Tall, Dark_.Westmoreland! - Brenda Jackson [53]
Five O livia found that every time she lifted her fork to her mouth, her gaze would automatically drift to the next table, the one where Reggie Westmoreland was sitting. And each time, unerringly, their gazes would meet. After their introduction, she had excused herself to the senator, smiling and saying she needed to go to the ladies’ room. Once there she had taken a deep breath. It was a wonder she hadn’t passed out. With his mask in place, Reggie Westmoreland had been handsome. Without his mask, he took her breath away. While standing in front of him, she’d had to tamp down her emotions and the sensations flowing through her. His eyes were very dark, almost chocolate, and their shape, which she had been denied seeing on Saturday night, was almond, beneath thick brows. It had taken everything in her power to force her muscles to relax. And when he had taken her hand and kissed the back of it before walking off, she’d thought she would swoon right then and there. “Libby, are you okay?
Six “I know your favorite color is lavender, but tell me something else about Olivia Jeffries, and before you ask, I want to know everything,” Reggie said as he sat in the chair at the table while Olivia sat across from him, on the love seat, with her feet curled beneath her. They were both sipping wine and trying to rekindle that comfort zone between them. Chase had been kind enough to take their food order and had indicated that he would be serving dinner to them shortly. He had given them a bottle of wine, two wineglasses, a tablecloth and eating utensils. Together, the two of them had set the table. Reggie wondered if being here with him reminded her of how intimate things had been between them on Saturday night. They had shared dinner then, but only after spending hours making love, to the point where they were famished. “I’m the baby in the family,” she said, smiling. “I have two older brothers.” “And I know the Holy Terror is one of them,” Reggie said, grinning. “He went to scho
Seven “I see you had a guest for dinner last night, Dad.” Olivia watched her father actually blush across the breakfast table and thought it was kind of cute that he seemed a little embarrassed. “Ahh, yes, Cathy stopped by, and I invited her to stay for dinner.” “Oh, and why did she come by? Are the two of you working on another speech?” “No, no,” her father was quick to say. “She thought I wasn’t in a good mood after yesterday’s luncheon and wanted to cheer me up. She stopped by the bakery and brought me my favorite Danish. I thought that was kind of her.” “I think so, too, but then Cathy is a kind person. I like her.” Her father lifted a brow. “Do you really?” Olivia looked over at him. She could tell her response was important to him. “Yes, and I always have. Over the years I thought she was not only a good secretary to you but a nice person, too. When I was younger and was dealing with a lot of girl stuff, I would often call Cathy.” Her father looked surprised. “You did?” “Yes. Com
Eight “C athy will be calling you later today, Libby.” Olivia lifted her gaze from her cereal bowl to glance over at her father, with a questioning look on her face. “For what reason?” “To schedule all those fund-raisers that you and I will need to attend over the next couple of weeks, beginning this Saturday.” Panic shot through Olivia. “Not this Saturday night, I hope.” Her father quirked a thick brow. “No, it’s Saturday midday at the home of Darwin Walker and his wife.” She nodded. Darwin and Terrence