Part 6 (1/2)

Neither woman said anything for a long time while they sat sipping their cups of tea. ”You're the first person I've mentioned this to, but I dreamed of fish again last night,” Mama Laverne said.

Dora's eyes widened. ”You think it's Christy?”

Mama Laverne understood why she would think that. Her granddaughter Christy had proudly proclaimed after the birth of her first child that she and her husband, Alex, wanted a lot more children, and it seemed that whenever anyone called or dropped by, the couple was always in bed.

Mama Laverne smiled and shook her head. ”They might be working on a new addition, but not this time. I actually saw the image of a man sitting on a dock with a fis.h.i.+ng rod in his hand, and he seemed pleased as pleased could be when he pulled in a whopper of a ba.s.s from the lake.”

Dora's lips quirked into a smile. ”Sounds like a mighty proud man who went fis.h.i.+ng that day. Who was he?”

Mama Laverne didn't say anything for a minute. For the past month, her fish dreams have been coming steadily, and in a way it made her heart feel good to know that the Madaris family and their friends were multiplying and would continue to do so long after she was gone.

”Mama Laverne?”

Her feeble fingers tightened on the cup in her hand, and then she said in a voice that quirked with humor. ”The man was Clayton.”

Dora's eyes widened to twice their regular size. ”Clayton?”

”Yes.”

”That means...”

”Yes.” Mama Laverne said the one thing Dora couldn't bring herself to say. ”Yes, that means that Syneda is pregnant again, and heaven help us all.”

Chapter 8.

Blade crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against his parked car. He couldn't hide the smile that touched his lips as he watched the woman who walked out of the two-story, redbrick building. Nor did he want to. He squinted against the sunlight and adjusted his eyes accordingly so he could see her better. She was definitely a beautiful sight to behold.

He hadn't known what to expect when he showed up at exactly five o'clock for their first-and what she probably considered their only only date. Under normal circ.u.mstances he would have agreed with her. But he had a feeling that tonight would not end the way he wanted, though it definitely wouldn't be for lack of trying on his part. He wanted her in his bed, and his moving into Windsor Park greatly reduced the distance it would take to get her there. date. Under normal circ.u.mstances he would have agreed with her. But he had a feeling that tonight would not end the way he wanted, though it definitely wouldn't be for lack of trying on his part. He wanted her in his bed, and his moving into Windsor Park greatly reduced the distance it would take to get her there.

She looked beautiful, as usual, wearing another business suit that showed off her legs. The red color highlighted her complexion, and her curly hair flowing around her shoulders gave her a s.e.xy appeal. He wondered how far he would go tonight. A better question was how far would she let him go? He had made reservations at a nice restaurant in Bricktown, one of the most popular areas of the city. He had requested a table in one of the cozy, secluded sections of the restaurant, with candlelight. After dinner he would bring her back here to get her car, and she would a.s.sume their night together would be over. Little did she know it would just be starting. He could just imagine what her reaction would be once she discovered he was now living next door to her.

Tipping the brim of his Stetson, he smiled when she approached, and said, ”Sam.”

”Blade. Have you been waiting long?”

”No. And even if I had been, you would have been well worth the wait.”

Her mouth quirked at the corners and he knew at that moment that she'd probably heard that line before. That might be true, because he'd certainly delivered it over the years, but this time he'd actually meant what he'd said.

He opened the car door for her and inhaled her scent. She smelled feminine. She smelled like woman. And as he watched her slide onto the leather seat, he appreciated a glimpse of her thighs. He hoped that later tonight he would be getting more than a glimpse. In fact, he was antic.i.p.ating seeing her naked.

”Thank you,” she said, seconds before he closed her door.

”You're welcome.”

He moved around the front of the car to open the door to the driver's side. Once settled with his seat belt in place, he glanced over at her and saw she was looking at him. He smiled. ”Are you okay?”

She smiled back. ”Yes.”

Blade backed the car out of the parking lot, thinking she was smiling and that was a good thing.

Sam decided to stare out the window at the buildings they pa.s.sed, although there was nothing different about them. She usually drove through these same streets every day on her way to the office. But she needed this time. Not to clear her head, because that wasn't possible as long as Blade was sitting in the seat next to her, but to affirm in her mind that going through with her plan was something she needed to do. It was something she had had to do to the man who was most women's most ardent fantasy, and who could potentially become her own worst nightmare. to do to the man who was most women's most ardent fantasy, and who could potentially become her own worst nightmare.

There was no doubt in her mind that over the next few hours she would be tempted as a woman in a way she'd never been tempted before. Blade had that ability. He had that skill. And she didn't have to be a genius to know that tonight he fully intended to use it.

”We should be there in a minute.”

His words prompted her to glance over at him and ask, ”Where are we going?”

”To Yates.”

She nodded. She was impressed. ”I heard it's a very nice place.”

”You've never eaten there?”

”Surprisingly, no.”

He looked pleased at that. ”Then I'm glad your first time will be with me.”

She s.h.i.+fted her gaze back out the window, thinking that in a way she was glad her first time would be with him, too.

”And you look nice.”

She chuckled as she looked back at him. ”You look nice yourself.”

And she meant it more than he would ever know. When she had walked out of the building and seen him standing there, leaning against his car, waiting for her and looking like a man who knew what he wanted and had every intention of getting it, it had sent an intense shudder all the way up her spine.

”We're here.”

She glanced out the winds.h.i.+eld. Yes, they were.

The blood flowing through his veins felt warm as Blade glanced across the table at his companion. Sam had been quiet during most of dinner. He couldn't help wondering what she was thinking, what she was feeling, and if she had any idea how much he wanted her.

To be quite honest, he hadn't realized the extent, the degree, the depth of his desire for her until now. He had been in her presence for more than an hour, the longest amount of time he'd ever spent alone with her since they'd met. At least they were practically alone, since the restaurant had adhered to his request and seated them in a secluded area in the back, at a table set for two.

After mulling over the menu, they had decided on their order. While waiting for their meal to arrive they had indulged in a gla.s.s of white wine. She'd asked him questions about his work on the Mosley Building, which set the tone of their conversation, avoiding any personal subjects.

Once their food arrived, the conversation slowed-and almost ceased entirely. But what she didn't say, he could actually feel. That was something he had been aware of from the first time their eyes had met, at Mac and Luke's rehearsal dinner. Although she might not have wanted to give off those sensual vibes, she was doing so, anyway. They spoke to him and he automatically responded.

Like he was doing now.

He glanced over at her. As if she felt his gaze, she glanced up, and the moment their eyes connected he was literally robbed of his senses. The blood flowing through his body suddenly felt hot-to the boiling point.