The Wedding Wager: Dakota Daddy. Sara Orwig

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СКАЧАТЬ Sorenson Gallery. That was about the same year you opened your first restaurant in Dallas—Dalton’s, I believe.”

      “I used my name for the same reason you did,” he said quietly. “You kept up, did you?”

      She shrugged. “My aunt and uncle knew people who knew your family, so word got around. In some ways we’re in a small world.”

      “One that got far more interesting when you came back into my life,” he added.

      “Jared, is it possible for you to avoid flirting?”

      “Not with you,” he replied with an enticing smile. He leaned forward. “You look elegant, but there’s one flaw.”

      “Oh, what’s that?” she asked, trying not to care, yet aware how close he was again.

      “You would look much better,” he said and reached up to remove the clip holding her hair, “without this.” Her thick curtain of black hair tumbled on her shoulders and back. “There, that’s perfect,” he said.

      She smiled and shook her head to get her hair away from her face. “You may like it better, but it’s not as convenient.”

      “I definitely like it better. Sacrifice convenience to please me. I’ll appreciate it.”

      “How’s the weather where we’re headed?”

      “It’s beautiful. Perfect, too.”

      “Enough of that!” she retorted, his compliment pleasing her.

      She settled back and listened, chatting with him, laughing at some of his stories. The day passed surprisingly fast, and she realized she was enjoying his company, even though each minute with him brought back memories of being together. Too often, she dreaded when they got to the point of this trip.

      “We must be getting close.” The deep blue of the Gulf caught her eye. “Are you in town?”

      “No. I have a villa on the coast. We’ll have total privacy.”

      “I don’t think we’ll require total privacy, but it’ll be nice.”

      It was a long trip, but eventually they landed and deplaned, and Jared escorted her to a limo where his chauffeur and bodyguard stood waiting.

      Within minutes, Jared and Megan were driven into town to a small, exclusive shop to look for a swimsuit. While Jared stood near the front window and talked on his cell phone, she was shown a variety of suits. Selecting a half dozen, she tried them on without showing them to Jared. She made her selection and dressed again, emerging from the dressing room.

      “I didn’t get to see you model the suits,” Jared said with a twinkle in his eyes.

      “You’ll see me soon enough when you swim with me.”

      “I’m counting the minutes,” he said, and she smiled.

      “Always flirting, Jared. If we aren’t fighting,” she amended.

      “I hope to be done with the latter,” he said, and there was a solemn note in his voice that made her feel he was sincere in wanting to work something out in cooperation. She remembered he was a master at convincing people to do what he wanted, and wondered if his words were shallow or really held meaning.

      For a moment she gazed into his brown eyes and had a pang of longing for what could have been between them. Shaking off the wishful thinking, she started to open her purse.

      Stopping her, Jared took the suit from her hand. “I’ll get this,” he said in a tone that ended her argument.

      As she watched, Jared purchased two more identical ones.

      She laughed. “Jared, I’m not in a swim contest. I only need one suit.”

      “You never know. Always be prepared. Why not?”

      “Because it’s a waste of your money,” she said, wondering about his extravagant lifestyle, and how much Ethan’s life was about to change. And perhaps her own.

      “Then let me worry about it,” he said, smiling at her. She stopped protesting.

      They drove out of town and thick trees and bushes crowded the narrow highway until they turned into iron gates and Jared waved at a man who returned the greeting.

      “How often are you here?” Megan asked.

      “A few weeks out of the year. He’s a gatekeeper, and I let him know we were coming. The staff is here now.”

      Curious about Jared’s life, she wondered if he was showing her this home to prove that he could do more for Ethan than she could. Yet it didn’t feel like a jab. His pride in his home shone through. They drove through more thick vegetation and then through another set of gates that swung open at the limo’s approach. A high plaster wall glowed pale yellow, with patterns of shade from tall trees close by. Past the gates, the surroundings transformed into a garden paradise. Palms, other tropical trees and plants dotted the emerald grass.

      Beautifully landscaped lawns led to a sprawling white villa with the brilliant blue water of the ocean as a backdrop. Blue trumpet-shaped blossoms of tall jacaranda trees were bright in the sunlight.

      “Jared, it’s fantastic!” she said, awed. She was certain now that he wanted to impress her with how much more he could do for Ethan than she.

      “I enjoy it. I hope you do, too. How about a swim first thing?”

      “That sounds wonderful.” She conceded. “A swim after the long flight is exactly what I need.” In the flash of pleasure she released her hold on their problems momentarily.

      “Swim it is,” he said. “Unpack later, or I can have Lupita do it for you.”

      “I’ll unpack myself, thank you,” she replied in amusement. “I really can’t wait.”

      “I can’t wait, either,” he said in a husky voice that registered with her, and she glanced at him.

      “You don’t swim often?” she said, as if deliberately missing his meaning.

      “I want to see you in your suit.”

      “Oh, stop!” She turned back to look at the house and its porch, with pots of lavender orchids. Yellow and scarlet bougainvillea ran up the walls and onto the roof. “Jared, this is magical.” Feeling a pang when she thought about Jared bringing Ethan to see it.

      “I’m glad you think so.”

      As soon as they parked, a uniformed man emerged from the house. Jared introduced her to Adan, who took their bags. Inside, she met Lupita, who smiled broadly and listened to brief instructions from Jared.

      As Megan walked through the front door, her breath caught. The entry was wide and open with columns. Extended beyond the entrance was a large living area she could see through open, floor-to-ceiling glass doors and bamboo furniture.

      Beyond the room, through the open doors, was a veranda that extended to a sparkling, aqua pool with a СКАЧАТЬ