you’ve forged ahead. That’s something to be proud of.”
She wasn’t used to people singing her praises. It pleased her more than she wanted to admit. Unable to find adequate words, she mumbled, “Thanks,” and concentrated on the fabulous breakfast before her.
“COOL CAR,” Jace said as they headed back over the bay toward town. “It suits you.” He loved the way the wind twirled her silky hair.
“I like it.”
He reached over and brushed a strand of hair that kept catching in her mouth. He could see her eyes from the corners of her sunglasses and saw her gaze dart toward him for an instant. She was still a little jumpy around him, as though she didn’t quite trust him. He wanted to change that attitude. In a hurry.
She was a mass of contradictions, and that intrigued him. Wholesome, sexy, shy and sweet, with a hint of steel at her core. She had the glossy lips of a siren, the delicate face of an angel—and a tattoo.
Hell, he was getting hot. And not from the sun beating down on his head.
“So, what do you usually do on weekends? Besides bird-watching, that is.” They were skirting downtown San Diego now. He automatically noted one of Carracell Inc.’s retail stores in a strip mall off to the right. The cell phone business was booming, and this particular location drew a lot of customers.
“Friday and Saturday nights, I work at Diamond Jim’s. During the day, and on Sundays, I try to catch up on chores and studying.”
“Hmm. So, you’re going to school five days and working six nights—”
“Five. I’m off on Sunday and Monday.”
“That’s good to know.”
She glanced over at him. He just smiled.
“Still, doesn’t leave much time for a social life,” he said.
“It hasn’t been a difficult sacrifice. I made the decision when I enrolled at the university, and that’s that.”
“Are you saying you haven’t had a boyfriend since you started school?” He saw her hands tighten on the steering wheel. That little gesture made him curious.
“I started school when I was five. Let’s see, I went steady with Terry Small in the third grade. And then there was a torrid fling with Chad Holkum at the end of fourth year…” She glanced at him. “Did you want the entire list?”
He liked her sass. Even though he detected that it hid deeper emotions. The very pleasantness of her tone told him he was trespassing where she didn’t want him to go.
Since he’d never been one to pay much attention to warning signs, he winked at her. “We can save that for the next date. What I was fishing for, and doing a bad job of it at that, was more along the lines of recent men. Just wondering about my competition.”
“Since there’s not going to be a relationship between us, competition isn’t relevant.”
“Victoria,” he said on a sigh, “you are a difficult woman. But never fear. I’m a patient man. And I love a challenge.”
“I’m not challenging you, Jace.” She pulled into the entrance of Torrey Pines State Reserve Park. Parking in the lot, she shut off the engine and turned to him. “I’m not interested.”
“No?” He held her gaze, brushed a finger against a stray wisp of hair that clung to her cheek. Her eyes belied her words. Hooking his hand around the back of her neck, he drew her forward, slipped off her sunglasses. “Let’s see.”
He’d caught her off guard, but after only the slightest resistance, her lips went pliant beneath his. If she’d fought him, pulled back in earnest, he’d have immediately let her go. But just as her eyes had contradicted, so did her mouth. It was sweet, hungry…and definitely interested.
She tasted like his destiny.
The thought skittered through his head, should have surprised him, made him nervous. The only thing he could truly think about right now, though, was the intoxicating, electrifying tumult of desire that gripped his body like a vice and held him in thrall.
Despite her admitted lack of social life, Victoria Meadland knew how to kiss. She damned near melted his bones and fried his brain.
He wanted more, pulled her tighter against him, angled his head and feasted, surprised to find himself hard-pressed to keep up with her. He’d meant to prove a point to her. He was the one getting the lesson.
A car door slammed and the sound of a child’s voice lifted in glee pierced his impassioned haze.
Jace lingered for another moment, then broke the kiss. Softly. Slowly.
He watched as her lids lifted to reveal dazed, beautiful blue eyes.
“Didn’t feel uninterested to me.”
Coherency flashed in her eyes with the speed of a powerful microprocessor. She scooted away from him, tucked her hair behind her ear, fumbled for the sunglasses he’d removed.
“Sexual chemistry doesn’t make a relationship.”
“No, but it helps.” He noted that her hands were trembling.
“Jace, I told you, I’m not looking for anything more than friendship.”
“But I am.”
Her release of breath held more than frustration. “I think this was a bad idea. Maybe we should just call it a day.” She reached for the ignition key.
He put his hand over hers, stilling her movements. He didn’t know what made Victoria Meadland try to shy away from men—or from him—but he vowed to find out.
“We haven’t even begun the day. I’d ask you if it was me, but after that kiss, it’d be a pretty stupid question.”
She stared out at the tall pines that perfumed the air, then took off her sunglasses and turned to him. In her eyes were secrets and a vulnerability she desperately tried to mask. The combination made his heart sting, made him want to gather her close and promise her the world.
A world where everything was nice and tidy and pretty.
“I’ve made mistakes, Jace. I don’t want to repeat them.”
He put a finger over her lips. “I’m not interested in the past. We all have one, and all of us screw up at one time or another. But we all deserve a second chance as well. Can’t you let yourself have that chance?”
She glanced away, pulling inward to a place he feared he couldn’t reach. “I’m scared,” she admitted softly.
“Hell, so am I. I don’t usually come on so strong to a woman, but you touch something inside me.”
“Jace—”
He stopped her again, this time reaching for her hand. “Let’s put this on hold, okay? We got a little side-tracked and we’re supposed to be bird-watching.”
“You can’t really want to go scouting for birds.”
“I absolutely do. And just think. You can use me for a sounding board, educate me on our residential winged creatures. It’ll be just like answering questions on a test. Difference is, I won’t know if you’re giving the correct answer or not, so either way, you ace the exam.”
Her smile started slowly, then blossomed. “That’s the most ridiculous attempt to get your way that I’ve ever heard. Sounds to me like you’re not going to be of much help as a study aid.”
He grinned, squeezed her hand again just to please himself. “Try me.”
Chapter Three
She took him on the Guy Fleming Trail because it was an easy walk. Although he was in fabulous shape, and his tennis shoes