Star of His Heart - Brenda Jackson [3]
Netherland smiled. “He is kind of handsome, isn’t he?”
“Kind of? Nettie, no man has caused such a stir in this place since that time a few years back when Dex Madaris walked in. You have to admit Mr. Sinclair has been good for business. Just look around. This place is packed and has been every night since word got out about him. You’re the envy of every woman here. Do you know that some are taking bets?”
Netherland lifted a dark brow. “Taking bets on what?”
“On how much longer you’ll be able to resist his sexual pull, his magnetic draw, his sensual smile.”
“I’m immune.”
“If you believe that, then you’re in deeper waters than I thought.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I can’t help noticing you’re starting to return his hot looks.”
“I am not!”
“You are, too. And if you don’t realize it or acknowledge it, you’re in real trouble.” Rainey heard Netherland’s soft grunt and allowed her smile to deepen. “If you are immune to him, then prove it.”
“Prove it how?”
“Take his dinner order. It’s obvious that whenever he comes in here he prefers for you to wait on his table. But he’s too much of a gentleman to hurt our feelings and specifically ask for you.”
“That’s nonsense.”
Rainey smiled. “No. That’s a man who’s patient yet determined.”
Netherland looked at Rainey. As the owner of Sisters, her duties were administrative. She seldom had the time to serve the customers unless there was some special event. “Take his order, huh? You don’t think I can handle it, do you?”
“Oh, you’ll handle it on wobbly knees, with bated breath and a luscious pool of heat between your legs like the rest of us. If his smile doesn’t get to you, then his voice certainly will. It’s so sexy.”
Netherland had to agree. He did have a sexy voice. But she had to believe she could be strong and resist everything about Ashton Sinclair. Hadn’t she done a good job of resisting his charm at Trevor Grant’s wedding last year? Ashton and Trevor were good friends from Trevor’s military days. At the reception Ashton had cornered her and had again asked her to go out with him. She had almost been overcome with weakness since he had looked so darn good in a tux. But luckily, she had gotten a firm grip on her senses before agreeing to date him.
“Taking his order isn’t a big deal,” Netherland said, pulling a menu out of the rack.
“So you say.”
“I can do it.”
“So you claim.”
“And nothing will happen.”
“So you think. Good luck.”
Netherland glared at Rainey. She then took a deep breath before moving across the room. She didn’t need good luck. What she needed was a good prayer.
Ashton Sinclair watched Netherland as she walked toward him, all formal and businesslike, with a menu securely in her hand. From her intense expression, he could tell she felt she was at her wits’ end with him. Well, as far as he was concerned, she hadn’t seen anything yet. He was getting ready to turn up the heat. He had only six weeks of leave time before he had to report to Washington. He intended to spend every chance he got pursuing his future wife. Soon she would discover that denying what was between them would be pointless, a definite waste of time.
He leaned back in his chair. What a woman. She was beautiful, sexy and intensely stubborn. His smile widened. He could handle her stubbornness. He rubbed his jaw thinking he could handle just about anything Ms. Brooms dished his way. The result would be well worth it.
Tension gripped Netherland’s entire body as she continued walking toward Ashton on wobbly knees with each bated breath she took. The pool of luscious heat between her legs that Rainey had warned her about got almost unbearable when she saw his gaze roam over her from head to toe. His gaze was blazing with intensity as if burning to ashes every barrier she had erected between them. She knew a lot of other gazes were on her, wanting