shook his head. “Not on my account. Like I said, I’ve really enjoyed this evening.” He certainly didn’t want to be the cause of any problems between Amy and her father.
“But you want me to know there won’t be a repeat.”
He jerked his thoughts away from Amy’s relationship with her father to the one she’d never have with him. “Yes. You see, I realized early on that if I dated any woman more than once, the gossipmongers would jump on the news. And then if I didn’t date another one but once, some perfectly nice woman would get her feelings hurt.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you,” Amy said carefully, “but doesn’t having only one date with any woman cramp your style?”
Gray laughed. “Not really. Like I said, I’m busy with the move of my company, hiring and training employees and expanding our markets. I don’t have that much time for a social life.”
He hadn’t had one in so long, as a matter of fact, he rarely missed the quiet, shared evenings, dinner conversations with someone well known, the feel of a woman’s warm flesh after making love. At least he told himself he didn’t miss those things. If he thought about how long he’d been abstinent—nearly two years—he might not be as cheerful.
His last relationship, a comfortable, no-pressure affair with an equally career-minded lawyer he’d known socially for years, had ended before he’d decided to move from Dallas. He hadn’t been serious about the woman; he’d just fallen into the mutually satisfying affair after his divorce.
Strange, but Amy’s assertions she wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship, especially one with a husband and children, echoed his own position now. He wasn’t looking for the complications a family would bring…and yet, the longer he lived in this close-knit community, the less objectionable he found the idea…in theory.
Gray mentally shook his head. He had no business thinking along those lines. Especially not while he was out on his one date with Amy Wheatley.
“So what do you do when Thelma and Joyce fix you up? Do you turn them down?”
“Well, I haven’t so far, but I may have to start. They do seem to be getting a little persistent in their efforts.”
“Poor Gray,” Amy said with a smile. “So many women, so little time.”
A problem many men would gladly accept, he knew. And yet he found the process tedious. Boring. All those words some men applied to their permanent relationship. To married life.
He had to stop thinking along those lines. He was still in performance mode, still giving yet another woman a perfect date.
Gray grabbed her glass and gave his best effort at acting the role, a ferociously teasing frown. “One more remark like that and you won’t get another drink.”
“One more outrageous revelation from you and I’m going to need another drink.” She held up her hand. “Seriously, a soft drink would be great.”
He laughed as he left the booth, but sobered upon approaching the bar. Amy was a unique woman. He’d really enjoyed this evening, despite the fact he’d started thinking about certain taboo subjects. Despite the fact she made him want things that weren’t in his immediate future.
Perhaps it was best that they wouldn’t be repeating the experience.
“ONE MORE DANCE TO close out the evening?” he asked as she listened to the soulful sounds.
One more chance to stand close to this one-date bachelor, to tempt herself with what couldn’t happen? They’d danced at the fund-raiser, but in a more structured setting and style. Here, on the minuscule dance floor, Amy had a feeling Gray would let his guard down just a little.
One more chance to tempt herself? “Why not?”
He led her onto the parquet floor, pulling her closer than he had at the fancy hotel. One hand closed warmly over hers, while the other slid down her back to rest low on her waist. She felt the heat and imprint of his fingers through the silk of her dress, just as she felt his chest brush against hers. Their legs moved in rhythm, with only his pants and her skirt touching.
For just a moment, she longed for him to pull her close, until there was no polite distance between them. Until she could feel the beating of his heart against her breast and experience the sensation of his hot breath on her neck.
But such romantic, physical contact would be ludicrous. She wasn’t into one-night stands, and Gray had been honest about his dating rules.
When the song ended, she let out a sigh. Someone slowly turned up the lights until she could see Gray’s pensive expression. But then, as he always seemed to do, he schooled his features into a neutral, pleasant expression as he gazed down at her.
Then her stomach rumbled.
Not just a tiny little sound, but a clearly discernible signal that she was hungry. Starved, in fact.
Gray chuckled. “I did mention earlier that you were eating like a bird.”
“Prime rib isn’t my favorite, and even if it were, I’m not sure I could have forced down another bite of the shoe leather we were served.”
“To tell you the truth, I could use some food myself.” He raised his arm and glanced at his watch. “It’s after midnight, so that means we can officially have breakfast.”
“Officially?”
“Absolutely.”
“I suppose you know another great place.”
“Of course,” he replied with a grin. The glint in his silvery eyes told her the breakfast spot would be as unusual as his choice of nightclubs.
Amy smiled as he led her off the dance floor. They had no future together, but apparently their one-time date wasn’t quite finished yet.
GRAY PULLED THE LEXUS to a stop and cut the headlamps. He didn’t need artificial light to see the structure in front of him. He’d been coming here for years. This place was one of the biggest reasons he’d decided to move to the Hill Country.
He would have had some explaining to do, except that Amy had gone to sleep almost as soon as they’d settled into the car. He’d been free to drive as he wished, setting up what he hoped would be a good surprise. He’d never taken another woman to this place, but if he was to have only one date with Amy, he wanted her to spend just a little time here.
In the bucket seat across from him, she stirred. Beneath her open coat, he noticed how the pale blue silk dress stretched over her breasts as she shifted in the seat. Amy Wheatley was not only an intelligent, beautiful woman, but she was witty and pleasant. More than pleasant, she was desirable.
He wasn’t going to act on his desire, though. One date was all he’d have with Amy, no matter how much he’d like to begin a relationship. If he allowed himself to get involved with her, eventually one of them would get hurt. He wasn’t going to get married again, and the good citizens of Ranger Springs would expect him to ask Dr. Ambrose Wheatley for his daughter’s hand before long.
Gray looked out the windshield to the darkness. How often he’d come here, looking for answers. Tonight there were no answers to this unexpected dilemma.
He knew Amy wasn’t the kind of woman who wanted a clandestine affair, which is all either of them could afford. They couldn’t openly flaunt a sexual relationship, or even sneak around like a couple of teenagers for long. Not in a small town. Her reputation as a competent physician would suffer, and his as an upstanding businessman would be null and void.
No, there wasn’t any way they could have a relationship. For tonight, however, they could have a great breakfast. He’d take her home, explain again that he didn’t do second dates and say that he’d see her around town.
Such a bland statement of the potential he sensed for a mature, mutually satisfying relationship between two adults.
“Gray?”