Taming Clint Westmoreland - Brenda Jackson [23]
“Yes, Chester’s been working here since before I was born,” Clint said.
Alyssa could hear something in Clint’s voice that went beyond mere likeness of Chester. It was easy to tell that Clint considered Chester more than just a housekeeper and a cook. He considered the man an intricate part of his family. While giving her a tour of the outside of the house, he had introduced her to several of the men who worked for him. Some of them were older and full of experience in the taming of the horses. The younger ones were learning the ropes, but everyone, as Clint had been quick to point out, played an important part in the running of his operation. The men had been friendly and respectful and when he had introduced her as nothing more than a good friend, it was apparent they had accepted his word.
“You’d better dig in while the food is warm,” Clint said.
Taking his statement to mean he was tired of answering her questions, she walked over to the stove to fix her plate and pour a cup of coffee, feeling Clint’s gaze on her with every move she made.
“I’m glad you know to do that,” he said.
She turned and looked at him, bewildered. “Do what?”
“Fix your own food.”
At her confused look he said, “A lot of women wouldn’t. They would expect to be waited on hand and foot.”
Alyssa turned back around to scoop eggs onto her plate wondering if he’d ever met Kim. Her cousin would definitely be one of those type of women. Uncle Jessie still called Kim his princess and she took it literally. “Well, I’m not one of them,” she said when she came to the table to sit down. “I’m used to fending for myself.”
She had barely taken her seat when Clinton folded his arms across his chest and asked, “Okay, what have you decided?”
Instead of answering him, she stared down into the dark liquid of her coffee for a moment before glancing up at him. “Do you have to know this minute?”
“Any reason you can’t tell me this minute?” he countered, with a little irritation in his voice.
She set her cup down knowing the last thing they needed was to get agitated with each other. Besides, he was right. There wasn’t a reason she couldn’t tell him now. “No, I guess not.”
She didn’t say anything for a few moments and then met his gaze. “Before I commit to anything, I want you to agree to something,” she said.
He lifted a dark brow. “Agree to what?”
“Agree that you won’t try to get me into your bed.”
He smiled. “My bed?”
“Or any bed in this house.” She thought it best to clarify. “And to be more specific, I want your word that you won’t try to seduce me into bed with you.”
He laughed softly and held her gaze for a long moment. “Define seduce,” he said.
Alyssa was aware that he was toying with her, but she was more determined than ever to make sure he understood her position. “You’re a man, Clint. You know very well what seduction entails,” she said.
His smile deepened. “And you think I’d do something like that?”
She didn’t hesitate in answering. “Yes. I’m certain of it. In less than twenty-four hours we’ve kissed twice, which leads me to believe you would try seducing me.”
He stared at her for a moment, eyed her reflectively and then said, “You’re right. I would in a heartbeat.” And then he asked, “And we’ve kissed twice, you say?”
Like he didn’t know it. “Yes,” she said, now very annoyed.
“Want to go for three?” he murmured in a voice that was so husky that it sent shivers through her body.
She eyed him sternly. “I’m serious, Clint.”
“So am I.”
She stared into his deep, penetrating gaze. Yes, he was serious. He was dead serious. The very thought that he wanted to kiss her again, tangle his tongue with hers and taste her, made the breath she was breathing get caught in her throat. Had he just admitted that he enjoyed kissing her? Well, she could admit that she enjoyed kissing him, as well. There was something devastatingly mind-blowing about the feel of him thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth, moving it around, latching on to hers and…
“Anything else you want from