Jeannie James Author

Excerpt

"Is it too much to hope that you're single?"

Leisa blushed. She kept her face turned toward the crowd. "That's right. Never married."

"Any attachments?"

"Nope," she shook her head and gave Jared a humorous, hang dog look. "Not a one."

"Not even on the mainland?"

"No." She continued shaking her head sadly. "I left every single one of my beaus behind me in Oregon."

"Aha. Then I was right the first time!" Jared pounced. "You are single. You were casing out the crowd."

"What?" She was startled. "No I was not!" She exclaimed indignantly. Her voice faded as she saw his devilish grin. He was kidding her. Well, two could play at that game. She tucked her legs under her, narrowed her eyes and turned back to the street below.

"The selection of eligible men is limited, as you can see" she said evenly, but with a hint of a smile. "This island may have miles of rugged shoreline and an inspiring collection of sea-life, but we do seem to have a shortage of a particular kind of land-based wildlife."

Jared's eyebrow lifted. "Oh, is that right? Well, I can think of a few candidates for your review."

"Then who would you vote for?" she asked innocently. Jared looked puzzled, so she gestured at the people passing by and added, "Which of these eligible specimens would you date?"

"If I were dating men…" Jared stopped and frowned. "That didn't come out right." Leisa grinned encouragingly and he went on. "I would definitely vote for…" His confident voice trailed off as he examined the options passing in front of him. Thoughtfully, he turned his head to the side, then took a long sip of his drink. "Whoa. As you say, your options are, indeed, limited." Jared's eyes stayed on the crowd below. "Maybe him." Jared pointed discreetly to a distinguished older man.

Leisa's eyes flew to meet Jared's, convinced he was teasing. "Do I look that old to you?"

"Well…" Jared examined her closely. He seemed serious. She swung her legs off the chair and faced him. "Well", she demanded. She shifted self-consciously under his gaze. She was only twenty-seven and quite athletic. He had seemed attracted to her. Self-doubts ran through her head.

His voice vibrated with laughter. "Okay! Okay! He finally admitted. "You probably have a few good years left on you. But I'll tell you what. It looks like you only have one truly extraordinary choice left." Leisa grinned. "Better tell me now, before he bolts."

"Me." Jared's eyes were serious, with only a hint of a smile.

Leisa felt suddenly and intensely shy. She could feel warm, red heat invading her face and looked down, so Jared wouldn't see. "I only meant this as a game," she protested nervously. "I honestly didn't come to this café with the intention of finding a date."

He caught her arm. "Of course you didn't. No more so than I." His voice grew low. "Aren't we lucky?"

"Yes," she sighed quietly, then blushed beet red and quickly moved her arm away. "Except this is moving a little fast for me."

"Meeting a woman like you is what I keep hoping for every time I traipse into town. I have to move fast, before the other locals catch sight of you." He caught her eye and put his hand up as if to smooth her tousled hair. His glance held hers, asking a silent question. As if in response, she slowly leaned toward his hand.

The blast of a truck's horn froze them both in mid-motion.

"Hey Jared" a grinning face leaned from the driver's window and called up at them. "Quit your flirting for once and get down to business. We've got a job to do, in case you've forgotten."

Leisa could have been mortified, but Jared's eyes never left her face and his quiet strength kept her in his spell.

"You've got really bad timing Lonnie," he shouted back to the man in the truck without turning from Leisa. "You get moving and I'll meet you at the Anderson site."

"Yes sir." Grinning, Lonnie shifted into gear and drove away.

Jared stood up slowly and pulled her up with him, still holding her eyes with his. "That," he explained, "was my foreman Lonnie. It seems Lonnie has a lot to answer for."

Leisa smiled. Standing this close to him, Jared's face was sharply defined. It was a strongly chiseled, powerful face. She shook her head a little to clear the spell.

"Don't shake your head," Jared urged. "Walk me down to the street and see me off. My truck's just down the block. Leave your coffee. It'll still be here when you get back."

He put his arm around her shoulders to guide her down the stairs and into the crowd.

Brushing up against someone on the stairway, Leisa felt a sharp chill against her leg. Stepping back against the banister, Leisa eyed an eight-year-old girl with straight oily hair pulling back an ice cream cone and staring at the glob of chocolate running down Leisa's leg with a look of brooding pleasure. "Missy! Don't mash your ice cream on the lady. Now you apologize," Missy's harried mom begged.

Leisa smiled encouragement at Missy, who gave her a sullen look and continued up the stairs. With an apologetic glance at Leisa, Missy's mother followed her. Leisa caught Jared's eyes silently laughing at her, so she breathed a theatrical sigh of relief and he pulled her back against his side.

She pulled away. "You don't have children, do you?" she asked suddenly.

He laughed out loud. "Little Missy has you running scared, does she? I thought I saw fear on your face. Well I can assure you that if Missy were my child, she wouldn't be let loose on the street with a loaded ice cream cone until she learned some manners."

He hadn't answered her question, but she didn't think it was the time to pursue it. She let him guide her down the remaining steps.

Better keep this light, she warned herself as they reached street level. He looks perfect. He feels perfect. Lord, does he feel perfect. But he may have thousands of girlfriends. God, don't let him be married. And, dear God, don't let him have children.