Star of His Heart - Brenda Jackson [2]
Netherland felt her breasts tingle against her blouse. She took another deep breath, refusing to let Ashton Sinclair get next to her again tonight. After all, he was totally wrong for her, and she had told him that on several occasions. As handsome and alluring as he was, in her eyesight he had one tiny flaw she couldn’t discount or overlook.
He was military.
She was what one would consider a military brat. Her father had made a career in the army, which meant her family was never able to put down roots anywhere. She couldn’t recall ever living in the same place for more than two years at a time. The constant moving had never bothered her mother or her four brothers. But with Netherland things had been different. She had grown up feeling like a gypsy, never having a place to really call home. And she had never stayed in one place long enough to develop lasting friendships with anyone. She envied women whose friendships had spanned years. She had never been that fortunate, which was one of the reasons she had established Sisters. Sisters was an exclusive restaurant located in the heart of Houston’s downtown district for women to meet, be entertained and establish lasting friendships with other women. Not surprisingly, anywhere sisters assembled in huge numbers, the brothers were sure to congregate, as well. So, on any given day, it wasn’t unusual to find just as many men patronizing her establishment as there were women.
Netherland sighed. Although Ashton Sinclair had to be the most tempting man she had ever met, she would not get involved with a man who didn’t have roots, and a man who was a replica of her father and brothers. All four of her brothers had followed in their father’s footsteps and entered military life. Paris, the oldest at thirty-two, was in the army; Belgium, at thirty, was in the navy; Rome, at twenty-seven, was in the marines and Dakota, the youngest at twenty-three, was in the air force. All of Ernest and Nadine Kalloren’s five children had been named after the places where they had been born.
“I see your admirer is here again tonight, Nettie.”
Netherland broke eye contact with Ashton to glance over at Rainey Gilford, head hostess for the restaurant as well as her good friend. Rainey was always observant, which usually was a good thing. However, tonight, to Netherland’s way of thinking, it was not. “Yes, he’s back.”
Rainey smiled. “Evidently he doesn’t take no for an answer.”
Netherland couldn’t help but return her friend’s smile. “Evidently he doesn’t. I don’t know what else to do.”
“You could bend a little and give the brother a break,” Rainey said between chuckles, knowing Netherland was too stubborn to do such a thing. Netherland saw Ashton Sinclair’s presence in the restaurant each night as a nuisance, but Rainey and most of the other women considered it sheer pleasure. Men couldn’t get much finer than Ashton Sinclair. Unless, however, you considered the three Madaris brothers and their childhood friend Trevor Grant. But since the four of them were now married, they no longer counted. And she didn’t want to even think about the good-looking Trask “The Max” Maxwell, ex-football star who broke a lot of hearts when he got married on New Year’s Day. Now whenever the Madaris brothers, Trevor Grant and Trask Maxwell patronized Sisters, they came with their wives. Fortunately, Ashton Sinclair was single, but unfortunately, he only had eyes for Netherland.
“Oh, Nettie, I wish I was in your shoes right now,” Rainey whispered. “Do you know what I would do if I were?”
Netherland shook her head. She really did have an idea but wanted to hear it from Rainey’s lips anyway, just in case she was mistaken. “No, what?”
“I would waltz right over to Ashton Sinclair and tell him that I’ve changed my mind and that I will go out with him.”
Netherland smiled. She had figured as much. “Rainey, going out with him won’t serve any purpose. You know how I feel about military men.”
“Yeah, but take a look, Nettie, there is never anything military about him whenever