“So, let’s talk about commitment,” he said, drawing a fingertip over her breast.
“I can’t talk about anything when you’re doing that,” she said.
To her regret he opted for talking over touching. “How do you feel about commitment?”
Suddenly all too aware of the silver-framed family photographs that lined his dresser, she was shaking her head before the first words were out of his mouth. “Are we talking in general? I think it’s a fine idea…for some people.”
“But not for you?”
“Not for me.”
“Then why are we here?” he demanded mildly. “Why did you make the choice to make love last night, when it’s a choice you’ve obviously never made before?”
“Because I…” She saw the expectant look on his face, but she couldn’t bring herself to say the words she knew he wanted to hear. “Because I trust you. Isn’t that enough for now?” she said wistfully.
For a minute his gaze clashed with hers, but then he sighed. “For now,” he agreed. “But I want more than an occasional night in bed with you, Dana.”
“It wasn’t all that long ago that you dismissed me as a flake. Why the abrupt change?”
“I wish I could explain it,” he said. “All I know is that for the past few weeks I’ve felt alive for the first time in months. You’ve brought out a side of me I never even knew existed. I may be a lot of things, Dana, but I’m not stupid. I recognize a good thing when I have it within my grasp. I will give you anything you ask, do anything you want, but I’m not known for my patience.”
“Tell me about it,” she muttered.
He scowled at her. “All I’m trying to say is that I can wait only so long.”
Dana was shaken by the unspoken threat underlying his words, but she put on her bravest front and resorted to teasing. “You’ll do anything, huh?”
“Anything,” he vowed.
“Well, that presents some intriguing possibilities.”
There was just enough time for him to show her one of them before they left for work.
* * *
The expression on Dana’s face made Jason very nervous.
“Okay, spill it,” he said finally, sensing that he was about to pay for his impetuous early-morning promise to give her anything she wanted. “What’s up?”
“I was talking to Harriet just now,” she began slowly.
“Harriet?” he repeated blankly. “You’ve been conspiring with my secretary?”
“I wouldn’t call it conspiring and don’t look so stunned. She’s really very nice.”
“Harriet?”
“Will you stop it and listen? She told me about this part-time job, in the mailroom.”
“You have a job,” he said tightly. He was not going to encourage her to take a second job, just so she could afford to move into a fancier place of her own that much sooner. Besides, she barely had enough time to sleep as it was—especially when she was occupying his bed, which was where he intended she stay.
“Not for me,” she said patiently.
Suddenly he realized why she looked so nervous. “Oh, no,” he said, coming out from behind his desk. “I will not give your brother a job.”
She laced her hands behind his neck and gave him an imploring look. “It’s just a part-time messenger job. He could come in after school, earn a little of his own money, learn about accepting responsibility—it would be perfect. How much trouble could he possibly get into?”
Jason eased away from her and raked his fingers through his hair. He couldn’t think straight when she had her arms around him like that, and this situation definitely called for straight thinking.
“You’re asking this about a boy who a few short weeks ago was ready to go into business selling stolen goods. The same boy who was thrown out of school last week for pulling a knife on a classmate. The same kid who’s this close—” he held up fingers a scant inch apart “—this close to getting into a gang that mugs people for kicks.”
Dana remained undaunted by the facts. It was one of her more endearing and infuriating qualities.
“Just look how he’s blossoming now that he’s out of that environment. He’s already taking his studies more seriously with Mrs. Willis there to tutor him. Haven’t you ever made a mistake?” she demanded. “Or is the difference that Hallorans have enough money to cover up any little indiscretions they might make?”
“This isn’t about money or family.”
“No. It’s about second chances.”
The whisper-soft tone of her voice was persuasive. The look in her eyes could have converted sinner to saint. Jason sighed.
“He won’t do it.”
“He will,” she said, throwing her arms around him. She gave him a tantalizing peck on the cheek. “I’ll call and tell him to come over this afternoon. Thank you, Jason. You won’t regret it.”
He already did. The mere thought of that little punk on the loose at Halloran Industries made him shudder. It was one thing to have Sammy living in his house, where Mrs. Willis could keep her stern eye on him and only Jason would have to pay for any of his royal screwups. It was another thing entirely to inflict him on the family business. What sort of magic was this woman working, Jason wondered, that would make him even consider such an idea?
On the other hand, he thought slowly, maybe Dana was right. Maybe this was an opportunity, a challenge. The one thing he and Dana argued about more than anything else was her brother. Maybe by taking one giant leap of faith in Sammy, he could eliminate the bone of contention between them and further cement a relationship that was coming to mean everything to him.
One look at Sammy’s sullen expression a few hours later and Jason wasn’t so sure. Whatever progress they’d made at home seemed to have been lost. He wondered if Sammy viewed this as punishment, rather than a chance.
After a cursory nod, Sammy sprawled in the
