her eyebrows lifted. “You sure?”

      He sighed, withdrawing his hand. “Of course, but like I told you, it’s been crazy at the office.”

      “Well, things will change after you become a federal judge.”

      “You’re awfully confident.”

      “Daddy says it’s going to happen.”

      Collier gave her a lopsided smile. “And that makes it so, huh?”

      “You can make fun all you want, but you know better. Once Bill Frazier makes up his mind about something, it’s a done deal.”

      “You won’t hear any complaints on my part. Sitting on that bench would be a dream come true for both me and Mason.”

      “Good.”

      He took a sip of his drink and watched her over the rim, thinking he could do a lot worse than Lana. Yet…

      “So?” she asked.

      “So what?”

      “When are we going to set a wedding date?”

      Collier’s stomach suddenly bottomed out. “I don’t think this is the time to talk about that.”

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