A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess: A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess

“You’re beginning to sound like the Jessie I remember.

I assume you no longer want to be called Jessie by anyone, including me.”

“Maybe you most of all. I don’t want to explain to anyone why you would call me Jessie.”

“I won’t until you approve, but I can’t keep from thinking of you as Jessie.”

He looked into her eyes and smiled. How easily she could fall into his bed. Beware, beware. When Tony spun her around and dipped, she had to cling to him, looking up into his riveting brown eyes. Electricity sparked between them, generating desire.

“You’re beautiful, Isabelle,” he whispered as he straightened up and they danced together. “I’m glad I bought out Morris. I never would have found you otherwise.”

“Tony, let’s keep this an impersonal friendship.”

“Sure,” he said, his expression telling her something else. When the ballad ended, they returned to their table.

After the waiter finished taking their orders, Tony asked, “Where do you go on vacations?”

“I don’t take them much. Last summer I kept putting it off and suddenly the year was gone.”

“We have to change that. When is the last time you left the country?”

“Tony, I’m tied up in work. I grew up in an ordinary, working-class, blue-collar family. I haven’t been out of the country.”

“Definitely has to change. When was the last time you left Tex as?”

“I did go to a grand opening of one of the Morris hotels in Atlanta two years ago,” she said, sipping her champagne. “Unless you’ve made changes, the company is sending me to a preview before the official opening of an elegant new Morris luxury hotel in San Diego the weekend after next,” she said, wondering whether he already was aware of her trip.

“Excellent. San Diego is beautiful and I’m sure the hotel will be grand. What day do you leave?”

“Thursday morning. Three of us are going, two of the Morris vice presidents—Nancy Wrenthorp and George Franklin—and me. On Thursday night hotel officials will show us around. Friday, guests will arrive—mostly media, friends and families of some of the hotel officials. We’ll fly out Sunday morning early.”

“Do you have any time to yourself?”

“Yes, on Saturday. Friday, I have appointments with media representatives. Nancy and George will deal with hotel officials and look over the hotel and see if everything is ready and running smoothly.”

“You should enjoy your trip.”

The waiter appeared with their salads, crystal dishes holding greens and slices of tomatoes. Her appetite had diminished and she still felt excitement fizzing in her as steadily as the bubbles in her champagne.

It wasn’t long before their lobster and steak entrées appeared, more than she could possibly eat, yet all of it looking delicious. Again, Tony’s phone buzzed and she waved her hand dismissively.

“Take your call,” she said, understanding that as CEO and owner of multiple companies he was on call all the time. She surreptitiously studied him until he put away his phone.

“I couldn’t help overhearing you, Tony. There was a fire on an oil rig you own. I didn’t know you had anything besides hotels and the trucking line.”

“Ryder Enterprises incorporates a variety of businesses. The oil company is a small but profitable subsidiary.”

“Do you need to go? It sounded serious.”

“It’s serious and costly, but thank heaven, no one was hurt and they’re getting it under control already. No, I don’t need to go. I just need to be kept informed.”

She smiled. “No danger of that not happening.” She wondered if years ago he would have gone dashing out. Every moment spent with him drew her back into memories and heightened the attraction to him.

They both ate little and when their dinners had been removed, Tony took her hand to dance again. She went eagerly, wanting to be close in his arms while reminding herself to avoid getting too involved.

They danced to another ballad, followed by a fast number. Tony’s coat swung open and his dancing was sexy, bringing back more memories. When they returned to a slow song, he held her closer. “This is great, Isabelle. Thankfully, I’ve found you again.”

“I was never more than a phone call away, Tony,” she said, stirring the simmering anger over Tony’s buyout of Morris and his not contacting her again. Her anger with him had lost intensity. There were moments now when he charmed her and she let go her past feelings.

“You’re in my life now and I’m in yours and I intend to keep it that way,” he said and her heartbeat quickened. He wrapped her in his arms and gazed at her, his attention shifting to her mouth and making her heart thud. He would try to kiss her tonight and she wanted him to, but that’s a line she couldn’t cross. He had been building to that all evening with his flirting, his dancing, his compliments, his casual contacts. Everything he said or did fanned flames between them, even though this was supposed to be just a dinner celebration regarding work. Not a big deal, she reminded herself.

Shortly after midnight she told him she should go home. Tony didn’t try to persuade her to stay out later.

When the limo arrived at her condo, Tony walked her to the front door. His phone buzzed again. When he ignored it, she said. “Go ahead and take your call.”

“I’ll get it shortly. Not now. Give me your key and I’ll get your door.”

She handed him the key, watching as he unlocked and waited for her to enter. Every second that ticked past heightened her worry. Her insides fluttered.

“Do you have an alarm?” he asked as he followed her inside and closed the door behind him.

She turned to switch off the alarm and then faced Tony. “It’s off. This has been a wonderful evening that truly was a celebration,” she said, looking up into dark eyes that kept her heart racing. Her words were polite, somewhat impersonal. She intended to keep it that way in spite of wanting to be in his arms, to kiss and be kissed again.

She held out her hand to give him an impersonal handshake. “Thank you, Tony.”

“That won’t do.” He took her hand and pulled her toward him, reaching out to comb his fingers through her hair, carefully removing first one pin and then another. She felt the faint tugs against her scalp, which made her tingle. While her heart drummed, her gaze was locked with his.

“This is the way I remember you and like to see you—with your hair down. Preferably naked in my arms in bed.”

“Tony, that night is definitely over and it was very long ago,” she whispered, trying to hang on to common sense and avoid getting more entangled with him in spite of her racing heart.

“But unforgettable. You’re a warm, passionate, beautiful woman, and extremely appealing.” As he talked, he removed more pins and more of her long, blond hair fell freely across her shoulders until all strands were loose.

“Ah, Isabelle, you’re gorgeous.” He wound both hands in her hair and then his arms slipped around her waist and he drew her to him.

When he looked at her mouth, her lips parted and she was certain he could hear her thudding heart. “We’re not ending this night on a handshake. Since I saw you at the reception and realized you were Jessie, I’ve wanted to kiss you.”

“Tony, don’t,” she whispered, her heart beating wildly. The moment she had intended to avoid was happening. While his arms tightened to draw her closer, he brushed his lips over hers, a faint touch, but it changed the entire evening. Sparks spun from his kiss, transforming a casual evening into something more, making her forget any handshake. Tony brushed her lips lightly again, then returned to cover her mouth with his.

Isabelle’s insides clenched and heated. As his tongue went deep into her mouth, longing swept over her, demolishing worries, igniting fires and rekindling desire. Memories of a night long ago bombarded her. Wrapping her arm around his neck and an arm around his waist, she clung to him, pouring herself into the kiss.

His arms tightened around her. His kiss was even more devastating than she remembered. White-hot, melting, his kiss shook her. How could he be so incredibly sexy to kiss when she didn’t want to be drawn to him? She was annoyed with him, determined to guard her heart, yet barriers were dropping away, disintegrating from the onslaught of pleasure.

She ran her fingers through the short hair at the back of his head and then moved her hand across his broad shoulder.

Passion mushroomed, shaking her, driving her to wild kisses that blanked out everything except Tony.

He raised his head. “I want you in my life, in my arms in my bed.”