The woman’s expression was shrewd. “You don’t look like a debt collector or someone about to serve a legal notice.”
Laura made a choking sound. “Do they come here often?”
“No. What do you want to see him about?”
“I’ve come about a job.”
“O’Grady’sdoesn’t seem like a good match for you.” The woman didn’t mess around with social niceties. “What’s your name?”
“Laura D… Leigh.” There was no sense asking for trouble. “We’ve spoken before. Please tell him Laura is here to see him.”
The woman gave her another considering glance, checked out the two male customers who entered the bar and nodded. “Wait over there.” She reached for a phone.
Laura huffed out a breath. Now that she was here and waiting, nerves jumped across her skin like fleas having a trampoline party. They taunted her, called her stupid, tempted her to turn and run.
Instead, she took a seat and clenched her hands in her lap. The urge to flee didn’t take her by surprise. She’d thought long and hard about approaching Dallas on his turf. One, it gave him home advantage. Two, she ran the risk of meeting one of his brothers. While they mightn’t recognize her, the Drummond name would act like a punch in the nose. An announcement that the foolish enemy had strolled into their territory.
Her gaze took in her surroundings—the wooden floors, scarred from years of wear and spilled drinks, were swept clean, the faint scent of disinfectant on the air. Pictures of pastoral country scenes and crumbling castles decorated the walls, and at the far end of the pub, two dart boards invited use. The clack of pool balls told her the tables were around the corner, out of sight but in use. Unable to remain still a second longer, she jumped to her feet and paced.
“He’ll be down in ten minutes. He said to offer you a drink.”
Drink? It was too early for a glass of wine to drown her nerves. “Do you have coffee?”
“Sure,” the barmaid said. “Won’t be a tick.”
When the coffee arrived, Laura picked up the cup to keep her hands occupied. Two customers entered, both sending her looks full of curiosity. She drank some of her coffee and pretended she didn’t notice their attention.
“Laura.”
Her coffee slopped over the rim of her cup before she managed to set it on the table. “Was it necessary to sneak up behind me?”
“I don’t sneak. What are you doing here?” His gaze slipped past her, and he cursed under his breath. “Damn, we can’t talk here. You’d better come with me.”
“Of course.” She pretended calmness when inside fears and hope and nerves now gamboled like excited puppies. “Roll out the welcome mat.”
He barked out a laugh. “Still the smart-arse.”
Where he was concerned. Something about him made her brave and unbeatable.
He held the door open and ushered her up a set of stairs. Masculine voices drifted from an office to their left. Dallas bypassed the room and indicated another flight of stairs. Finally, he showed her into an apartment on the top floor.
“I thought we’d decided we wouldn’t see each other again.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. His gaze, however, ran over her face, her body and back to her face, hunger flaring then scooting behind his impassive expression.
He still wanted her.The insight squared her shoulders.
Laura reached into her handbag and pulled out their agreement. “We signed on for a month. I signed in good conscience, and I’m here to fulfill my part of the bargain.”
Dallas stared, powerless to resist the plea in her face, powerless to rip his gaze from her flirty ponytail, justpowerlessagainst her lure. He’d missed her, their parting after two short nights leaving a sinkhole of loneliness, one he’d had no idea how to fill. He’d tried cramming the empty space with work, by interacting with his brothers. Hell, he’d even made a date for later in the week. One glimpse of Laura and he realized he’d been kidding himself.
He was no more finished with her than she was with him.
“This is a bad idea. People will get hurt. Not just us, but our families. Our being together will stir old history.”
“I know,” she whispered, darkness clouding her pretty whiskey-colored eyes. “Don’t you think I’ve wrestled with this? Why do you think I’ve waited to come to you?” She gave an audible swallow, and even that damn ponytail seemed subdued. “I’ve thought about this, about us for two days. I can’t stop thinking about you. I need…I want more than a weekend.”
Hell.
His hands clenched at his sides as he battled the urge to wrap his arms around her and hold her tight. Safe. “My brothers are downstairs in the office. They’ll be wondering what’s keeping me.”
