Eternally Yours - Brenda Jackson [60]
But now, in a way she could not define, she was getting deeply involved with Clayton. And he was becoming a complication. She had picked up on that fact weeks ago, right after their trip to New Orleans. But she had convinced herself that he was the one man she could handle. She had believed an intimate relationship with him would not mean losing control over her emotions. After all, all she’d wanted to share with him was passion, and the man certainly was full of that.
But somewhere, somehow, for a little while, she had allowed herself to forget the promises she had made to herself, her goals, and her own personal established agenda. If she wasn’t careful, she would forget the reasons she could never trust love. She had known firsthand the pain of believing that someone loved you and then being disappointed.
She met Clayton’s glance across the room. The look in his eyes was heated, seductive, arousing. Memories of their weekend in Atlanta flowed between them and she read the message in his eyes. He had said nothing, he hadn’t even bothered to move his lips. But then, he didn’t really need to say anything. The message he was sending to her was plain and clear. He wanted her and sometime later tonight, family or no family, he intended to have her.
Shakily, Syneda took a deep breath. Even when she wanted to struggle against the sensual pull he had on her mind and senses, she couldn’t. And she knew that deep down, tonight of all nights, she wouldn’t. She wanted him, too.
Only when Clayton’s aunt touched her arm to regain her attention did she drop her eyes from his. When she looked back in his direction moments later, he was gone.
I need to start mingling more, Clayton thought, when Justin disappeared after being beeped by one of his patients.
Clayton moved in the direction of the bar that had been set up. Frustrations were beginning to overwhelm him. He wanted to take Syneda and go someplace private, where the two of them could be alone. As usual, she looked good. His eyes had completely surveyed her sleek teal-colored gown. He had long ago accepted the fact that anything Syneda wore, she wore well, including his dress shirt.
Tonight her gown was totally alluring. The silky material fitted fluidly over her body, emphasizing her shapely figure. He not only wanted to hold her in his arms, but wanted to touch those familiar places that only a lover would be allowed to touch.
Glancing around, he noticed his sister and brother-in-law had just arrived. He walked over to them. “Good evening, folks.”
“What’s so good about it?” Traci answered with a pout on her lips.
Clayton met his brother-in-law’s gaze and detected his well-hidden grin. He couldn’t help but like Daniel Green, the man who had taken his sister off his parents’ hands nearly ten years ago. Any man who could handle Letracia Madaris Green’s raving-mad buying sprees definitely rose a notch in his eyes.
Everyone in the family knew that Traci lived to spend money and that the shopping malls were her second home. “Shop till you drop” was her motto in life. Clayton smiled. No doubt Traci’s state of unhappiness had nothing to do with PMS. Daniel must have pulled the plug on her buying power.
“Have Mom and Dad arrived yet?” Traci asked, interrupting Clayton’s thoughts.
Clayton’s smile widened. He wondered why she’d be looking for their parents. She definitely wouldn’t get any pity from them. They were probably still paying for the things she had charged while in college. “Yeah, they’re here someplace.”
Traci walked off. And without having the decency to excuse herself, Clayton thought. “I take it she’s not a happy camper tonight,” he said to Daniel.
Daniel chuckled as he nodded. “That’s putting it mildly. But she’ll get over it.”
“Yeah, but I’d hate to be at your house while she’s in the process of doing so. Should I guess why she’s ticked off?” Clayton asked, leaning against a column post. His arms were folded across his chest as he eyed Daniel with amusement.
“You think it’s funny, don’t you, Clayton?”
“Hell, yeah, I think it’s