Lone Star Legacy: Relentless Pursuit

“Some other weekend before the summer is over, we’ll return and take a few days. I can show you some spectacular waters.”

“Frankly, your pool in Dallas is beautiful and more than adequate.”

“I don’t have a band and dance floor at my house—actually, I can have one if I want, but I haven’t ever done so. Now for a sexy, breathtaking woman, I might rustle one up at home, but I like it out here on the water. I’d like to show you some sights.”

“I doubt if that will happen.”

“You can’t foresee the future, and I think you would have a grand time.”

“I’m sure I would have a grand time,” she remarked dryly. “That’s part of the problem. I don’t want anything to distract me from my plans for my future. It’s so easy to get sidetracked and have moments slip away and opportunities lost,” she said, thinking about her dad, who had been offered a wonderful sum to sell his Lubbock store and turned it down just before a national chain store opened near him and his business fell off, never to build back up to what it was. She remembered the job offer Ethan had had, their decision to stay and finish school instead. If he had taken the offer, he might not have had the accident.

“I’m not robbing you of your opportunities,” Will said, bringing her back to the moment.

“No, because I’m not going to let you,” she replied, more for herself than him. Then forgetting her declarations, she became silent, relishing the dance and being held in his arms while they moved around the open deck. Breezes tugged playfully at locks of her hair. The music was great. She would remember this night forever.

There couldn’t be many nights in her life like this one. She focused on him, gazing up into his eyes while they danced. The electric current between them escalated. A night to always remember, a man she had fallen in love with even though she didn’t want him to know it. Burning desire—the night, the man—all made her want to take what she could and then lock away the memories.

The notion startled her, teased and tormented. The excitement, the exotic night on a yacht, the diamonds and emeralds—Will himself—everything was causing a turnaround in her life. She had been determined to guard against such temptation, yet now she couldn’t keep from considering it. The temptation expanded, grew strong. She weighed that against looking back with regrets.

Intending to avoid further complication in her life, she tried to bank desire and curb the wild thoughts. Enjoying the dance, she focused on Will, thinking he had to be the most handsome man she had ever known.

“You’re quiet. Nickel for your thoughts.”

“You’ve raised the proverbial penny,” she said, smiling. “I’m thinking what a great night this is and how fun it is to dance with you.”

“Ah-ha, at least I’m in there somewhere.”

“Of course. How could I overlook you? My dashing employer.”

“Dashing—I haven’t ever been called that. My grandfather might have been. I still need to work on my image.”

“Dashing is good. Dashing is exciting.”

“In the eighteenth century it was,” he said, teasing her.

“Still is in my books.”

“I would definitely prefer to hear sexy….”

“I’m sure you would, but we’re not going there. Besides, if I told you that, it would go to your head.”

“Not so, I think it would go somewhere else instantly,” he replied with amusement.

The piece ended and the band launched into a fast number. Will began to dance and she danced with him, moving around him, enjoying the physical release as much as she liked watching him.

He was way beyond a description like dashing. He was sexy, hot, virile. What fun he was. But how many hearts had he broken? She suspected a fair number, and she was skirting close to allowing herself to become one more on his list.

When the music ended he smiled at her. “Ready to sit and cool down or do you want to keep dancing?”

“We’ll sit and cool for a short time. Actually, I could dance all night if I had a chance, because I haven’t in such a long, long time and I love to dance.”

“That is an incredible shame,” he said, taking her arm to steer her toward their table.

As soon as they were seated, the waiter appeared with salads.

“Will, this is really special and so very nice of you.”

“I told you, I’m grateful. Ava, you can’t wear that necklace every day..”

She laughed. “I certainly can’t. I will rarely wear it. It’s too beautiful to take out of the house and too fancy to wear except for special occasions. Very rare in my busy life. A teacher with diamonds and emeralds—not likely.”

“Not impossible. But I want you to have something simpler that you can enjoy every day.” He produced another box and handed it to her.

Startled, her eyes widened. “Will, this is too much! You can’t give me something else.”

“I can and I am. Take it. I want you to have it. It’s another token of my appreciation. Go ahead and open your present.”

She stared at the box and then at him again. He waited patiently and she shook her head as she reached for it. “You shouldn’t have. Though I know the words are lost on you.”

“Yes, they are. I should have. You really should have whatever you want.”

She opened the box and lifted out a watch with a silver band, studded with diamonds. “This is beautiful. It’s a gorgeous watch. Thank you so much.”

“Thank you, Ava. You’ve changed our lives completely.” He raised his glass. “One more toast—to one of the best teachers ever, a beautiful woman, an unselfish, caring soul.”

She touched her glass with his. “Thank you. I’m touched, and the gifts are overwhelming.”

“Enjoy them. You’ve helped Caroline immeasurably. If she can escape her world of silence and sorrow, I can’t tell you what it will mean to me and my family and, of course, to her.”

“She’s the sweetest little girl, Will.”

“I think so. I loved my brother, and I want to do this for him and for her. He trusted me with her care, and I’ve felt as though I’ve failed him terribly every day since his accident—until today. Today, because of you, I felt I was living up to Adam’s trust in me. That’s important.”

Impulsively, she placed her hand over his. “I know it is.”

“You’re important, Ava,” he said in a husky voice, wrapping his hand around hers.

Candlelight and torchlight flickered across his face, highlighting his strong cheekbones and straight nose, throwing his cheeks in dark shadows. His eyes were midnight, impossible to tell his thoughts. Slipping her hand away from his, she looked away. Her appetite had fled. Desire was a raging fire, burning away everything else.

She picked at her salad, knowing she should eat and should try to get him out of her mind. She looked at the beautiful watch. The small diamonds glittered in the yellow lights. The night was surreal: his yacht; a sexy, breathtaking man; gifts of diamonds and emeralds. A night such as she had never known. How could she continue to resist his charm and seduction?

“Now I really do have a penny for your thoughts,” he said in a deep voice, leaning toward her.

“No, I will never tell you. It would definitely go to your head.”

“At least that’s good news. You’re not eating.”

“Yes, I am, and it’s delicious.”