Standing Outside The Fire. Sara Orwig

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СКАЧАТЬ she had forgotten him. Few times in his life had he had women forget, ignore or rebuff him, and the unique experience was both a challenge and exasperating.

      The waiter brought their steaks and hot, baked potatoes sprinkled with chives. Then he uncorked a bottle of red wine that Boone had ordered to go with the steaks and filled new glasses.

      As they cut into the juicy meat, thunder rattled the windows and another flash of lightning tore across the sky.

      “We’re getting a deluge,” she said, sounding concerned.

      “It’ll pass and we’re warm and cozy, enjoying delicious steaks and an unforgettable evening.”

      “It’s going to be unforgettable, all right.”

      He reached over to take her hand, and her eyes flew wide as she looked at him.

      “You can’t do anything about the rain, and it will go away. No Noah’s Ark needed here. Enjoy your dinner and let go of the worries. Let’s have another toast.” He released her hand and picked up his wineglass. “Here’s to sunshine in the morning and excitement tonight.”

      She picked up her wine to sip. “I think I’m getting woozy from the wine.”

      “The steak dinner will take away the effects of the wine. Enjoy yourself and forget the cares of the day.”

      “I will.” She took a bite of steak, closing her eyes as she chewed and he stared. She was one of the sexiest women he had ever known. He barely knew her—not even knowing her name, much less her phone number—and as far as she was concerned, she was going to walk out of his life and never see him again. He had no intention of letting that happen.

      “This is the best steak I’ve had in a long time,” she said. “I was famished. We had peanuts on the plane, but that doesn’t do it when you’ve missed lunch, and breakfast was orange juice and coffee.”

      Another clap of thunder shook the panes and lightning flashed, giving a silvery brightness to the world outside. In seconds another brilliant flash crackled and then a loud bang came from outside. Inside the restaurant, the lights flickered and went off.

      “Oh, my!” she said.

      “It may be temporary,” Boone stated, digging in his pocket and pulling out a small flashlight. At the same time, she removed a small flashlight from her purse and switched it on. They looked at each other and laughed as they placed the flashlights on the table.

      “So we think alike on some things,” Boone said. “We each carry flashlights for emergencies.”

      “Even if it’s as dark as a cave, I’m eating this steak,” she declared.

      “So am I. Here comes our waiter.”

      The waiter approached with a candle in a hurricane glass and Boone noticed that other waiters were bringing out candles.

      “This is just a temporary power outage,” the waiter said as he moved glasses and set the candle in the center of the table. “A transformer has blown, and they hope to restore power soon. Can I get you anything else?”

      “We’re fine,” Boone said, watching the white-coated man refill their wineglasses. If she was getting any kind of buzz from drinking her wine, it wasn’t apparent to him. She was as guarded about her personal life as she had been when they sat down.

      He touched the flashlights. “You’re a practical person.”

      “Where were we when the storm interrupted the conversation?” she asked, once again moving the conversation away from herself.

      “You said you thought I was an only child or had sisters. You’re half-right,” he replied. “I have sisters and brothers. There were nine of us.”

      “Wow! I’ll bet you’re the oldest.”

      “That’s right and now I know better than to pursue why you think that,” he replied. “If I guess your first name, would you tell me if I’m right?”

      “Of course not! We have a bet that I would tell you, not that you’d guess. Remember? I want my chocolate bar. I’ll take it up to my room and curl up in bed with it and read and listen to the rain,” she said, sipping her red wine.

      “I can think of some other things that would be more exciting to curl up in bed with than a chocolate bar and a book.”

      “I’m sure you can. You’re not a big reader, then.”

      “I like to read. I just like other things to curl up in bed with.”

      “So what do you like to read?”

      He named his favorite authors, and she nodded about some. As conversation shifted to books, he discovered how she spent a chunk of her time.

      “Here comes our waiter again,” she said.

      “We expect to have electricity soon,” the white-coated man said when he paused at their table. He had a sack in his hand and produced a bottle of white wine. “Compliments of the house. We’re sorry for any inconvenience tonight because of the lights.”

      “Thanks,” Boone said when the waiter returned the bottle into the sack and set it on the table.

      When they finished eating, Boone had the dinners put on his room bill in spite of her protests. They talked about books a few more minutes until he took her hand. “Let’s go to the lounge. I can hear music, and we can dance.”

      She inhaled and he saw a flicker of eagerness in her eyes and he knew she was debating whether or not to accept his offer. Still holding her hand, he stood and pushed away his chair. “C’mon, mystery lady. A few dances will be a pleasure. You’re safe with me.”

      “I think you’re the biggest danger I’ve encountered in a long, long time,” she said softly.

      Two

      “That’s progress,” her handsome escort replied. “Knowing I’m dangerous to you just moved me out of ‘fun’ and ‘good’ for the evening.”

      Knowing she should say no yet unable to resist, Erin picked up her flashlight and purse and handed him his flashlight. When her fingers brushed his, she drew a sharp breath. The slightest contact with him tonight had been electric. He was irresistible and he knew it and she was certain he had left an abundance of broken hearts strewn in his past. With all her being she was trying to keep a wall between them because there was a volatile chemistry that had sparked to life the first moment she had looked into his blue eyes in the hotel elevator.

      He was so incredibly handsome! All evening it had been an effort to keep from staring at him.

      In the dark lounge, he led her to a corner table. The place was half filled and a few couples circled the dance floor. Two walls were dark paneling with hunting pictures, mirrors backed the bar and the fourth wall was French doors opening to a terrace. Each table had a candle, and the entire bar was in semidarkness, yet with the candlelight, the room held a cozy atmosphere.

      She watched while her new acquaintance ordered glasses of white wine. Golden candlelight flickered over his СКАЧАТЬ