Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [146]
Jane stared into his hard, ruthless face and saw something in the dark flickering eyes that she'd never seen before. Why, she had hurt him! She had grown used to thinking of Jake as the hard, cynical sophisticate, but now he had the defiant air of a young boy who had surrendered a treasure to a comrade only to have it scorned. Suddenly she wanted to take him in her arms and soothe away all of the hurts he had ever known. Because she knew that she must never show that she had seen that vulnerability, she dropped her eyes to the amber scarf in her lap.
When she raised them a moment later, her golden eyes were dancing with fun. “I like you better without a stitch, too,” she told him, grinning. “I love the clothes, Jake. I'll be very happy to accept them.” What was a little pride when it was balanced against the hurt she'd inflicted on the man she loved?
Dominic relaxed, his face regaining its cool insouciance. “Brat,” he drawled. “You can't even accept a present without causing a ballyhoo.” He strolled over to where she was sitting on the bed and dropped a light kiss on her forehead. “And the jewels?” he probed.
She wasn't willing to give him total victory. “We'll see,” she replied evasively. Then looking up quickly, her eyes troubled, she said, “There's one thing that I can't accept, Jake.” His face darkened swiftly, and she went on hurriedly, “It's the furs. I could never wear the skin of an animal that had been killed so that I could flaunt its beauty as some kind of status symbol. I just couldn't do it.”
Jake's frown faded slowly, to be replaced by resignation. “No, I suppose you couldn't,” he said wryly. “Knowing you, I should have realized that would be one of your bäte noires.”
Her face was serious. “I helped circulate a petition last year to try to get legislation passed against the killing of baby seals. Do you know how they kill baby seals?”
Jake placed a hand over her mouth. “No,” he said firmly, “and I don't want to know. At least not before dinner.” He removed his hand and tilted her head up to place a swift kiss on her mutinous mouth. “Suppose we send the furs back and use the money as a contribution to your seal fund.”
Jane's face lit up with the power of a solar explosion. “Oh, Jake, could we?” she breathed excitedly. “They do need the money so desperately.”
“If you promise to send the check in your name and not mine,” Jake said, making a face. “I have no desire to be put on the hit list of every wildlife-preservation society in the country.”
Jane jumped up and hugged him impulsively. “Jake, you're super. Absolutely super,” she bubbled.
Jake flinched, but his arms went around her with swift possessiveness. “Please. Not that word. You make me feel like a rock star.” His hands were moving in lazy circles on her lower back and buttocks beneath the beach coat, and Jane felt her knees turn to butter. She pressed closer to him and felt the swift exciting hardening of him against her. He drew a deep ragged breath and pushed her reluctantly away. “Damn Lola and her party,” he said thickly. “I'd like nothing better than to tell the whole world to go to hell and spend the evening in bed.” He turned away. “Get dressed, redhead. I'll see you in the lounge.”
A short time later Jane gazed with breathless delight in the mirror. Why, she looked pretty. The chocolate chiffon cocktail-length gown was a masterpiece of artistic drapery that left one golden shoulder bare, hugging her high firm breasts and tiny waist lovingly before flaring to an extravagant fullness at the scalloped hem. The matching satin high-heeled sandals made her legs look deliciously alluring. Her hair curled in shimmering flames about her face in dramatic contrast to the rich darkness of her gown. Her topaz eyes and the tender pink