Kenzie shifted in her chair. With eight people at the round linen-covered table, she was sitting close enough to Reese to feel the occasional brush of his thigh against hers. She remembered his magnificent tattooed back, and her body flushed with heat. It was frightening. She couldn’t wait for the evening to end.
It seemed hours before it was over. At one point, Reese got up and gave a brief address, followed by several others describing the work done by the charity, thanking people for coming, and imploring them to be generous.
She made a trip to the ladies’ room with Harper and Jessie, found both of them easy to talk to and totally accepting of her as nothing more than Reese’s substitute date. She’d been worried something in her expression would give away her attraction.
All evening, Kenzie worked to keep up a businesslike facade, which Reese seemed to do without the slightest effort. A thought that was oddly depressing.
Deep down, she couldn’t help wishing she were there with him for real, something she had never remotely considered. It wasn’t going to happen, could not possibly happen, not when her job meant so much to her and she needed the income so badly. More so if Lee actually filled a custody suit for Griff.
The hours slipped past. Finally, the benefit was over and they were back in the limo. The vehicle was driving toward her town house when Reese mentioned the investigation he was pursuing.
“I’m flying into Houston,” he said. “Driving on to Galveston. I’ll be asking questions, tracking people down, digging up basic information.”
“I’ve scheduled your trip to the platform,” Kenzie said, “but I really think, under the circumstances, you should postpone it.”
Surprisingly, Reese agreed. “Until we know what’s going on, that’s probably a good idea.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“I could really use your help while I’m down there,” he said. “If leaving town for a couple of days isn’t too inconvenient.”
“Gran’s there to take care of Griff and they’re both used to me working long hours. A few days away won’t be a problem.”
Not a problem for Gran or Griff. But for her, spending time with Reese was growing more and more difficult.
“Set it up,” he said. “We’ll fly down next week. I’ve got a staff meeting on Tuesday. We’ll leave Wednesday morning, come back Friday night at the latest. You’ll be home in time to spend the weekend with your son.”
Reese and his wife had never had children. She knew he liked kids. Kenzie thought he would have made a good dad.
The limo turned a corner and continued down the street. She usually booked Reese an SUV, but for black-tie occasions, he preferred a stretch. She couldn’t help wondering if Andrea would have enjoyed it.
Reggie pulled up in front of her town house, got out to open the rear passenger door. Reese slid out of the car and came around to help Kenzie alight.
“You don’t need to walk me to the door,” she said. “I can find my own way.”
“Tonight you’re my date. That doesn’t end until you’re safely inside your home.” His hand rode at her waist as he walked her up the concrete path to the front porch. She couldn’t suppress the flutter in her stomach. When Kenzie turned to look at him, his eyes, a fierce cobalt blue, held a trace of something she had never seen before. Heat, she realized, the unmistakable glitter of desire.
He blinked and it was gone.
Or maybe she had only imagined it.
“I know attending a benefit with your assistant wasn’t your favorite thing to do,” she said. “But it was still a very nice evening.”
He took a step back, his face in shadow. In her dream, he had leaned down and kissed her.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He moved even farther away. “Good night, Kenzie.”
“Good night, Reese.”
She watched him walk away, shoulders wide, long strides eating up the ground beneath his black patent shoes. An unexpected yearning moved through her.
Get a grip, Kenzie. You’re just an employee.And even if tonight had been a real date, even if she had broken all the rules and kissed him, even seduced him, she would just be another of his women. Reese was never interested in more than a brief affair.
She sighed as she climbed the stairs to her empty bedroom. Tomorrow was another day. Everything would be back to normal.
But as she lay in bed, she thought of Reese and the hot look in his eyes and couldn’t fall asleep.
EIGHT
