Jackie.
Inside the kitchen, they worked together for a few moments in companionable silence.
'I suppose,' she began, 'since you're dressed like that, you didn't spend the day at the beach.'
'No, I had meetings. My clients from Denver.'
Jackie looked at what was left in the wine bottle, decided it wasn't enough to cork and poured the remainder into their glasses. 'You never mentioned what you were going to build.'
'S and S Industries is putting a branch in Denver. They need an office building.'
'You designed another one of them in Dallas a few years ago.'
Surprised, he glanced over. 'Yes, I did.'
'Is this one going to be along the same lines?'
'No. I went for slick and futuristic in Dallas. Lots of glass and steel, with an uncluttered look. I want something more classic for this. Softer, more distinguished lines.'
'Can I see the drawings?'
'I suppose, if you'd like.'
'I really would.' She dried her hands on a cloth, then handed him his half-filled glass. 'Can I see them now?'
'All right.' He didn't question the fact that he wanted her to see them, that her opinion mattered to him. Both were new concepts for him, and something to think about later. They walked through the house as the light grew dim from the gathering clouds.
His desk was clear. Nathan would never have gone to a meeting without dealing with any leftover paperwork or correspondence. Drawing the blueprints from the tube, he spread them out. Genuinely interested, Jackie leaned over his shoulder with her lips pursed.
'The exterior is brown brick,' he began, trying to ignore the brush of her hair against his cheek as she leaned closer. 'I'm using curves rather than straight lines.'
'It has a deco look.'
'Exactly.' Why hadn't he noticed her scent earlier? Was he just growing accustomed to it, or was it because she was standing so close, close enough to touch or to taste with the slightest effort? 'I've arched the windows, and…'
When he let his words trail off, she glanced up and smiled. Understanding and patience shouldn't make a man uncomfortable, but he looked back deliberately at the papers on his desk.
'And every individual office will have at least one. I've always felt that it's more conducive to productivity if you don't feel caged in.'
'Yes.' She was still smiling, and neither of them were looking at the blueprints. 'It's a beautiful building, very strong without being oppressive. Classic without being staid. The trim and accents are in rose, I imagine.'
'To blend with the bricks.' Her mouth was rose, a very soft, very subtle rose. He found himself turning his head just enough to taste it.
This time he knew he heard thunder, and it was much closer.
He drew away, shaken. Without speaking, he began to roll up the blueprints.
'I'd like to see the sketches of the interior.'
'Jack-'
'It's not really fair to leave things half done.'
Nodding, Nathan unrolled the next set. She was right. He supposed he'd known that all along. A thing begun required a finish.
Chapter Eight
J ackie drew a long, steadying breath. She felt like a diver who'd just taken the last bounce on the board. There could be no turning back now.
She hadn't known when she'd started the evening that he would allow her to get this close. The defenses he had were lowering, and the distance he insisted on was narrowing. It was difficult, very difficult, to accept that the reason for that might only be his own desire. But if that was all he could feel for her now, that was all she would ask for. Desire, at least, was honest.
She couldn't love him any more than she already did. That was what she had thought, but now she knew it wasn't true. With every step closer, with every hour spent with him, her heart expanded.
Patient, even sympathetic to his dilemma, she listened while he explained the floor plans.
It was an excellent piece of work. Her eye and her knowledge were sharp enough to recognize that. But so was he. An excellent piece of work. His hands were wide palmed and long fingered, tanned from the hours he spent outdoors watching over his projects, artistic in their own competent, no-nonsense way. His voice was strong, masculine without being gruff, cultured without being affected. There was a trace of lime scent on his skin from his soap.
She murmured in agreement and put a hand on his arm as he pointed out a facet of the building. There were muscles beneath the creaseless material of his tailored, conservative suit. She heard his voice hesitate at her touch. And she, too, heard the thunder.
'There'll be an atrium here, in the executive offices. We're going to use tile rather than carpet for a cooler, cleaner look. And here…' His mouth was drying up on the words, his muscles tightening at her casual touch. He found it necessary to sit.
'The boardroom?' Jackie prompted, and sat on the arm of his chair.
'What? Yes.' His tie was strangling him. Nathan tugged at it and struggled to concentrate. 'We'll continue with the arches, but on a larger scale. The paneling will-' He wondered why in the hell the paneling had ever mattered. Her hand was on his shoulder now, kneading away the tension he hadn't even been aware had lodged there.
'What about the paneling?'
What about it? he thought as she leaned forward to trail one of her slender, ringed fingers over the prints. 'We're going with mahogany. Honduras.'
'It'll be beautiful. Now, and a hundred years from now. Indirect lighting?'
'Yes.' He looked at her again. She was smiling, her head tilted just inches above his, her body curved just slightly toward him. The ink on the blueprint of his life seemed to fade. 'Jack, this can't go on.'
'I agree completely.' In one lithe move, she was in his lap.
'What are you doing?' It shouldn't have amused him. His stomach had just contracted into a fist, one with claws, but he found himself smiling at her.
'You're right, this can't go on. I'm sure you're going as crazy as I am, and we can't have that, can we?' A trio of rings glittered on her hand as she tucked her hair back.
'I suppose not.'
'No. So I'm going to put a stop to it.'
'To what?' He put a hand on her wrist as she slipped off his tie.
'To the uncertainty, to the what-ifs.' Ignoring his hand, she began to unbutton his shirt. 'This is very nice material,' she commented. 'I'm taking full responsibility, Nathan. You really have no say in the matter.'
'What are you talking about, Jack?' He took her by the shoulders when she started to peel off his jacket. 'What the hell do you think you're doing?'
'I'm having my way with you, Nathan.' She pressed her mouth to his, and the laugh he'd thought he was ready to form became a moan. 'It's no use trying to fight it, you know,' she murmured against his lips as she pulled off his jacket. 'I'm a very determined woman.'
'So I see.' He felt her tug at his shirt from the waistband of his slacks and tried again. 'Jack-damn it, Jackie, we'd better talk about this.'
'No more talk.' She nipped lightly at his collarbone, then slid her tongue to his ear. 'I'm going to have you, Nathan, willing or not.' She closed her teeth over his earlobe. 'Don't make me hurt you.'
This time he did laugh, though not steadily. 'Jack, I outweigh you by seventy pounds.'
