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  Chapter Two

  Bella peeked out from behind the stage curtain, obsessively preoccupied with the need to know if Jake Barton had shown up again.

  The last two weeks had been the most frustrating of her life. Between Lexi’s heavy hints laced with subtle pressure that Bella needed to do something to shore up her sexy bad-girl image and Jake Barton’s inexplicable behavior, she was ready to quit her modeling career and take up Christmas tree farming.

  And she was allergic to pine needles.

  Oh, yes, he was there again, sitting in the front row.

  Her entire body tightened in anticipation and her nipples went hard in a Pavlovian response to his presence they’d learned at that very first show.

  She gritted her teeth and tried to ignore the ache, all the while drinking in his appearance with the enthusiasm of a woman lost in the desert who happened upon an oasis. Which was all out of proportion because the man deserved to be ignored, or maybe pummeled, but definitely not lusted over.

  He was driving her stark, staring crazy.

  At the last show, he’d been near the back, behind a woman whose hair had looked like it was competing to play in the Cotton Bowl. It didn’t matter how far from the stage he sat, Bella became aware of him on a wholly primal level from the moment she stepped onto the stage.

  She could feel him.

  And it frustrated her.

  Because, although they’d spoken twice more and he’d flirted with her in a possessive, primitive manner that implied an interest as deep as her own, Mr. I-don’t-play-games hadn’t made a single move to ask her out.

  He remained infuriatingly out of reach, there in the audience, sometimes coming to the after-show parties, more often disappearing as if he were a phantom of her imagination.

  Why did he come? And what was she going to do about it?

  He’d never bought anything. Sometimes he didn’t even stay for the whole presentation and he didn’t personally know anyone else in the show. She’d asked around.

  Yet, today was the fifth Lexi’s Creations trunk show he’d attended in two weeks. He’d been at the two events in Houston, and the one following in Austin, but he hadn’t made the one in San Antonio. She’d been depressed for two days after.

  They’d returned north to Fort Worth and here he was again.

  One of the other models, a former West Texan, had told her that Jake Barton wasn’t married, owned a huge ranch about an hour from Austin and was well known for his extensive oil holdings.

  None of which explained the fascination he held for her or the feeling of connection she experienced when their eyes met, nor did anything in his background account for his attendance at one fashion show after another.

  Which was the tiny kernel of hope in her burnt-popcorn existence at the moment.

  Maybe, an insidious little voice inside her insisted, he had come to see her and was working up to asking her out.

  Only he didn’t seem like the type of man to be hindered by reticence when it came to going after something he wanted.

  Which was one of the reasons she hadn’t made the first move. She didn’t want to approach him, only to be rejected.

  On the other hand, the faint heart never won the fair maiden, or something like that. He wasn’t a maiden, but she’d like very much to win him. She was seriously considering showing up on his ranch during her Christmas hiatus and going for what she wanted.

  Jake waited for Bella to come out onto the stage, allowing the anticipation to zing through him.

  He had the whole program memorized and it was time for her to wear the black dress again.

  The first time he’d seen it, he’d thought it was more modest than the other designs by Lexi, but as Bella got closer, he’d realized that she wasn’t wearing anything under the lace bodice and her nipples were only partially hidden behind the rose pattern on the lace.

  As she walked down the stage, his blood heated with satisfaction as he got his first glimpse of the sweet valley between her luscious curves.

  Captivated, he watched as she met his eyes like she had every single time she’d walked out onto the stage since the first time. It was like she had a radar to pick him out in the audience. He liked that.

  She tried unsuccessfully to look away. He could feel her effort and her eyes begged him to release hers.

  He was more than willing to show her mercy and let his own gaze wander.

  Down her body.

  The dress moved flirtatiously around her legs with each step, and she picked up one side and fanned it out to show the audience the fullness of the skirt. His gaze slid up to her bodice and he sucked in air at the sight of her hardened nipples behind the revealing lace.

  A corresponding reaction occurred below his waist. Was she growing wet as well? He’d bet his prize bull she was.

  Amazing that he could affect her like this, just by watching her do her job. Even more incredible was that that kind of stimulation could have such a powerful effect on him. It was the most exciting foreplay he’d ever indulged in.

  When they finally got into bed together, they were going to set the sheets on fire.

  He wondered if she was getting as much of a kick out of prolonging the anticipation as he was. He’d been tempted more than once to put them both out of their misery. He wanted more than a quick roll in the hay with her though. Until the trunk show was over, she wouldn’t be able to indulge in anything like what it would take to sate his senses.

  Or hers either, if he was reading her right.

  His sister had told him that the models got a month of vacation after the last show before choreography would start for the next season’s designs. Several of them filled their time with freelance work, but he was going to convince Bella to spend some time on his ranch. Maybe she would even stay around for Christmas.

  He’d like to wake up and unwrap her on Christmas morning.

  His gaze slid back to catch hers.

  Her mouth opened slightly and he would swear he heard her gasp.

  There was an invitation in her doe eyes the primal man in him wanted to answer. And he would.

  Tonight.

  It was the last show and he planned to make his move on Bella Jackson.

  Bella rushed to finish dressing in street clothes. Jake Barton wasn’t leaving this time without talking to her. She’d gotten another model to cover her final lingerie promenade so she could track him down in the audience before the end of the show.

  Lexi was going to have apoplexy, but Bella was past caring. She had to do this. Her career had been her entire life for too many years. Maybe it was time to start rethinking her priorities.

  She checked her image in the full-length mirror in front of her.

  Her low-riding burgundy pants and body-snug sweater in the same color showed off her curves to their best advantage. She’d put a pair of huge, thin gold hoops in her ears and swept her hair into a casual up-do that looked like she’d just gotten out of bed. The macramé kerchief belt around her hips emphasized the snug fit of the pants. Good.

  She was going for sexy and she thought she’d definitely hit the right note.

  “Go get ‘em, tiger.”

  She grinned at her friend who had agreed to cover her final promenade so she could track the man down. “I plan to.”

  But when she reached his seat in the auditorium, Jake Barton was gone.

  Bella wanted to scream, stomp her feet and throw things…preferably oversized Texans. However, she merely smiled at the people around her, excused the interruption of her presence and walked back out. She was muttering to herself about inconsiderate, game-playing men who were too sexy for her own good when a large hand landed on her shoulder.

  “Looking for someone?”

  She squeaked, her hand landing against her heart. “You scared me,” she accused. Then, “You left.”

  “I had a call I had to take. I was going back in. No way did I want to miss the lingerie finale.”

  Bella glared. “You have before
.”

  “Couldn’t be helped. You can believe I didn’t want to, darlin’.”

  “Well, you’d better get back inside if you want to see it,” she said contrarily, knowing he wasn’t interested in watching the other models promenade.

  “I’d rather stay out here.”

  “Would you?”

  He’d been steadily backing her against the wall and now he laid his hand on the wall beside her head. “Oh, definitely.”

  She swallowed with a suddenly dry throat. “I’m glad,” she said inanely.

  “Me too, but why are you out here?”

  “I didn’t want to miss you tonight.”

  “Not much chance of that happening.”

  “Right.” She drawled the word out in true Texas fashion.

  His dark-blond brows quirked.

  She couldn’t believe she had to explain it. “You’ve left before,” she reminded him.

  “But this is the last show before you leave Texas and I’ve got a vested interest in you sticking around for a while.”

  “Oh, really?” She tried to sound cool and questioning, but her voice came out all breathy and teasing.

  He smiled. “Really. Don’t tell me you aren’t aware of what is going on between us.”

  “Nothing has happened between us.” Not yet anyway.

  He stood back, his expression going grim. “I told you, I don’t play games.”

  Oh, that was rich. “Then what have the last two weeks been about?”

  “Foreplay.”

  “What?”

  He looked serious, but her brain couldn’t take that in.

  His eyes smoldered and she was glad for the wall behind her. “We’ve been building up the anticipation.”

  For two weeks? “We haven’t been doing anything.”

  This time both hands landed on the wall beside her, completely hemming her in and filling her senses with his nearness. “We’ve been engaged in the sexiest form of foreplay, honey, and you can’t tell me you don’t know it.”

  She hadn’t, but that was beside the point. “For two weeks?”

  “I know. It was hard for me to wait too, but it was necessary.”

  “Why?”

  “I didn’t want a bite of the apple; I wanted the whole thing. Now that the show is over, we can spend real time together.”

  “Time together?” she parroted, feeling like she’d missed a vital element of the conversation.

  His big body leaned infinitesimally closer to hers. “Yeah, time.”

  “When?”

  “I’d like to start now, if you’re willing.”

  “You want to go to bed?”

  His smile set her nerves jangling.

  “Now?” she squeaked.

  “Hell yes, but I figure I’ve waited this long, I can wait at least until after dinner. I’ve got reservations at my hotel at eight.”

  He could wait until after dinner. He made it sound like a huge concession, while she was hyperventilating on the inside at the whole prospect. “You already have reservations?”

  “Sure.”

  “You were that confident I’d agree to go out with you?” This man was not short on moxie.

  “I was that positive the attraction was mutual.”

  Considering the way her body was humming from his nearness, she knew he was right. She didn’t say anything though, unwilling to make it that easy for him.

  His expression got serious again. “I don’t like lies, even flirting ones. Don’t pretend with me, Bella. I want you and you want me. Admit it.”

  “You’re pretty arrogant.”

  “And I don’t have cause? You skipped the last part of the show to make sure you didn’t miss me.” He smiled then. “As if I would walk away. I liked that, honey, I really did.”

  “But you did plan to stay after the show and ask me out this time?”

  “How can you doubt it?”

  She rolled her eyes, her humor returning even if the ability to breathe normally hadn’t. “Because you never have before.”

  “I told you… I knew once I asked you out we’d end up in bed together and I didn’t want a couple of short hours between shows and rehearsals. The kind of pleasure I want to give you takes all night, sometimes longer.”

  Oh, man. She was going under and there was no life ring in sight. “I don’t make a habit of having sex with men on the first date,” she said, rallying.

  “So your ex-boyfriend, the tell-all accountant, said.”

  She felt the blood recede from her face. “Do you believe everything you read?” she asked with more pain than sarcasm.

  “If I did, I’d have to believe you’ve had more ex-lovers than my prize bull.”

  He’d read the other gossip too. “The tabloids rarely get it right.”

  “I believe it.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes.” He shook his head. “Bella, you’re sensual as hell and I can’t wait to get my hands on your body, but I’ve watched how you respond to other men at the after-show parties. You react to me with your whole body, but you keep other men at bay. And sometimes you look so vulnerable, I feel guilty for the things I want to do with you. I’d have to be an idiot to believe the speculation of pseudojournalists over what my eyes tell me is true.”

  “And what do your eyes tell you is true?”

  “Come to dinner with me and you’ll find out.”

  In the end, she’d had no choice.

  He was right. She wanted him and dinner was the first step.

  The restaurant on the ground floor of Jake’s hotel wasn’t so swank that Bella had needed to change clothes, but it was nice and she enjoyed the way candlelight softened the bold lines of his features.

  The waiter took their order and Jake relaxed back in his chair. “Why did you start modeling so young?”

  “It was all I ever wanted to do. My mother helped me find out how to do it. Neither of us thought I could make international status because of my height and figure, but then Lexi found me.”

  “And you became her cover model.”

  “Eventually. I started with just the trunk shows and then doing a few feature layouts. I became the cover model about five years ago.”

  “You do a damn fine job of showing off her designs.”

  “It’s been good so far, but I’m getting older. Pretty soon I’m going to have to decide if I want to retire or be relegated to second string.”

  “You’re kidding. You can’t be thirty yet.”

  “Twenty-six, and yes, I’ve got a couple of years yet.” If she wanted them. Her dream had started to pall as she realized what she had sacrificed to achieve it and would have to continue to sacrifice to maintain it. Things like a home, family and hot fudge sundaes. “But the modeling world is like the sports world. You’re pretty much used up by the time you’re thirty.”

  “So, are you going home to Massachusetts?”

  “What did you do, research me?”

  He didn’t even look disconcerted when he said, “Yes.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a little excessive?” But she was flattered.

  She was also nervous. Being in the public eye like she was, there was a lot of information out there for him to find. He’d already said he didn’t believe gossip, but there was so much of it.

  He looked at her with a wry expression. “Are you saying you didn’t try to find out anything about me?”

  “Maybe a little.” She licked lips that felt all too dry despite her moisturizing lipstick and a sip of water. “One of the other models is from West Texas.”

  “What did she say?”

  “That you’re a rancher and have a lot of oil holdings.”

  “I’m rich.”

  “I’m beautiful.” She threw it out just as he had, as if it were a gauntlet, and waited to see if he would pick it up.

  “There’s more to you than beauty.”

  “There’s more to you than money.” And Lord help her, she meant it. She sensed a depth in him th
at pulled at much more than the hormone-driven impulses of her body.

  “I’m glad we established that.”

  “Me too.”

  Chapter Three

  Frustration gnawed at Jake.

  He wanted to touch Bella.

  Badly.

  They’d spent over an hour sharing a leisurely dinner and he’d enjoyed talking to her, getting to know the reticent woman behind the man-killer façade. Bella Jackson was a lot more innocent than she’d ever admit to being, he’d bet.

  She was also sexy.

  And if he didn’t get her in his arms soon, he was going to start hallucinating from the strain.

  A live band played near an empty dance floor in the center of the restaurant.

  He stood up and put his hand out. “Dance with me.”

  She took his hand, but she didn’t get up. She looked past him, a slight frown marring her features. “But no one else is.”

  “So?”

  “I…” Her gaze lifted to his and she bit her lip.

  “Don’t tell me you’d be embarrassed?” Being a public spectacle was life as she knew it for this woman. “You parade down a stage in front of hundreds of people with less covering than a lot of women wear to bed.”

  “That’s different.” She tugged at her hand, looking put out with him. “It’s my job.”

  He tightened his grip and pulled her from the chair, loving the way her eyes flared and her pretty pink lips parted on a soft little “oh” as he pulled her close to him.

  “I want to hold you and unless you want to go up to my room, this is the only way I can do it without being arrested for performing lewd acts in a public place.”

  “Dancing sounds good.” Her smile was both a little nervous and flirtatious at the same time.

  A woman filled with contradictions, she fascinated him more than anyone had since he’d reached puberty and discovered Suzy Miller would let him touch her budding breasts behind the school cafeteria during recess.

  He pulled Bella toward the softly lit dance floor, then, tucking her up against his body, he began a slow sway to the forties-style music. Holding a woman had never felt so good. She fit perfectly against him, despite the disparity in their heights.

  Laying her head against his chest, she let him press her as close as two bodies could get without clothes.