Do You Take This Enemy?

“Relax, Ashley,” he said. “I won’t bite. Let’s get to know each other. Tell me about your job in Chicago.”

“Well, if you really want to know, it was just typical ad agency stuff. I was involved with thinking up ideas and dealing with clients.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Terribly sometimes, but I’m needed here.”

“Do you plan to go back to it?” he asked, half thinking about their conversation and what she had just told him. She had had a teenage crush on him. That meant she hadn’t always hated him. And she thought he was good-looking. Sparks danced in the air when he was around her, and he was drawn to her in a way he hadn’t been for a long time. Maybe there really was some hope for his proposal. And yesterday morning with Julian…Ashley and Julian had taken to each other instantly. That was a bonus that made this union far more important to him.

“Ashley, I was thinking about that crush you had—”

“Don’t let that go to your head. I was a kid.”

“Well, I wish I’d paid more attention then—”

“No, you don’t. Remember, skinny, braces, five years younger. I don’t think so.”

He shrugged a shoulder. “You’re right. You were a scrawny little squirt. But you aren’t now.”

“Thanks for that bulletin,” she snapped with sarcasm. “Seven months pregnant is far from scrawny.”

“I meant that in a nice way.”

“Then thank you,” she answered quietly, wondering whether she could really trust his answer, yet liking his compliment.

“So are you going to take over running your ranch now?” he asked.

“I’ve taken over the books—but I don’t know the things my Dad does about breeding or training.”

Gabe studied her intently. “I’m surprised you’re not dating.”

“No, I’m definitely not interested in anyone around here.”

“Are you still in love with some guy in Chicago?”

“No, I’m not,” she answered in a frosty tone. He was surprised to find her so self-possessed and cool. He shot another glance her way, looking at her profile. He had started this to acquire land, but now he was more intrigued with the woman sitting beside him, a turn of events that stunned him because he was still in love with Ella. He didn’t want to be caught up in a situation where Ashley expected love. Whenever he thought of Ella, he hurt and he knew that wasn’t going to change. Gabe realized Ashley had been speaking to him.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “What did you say?”

“Where are we going to eat?” she asked. “We could still run into someone we know in San Antonio.”

“I’ve thought about that. It seems to me that the least likely place is a sort of generic hotel. It might not be the best dinner you’ve ever eaten, but it will be private. Not many locals will eat in the hotels and it’s unlikely we’ll know the out-of-towners.”

“You’re probably right.”

“Now if you want real seclusion, I can rent a room in the hotel and have dinner sent—”

“Not in the next two lifetimes will I go to a hotel room with you! Nice try.”

He shrugged. “Fine with me. You’re the one who’s more worried about who will see us.” He glanced at her. “Are you scared to go to a hotel room with me?”

“Hardly.”

“I swear I won’t make a pass.”

“I’m sure you won’t,” she snapped, and he could hear the annoyance in her voice. Gabe knew he needed to quit teasing her, but when he could get such a passionate reaction out of her, he couldn’t resist. He wondered how passionate she would get over long, steamy kisses. He drew a deep breath and knew he’d better stop following that line of thought.

“I do not, now or ever, want to go to a hotel room with you.”

“Why does that come out as another inviting challenge?”

“I was thinking more as a threat. You’re not helping your case.”

“Okay. Back to a neutral subject. Where would you like to eat?”

“A hotel dining room sounds fine.”

Thirty minutes later they were seated in a beige-and-green dining room of a hotel half a mile from the River-walk. The room was quiet except for piped-in music that played softly in the background. They were in a corner. She prayed they would not see anyone from Piedras or Lago counties.

Gabriel ordered wine for himself and water for her. Shortly after their drinks came, they ordered dinner. As soon as the waiter left, Gabe sipped his red wine and studied her. “Ashley, you have the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re very pretty.”

“Thank you, but that isn’t why you asked me out tonight. Get to the point.”

He was amused at her dogged insistence on keeping the evening impersonal. “You know that kind of reaction from you just makes me all the more interested.”

Surprising her, he leaned forward suddenly and took her hand. She tried to pull away, but he held her firmly, his thumb on her wrist. She was acutely aware of his touch and of his dark-brown eyes boring into her.

“Your pulse is racing. I think we should pursue getting to know each other for more reasons than saving your ranch and expanding mine.”

“You’re adept at smooth-talking to get what you want,” she answered, realizing that he had admitted feeling an attraction to her and that he was still holding her hand. She was reacting to him in ways she didn’t want to, and she found him exciting. Every time he fixed her with one of his piercing looks, his dark eyes took her breath away.

“I’m just observing what’s happening here.”

“All right, I’ll admit my pulse is racing,” she said, “but I chalk that up to not dating in a long time, my crush on you as a kid, and your sexy looks. We’re not friends, and I barely know you, so whatever I feel when I’m with you is not significant.”

“I don’t agree. Does it happen with every guy you go out with?” he asked with great innocence.

“That’s none of your business! You can cause my pulse to pound, but you also can cause my temper to rise. Now stop flirting with me.”

“You don’t like it?”

She took a deep breath, and he grinned.

“Let’s talk about getting married,” he said softly.

He made everything sound sexy. There was nothing about his offer that made Ashley feel she was considering an impersonal business decision. “I don’t see any way we can work out this marriage of convenience.”

“Sure, we can,” he said, releasing her hand and leaning back in his chair, pushing open his coat while he studied her. He looked dashing in his dark suit, his eyes not missing anything. “I think there are vastly more possibilities here than I imagined. A marriage between us would mean financial help for the Triple R. It would let me get started with expansion. I’ll have to admit, it would give Julian a mother and I would be there for you when the baby comes.”