Tempted by a Carrington. Linda Hudson-Smith

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      Chapter 2

      Deciding at the last minute to take a detour, Dallas exited I-45 South onto Clear Lake City Boulevard. A few minutes down the road, he pulled up to the gates of the City on the Lake townhomes, which Lanier had mentioned. After telling the guard he was there to view model homes, the gate was opened. He hoped Lanier wouldn’t think he was prying into her private affairs by finding out information on the complex.

       Opening the door, Dallas stepped into the air-conditioned office.

       Smiling all over the place, the lady behind the front desk rushed to her feet. “Hello!” She extended her hand to Dallas. “I’m Casey Rayburn. Are you interested in our complex?”

       “I’m not looking to move, but I have a friend who is. I’d like to see the models.”

       Casey suddenly turned pale. “Oh, my goodness, you’re one of the Carrington triplets. I’m not sure which one, but I follow you in sports. I won’t try to guess which brother you are.”

       Smiling broadly, she hunched her shoulders. “Can you just tell me? I’m dying to know.”

       Smiling back at her, Dallas removed his hand from her tight grip. “I’m Dallas, member of the Texas Hurricanes. Thanks for supporting us. We appreciate it.”

       “I can’t think of anyone in Texas who doesn’t support you. Ladies go crazy when any one of you guys is on television. I didn’t know much about sports until you all started playing.” She suddenly looked embarrassed. “Sorry for kind of losing it. I’m sure you didn’t come in here to see me act a fool. How many bedrooms is your friend interested in?”

       Dallas stroked his chin. “Don’t know for sure. I’ll take a guess that she’d want two or maybe three. I’ll just look at all four models. Are they open?”

       “Yes.” Grabbing a folder off the counter, she handed it to him. “Inside are copies of the floor plans for each town house, including square footage and pricing sheets. The end units cost more. Every unit has an attached two-car garage. Let me know if you have any questions.”

       “Thanks.” Dallas exited out of French doors that led to the models.

       The first town house Dallas entered had three bedrooms and three full baths. The flooring throughout the house was laid with both hardwood and ceramic tile. The roomy end unit had over 2,500 square feet of living space, including a fabulous sunroom with a great lake view. The master suite was located downstairs. Racing upstairs, he immediately liked the warm feel of the entire unit, and he was sure Lanier would give it a thumbs-up.

       Imagining Lanier in these lavish surroundings was easy for Dallas. Three years of being together had given him insight into her likes and dislikes. She loved soft and silky things next to her body, and she loved European furnishings. Visions of her moving around in the town house made him smile. He still had more models to view, but his heart had embraced this one.

       Moving toward the next townhome, Dallas opened the front door and walked in. The warmth he’d felt in the first residence was noticeably absent. The place was beautifully furnished and well-appointed, but something was missing. This townhome had two bedrooms and two full baths. Moving upstairs, he hurried through each room. It had been much easier for him to savor the splendor in the first home. Simply put, this house was by no means a perfect fit for Lanier. It was nice enough, but nowhere near up to her standard.

       The next two models weren’t as well-appointed as the first town house, Dallas noted. If Lanier could fit the first one into her budget, he was willing to bet she’d go for it. All she’d have to do was put her stamp of approval on it and pen her signature. He’d also read that one of the subdivisions inside the complex had town houses for purchase. Purchasing may be a much better option for Lanier than leasing, but he wasn’t certain of her interest.

       Dallas pulled his Mercedes into the driveway at Haven House. He’d fallen asleep after a hot shower and was glad he’d made it back on time for dinner.

       Lanier reached Dallas before he made it out of the car. The bright smile on her face had his heart thumping wildly. “Hey, there, beautiful,” he said, taking her into his arms. Lanier had never come outside to meet him like this. Dallas took it to mean she was in a good mood and was happy to see him.

       Dallas had already eaten two double-decker burgers and a large salad before he decided to mind his manners. Lanier had been closely watching him from the first bite he’d taken. Her spurts of giggles weren’t lost on him. She was still as fascinated as most people were by the amount of food he consumed.

       “Who are the Hurricanes playing day after tomorrow?” Lanier asked.

       “Toronto Mustangs. They’re a good team, but we’re better. Hopefully, we’ll get the win.” He smiled. “Did you get your ticket from Ashleigh?”

       “Got it yesterday,” Lanier replied. She stood. “Okay, Dallas, its dish-duty time.”

       Dallas jumped up from his seat. “Let’s get it done. Then we can cuddle on the couch and watch a movie or two.”

       Lanier loved lazy nights in with him. Her eyes filled with pride every time she thought about how he’d hotly pursued her on the cruise ship. It had taken her a while to respond to his flirtations because she had tagged him a playboy on sight, but she was wrong. She winked at him. “You’re the best.”

       The couple vacated the clean kitchen and went into the family room, where they curled up together СКАЧАТЬ