A Fortunes Of Texas Christmas. Helen Lacey

she couldn’t help but gape at him. “Someone who might object to my...interest?”

      Interest? She laughed out loud. “Really, can you hear yourself?”

      “Perfectly,” he replied, coming a little closer, so close that they were now barely a foot apart.

      The air seemed to sizzle, and she fought the urge to step backward. She wasn’t about to be outmaneuvered by this man. She wanted him to know exactly how she felt about him, maybe starting with a swift knee to the groin area. Which made her glance down, then up, and then realize she looked as though she was checking him out!

      “I have... I have work to do,” she said and fumbled over her words before meeting his gaze. “And I don’t have the time to—”

      “Have dinner with me,” he said softly. “You won’t regret it.”

      He was wrong. She would regret it. Just like she regretted the idea that she was actually considering it. Because, hell and damnation, he was absolutely the most gorgeous man she had ever met...and she wasn’t the least bit immune to him. She was hot all over. Her entire body was about to be set on fire, as though he was the spark and she was the kindling.

      She swallowed hard. “No. I can’t.”

      “Robin,” he said, her name almost sounding like a caress. And thinking about his voice caressing her didn’t help, either. Because all she could imagine was how it would feel if his hands did the same to her body! “Life is too brief to think about what we can’t do.”

      She stepped back and pressed her hip against the table. “That’s just your arrogance talking,” she shot back. “Because you like to get your own way.”

      “Of course,” he replied, not denying it. “I am a man, and we generally like to get exactly what we want.” He shrugged, feigning innocence. “Perhaps you could make allowances for that.”

      She laughed again. If it weren’t so ridiculous, it would be hilarious. “You’re an egotistical snob...that’s something I can’t make allowances for.”

      He smiled, his blue eyes glittering. “I’ll be on my best behavior, I promise.”

      “Go away.”

      He didn’t move. “So, you didn’t answer my question...about having a husband. Or boyfriend. Or lover.”

      The way he said the word lover made her skin prickle with a heady kind of awareness. Because he clearly had designs on the role. It was madness. They hardly knew each other. She didn’t get swept away by good looks. Sure, Trey had been good-looking...but not like this. And she hadn’t lusted after him the way she was silently and foolishly lusting after Amersen Beaudin.

      “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m single...and happily so. However, I do have two older brothers and a father who would need only one word from me to come after you with a shotgun, Mr. Beaudin.”

      “You should probably call me Amersen,” he said and then laughed so sexily her knees actually trembled. “Since we’ll be going on a date.”

      “I’m not going on a date with you,” she refuted. “Not ever.”

      “I can wait. I’ll be in town for a week or so.”

      Robin planted her hands on her hips. “You can wait all you like...it won’t make any difference.”

      “That’s harsh. But you know, I think you’d like me if you gave me a shot.”

      She made a bored, huffing sound. “A shot? I wouldn’t go out with you even if you were a prince. And not even if I had a fairy godmother who could turn a pumpkin into a carriage or even if I owned a pair of glass slippers.”

      He chuckled. “That’s an interesting idea. You have a lot of spunk, Robin. I like that about you.”

      “I’m happy for you,” she responded. “Now you can leave and go back to playing with your new perfume or writing one of your cynical and witty blog posts. Some of us have actual work to do. Goodbye.” She said it to belittle and embarrass him. But he didn’t look the least bit embarrassed or belittled. He looked amused. And cocky. He looked like insults weren’t so much as a blip on his radar. He looked as though he could handle anything from anyone. Including her.

      He reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet and then tossed a small business card on the table. “My cell number. Call when you’re ready to admit you want me.”

      Robin stared after him for several minutes after he left. Furious. Enraged. Appalled.

      And totally—and unbelievably—turned on.