Ben closed his hand around hers and felt the shock of the contact slam through him. Making love with this woman was going to be an extraordinary, life-altering experience. He should have been terrified by that knowledge, but he wasn’t. The desire that had been simmering ever since he’d kissed her the very first time reached a boil.
“You’re sure? You’re not going to lure me into town, then change your mind?”
She regarded him indignantly. “Dugans never back out on a business contract.”
“I’m not sure that business describes what we’re talking about,” Ben said wryly.
“It may not be directly business-related,” she agreed. “But a verbal contract is binding where I come from. I don’t take them lightly, no matter the context.”
“Well then, I guess we have ourselves an iron-clad contract, Kathleen.”
Eyes flashing, she met his gaze. “Assuming you Carltons have the same kind of integrity as the Dugans.”
Ben laughed. “Oh, sweetheart, I think in this instance you can most definitely count on me living up to my word. I’ve been waiting a very long time to complete this particular transaction.”
12
Kathleen was more jittery than she had been on her first date way back in junior high school. She told herself it was the prospect of making love with Ben that had her so jumpy, but the truth was, she was almost as anxious about his opinion of the gallery. She harbored this faint hope that if he really, truly looked around he’d have confidence that she could showcase his work in a professional way that would guarantee he’d be treated seriously and respectfully by the art world.
She spent the entire afternoon polishing and dusting, adjusting the lighting on Boris’s paintings, rearranging the tastefully elegant Christmas decorations she’d completed only the day before.
When the doorbell jangled just before three, she nearly jumped out of her skin, but it was Melanie who came in, not Ben. She immediately noticed Kathleen’s undisguised disappointment.
“Expecting someone else?” Melanie asked, then grinned.
“Not really,” Kathleen said, struggling for nonchalance. Ben wasn’t due for a few more hours, actually.
“Oh? I heard my brother-in-law might be dropping by.”
Filled with dismay, Kathleen stared at her. “How on earth did you hear that? We just set it up a couple of hours ago.”
“Carlton grapevine,” Melanie said succinctly. “Ben mentioned something to Destiny about coming into town. Then he happened to speak to Mack, who already knew and guessed that he was coming in to see you. Ben didn’t deny it. Then it was just a hop, skip and a jump till the news was spread far and wide. If I could get the word out on my public relations clients half as efficiently, I’d be a Fortune 500 company by now.”
“How can you even joke about it?” Kathleen asked. “Isn’t it disconcerting to have the entire family know what’s happening practically before you do?”
“At times,” Melanie admitted. “But I’ve kept an occasional secret. That’s been all the more enjoyable because everyone is so shocked when they finally find out. No one knew about this baby, for instance. Not until Richard and I agreed it was time to let them in on it.” She shrugged. “Of course, Destiny guessed, but kept it to herself for once. She probably knows down to the second when it will be born. She seems to be intuitive when it comes to that sort of thing, or maybe God is one of those infamous inside sources of hers.”
Kathleen laughed. “Speaking of that, does Richard know you’re roaming around loose with the baby due any second?”
Melanie rolled her eyes. “No. I made my escape from the office while he was tied up on a conference call.” She gave Kathleen a sly look. “I thought you might want some advice on what to wear tonight.”
“Excuse me?”
“For the big date.”
Kathleen looked down at her long skirt and colorful tunic. “I never thought about changing,” she said. “Is this all wrong?”
Melanie gave her a thoughtful once-over. “Not for selling paintings, but it could use a little work when it comes to seduction.”
Heat flooded Kathleen’s cheeks. “I never said... Surely Ben didn’t say...”
“No one had to say a word. It’s pretty obvious to anyone who’s watched this dance the two of you have been doing.” Melanie chuckled. “Don’t be embarrassed. Just be glad I talked Destiny into letting me be the one to come over here. She’s very busy gloating this afternoon. I suspect it would have gotten on your nerves.”
Kathleen groaned. This just got worse and worse. As if she weren’t nervous enough, now she knew that Ben’s entire family was waiting with bated breath to see how things progressed between them tonight.
“Now, here’s the plan,” Melanie announced in a take-charge way that proved why she’d been able to cope quite successfully with the strong-willed Carltons. “I will stay here and take care of business, while you run home to change. I won’t let anyone steal the paintings or mess up anything. Just get back here so I can get home before Richard figures out I’ve disappeared. I usually go home about this time and supposedly nap for an hour. He doesn’t call, because he doesn’t want to wake me.” She shrugged. “I let him think that, so I can get a few errands done before he gets all crazy.”
“Twenty minutes,” Kathleen promised. She’d grabbed her coat and was halfway out the door, when she was struck by panic. “Melanie, what on earth can I wear in here that’s also suitable for seduction?”
“In your case, something that shows a little cleavage and a lot of leg,” Melanie advised.
Kathleen laughed, her panic easing. “I think I’ve got just the dress.”
“Good. Can I stick around and watch Ben try to get his tongue untangled?”
“Not a chance,” she said with heartfelt emphasis. “Even if you could elude your husband for that long, which is highly doubtful, I think it’s best if the Carlton grapevine doesn’t get wind of the details on this one.”
* * *
Ben stood on the sidewalk outside of
