delightful. It's been a rather long and extremely frustrating week."Jordanmurmured.
"I know the kind," David said with a chuckle. "I'll see you out on the porch after Alyssa gets your drink for you, Jordan. Hurry. You don't want to miss the sunset. She's got a fabulous view from here."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"I'll be right there,"Jordanpromised, glancing with polite invitation toward his reluctant hostess.
"Perhaps a Scotch and soda?" he prompted a little too gently.
Wordlessly, Alyssa swung around and made for the kitchen bar she had set up for the evening. When she reached for the bottle of Scotch, however, her fingers trembled, andJordanreached across the low counter to take it firmly from her hand.
"An excellent brand," he approved, pouring a generous drink for himself. "And since I'm not working this evening, there's no reason I shouldn't enjoy myself along with the rest of your guests." He glanced up challengingly. "Is there? Being, as I am, one of the most respected men in my field." He lifted the glass in salute and downed a healthy swallow.
Alyssa licked her lips once, trying to think. "Jordan, you must see that this is going to be awfully awkward for both of us."
"Not at all. I'm beginning to look forward to the remainder of the evening. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I will go out and join your other guests. Wouldn't want to miss that sunset."
"Jordan. . . !" she called after him anxiously, but it was too late. With a soft, gliding stride, he was already halfway across the living room, heading for the porch. Helplessly, Alyssa stared after him and then reluctantly followed. What else could she do? She didn't know Jordan Kyle well enough to even make a guess at what he would do out there on her porch. It was rather like turning a wolf loose among a bunch of conservative sheep.
By the time she reached the porch herself,Jordanwas already back into conversation with David McGregor and his wife. In addition, David was cheerfully introducing him to others. Alyssa cringed inwardly as she heard the words "probability theory expert," and then her attention was being captured by Cari Davis.
"Not putting all your eggs in one basket, I see," Cari murmured with a smile that would have frozen hydrogen. "Very wise. But, then, being a professional woman, I'm sure you've had plenty of experience at this sort of thing."
"I beg your pardon?" Blankly, her mind still on Jordan, Alyssa stared at her guest.
"I'm talking about your charming Mr. Kyle, of course. Always wise to keep a couple of men on the line at the same time, I imagine." Before Alyssa could ask her what she was talking about, Cari had moved off to join another group of guests.
Reality was turning into a crazy nightmare.
Unable to think of anything else to do, Alyssa grabbed a platter of canapes' and headed grimly for the nearest cluster of people. For the next several minutes, she made herself act the part of the perfect hostess, trying desperately to keep her anxious gaze from veering toward the knot of people around Jordan Kyle.
"Oh, Alyssa." Mildred McGregor smiled, coming up behind her and reaching politely for a canape.
"There you are. I've been looking for you. I've just met your charmingJordan. Fascinating man. Who would have thought a professional mathematician could be so interesting? I must say, when I was in school, I avoided the subject like the plague. Strictly the liberal arts type. But yourJordanis very Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
intriguing. And so amusing!"
"Amusing?" Alyssa repeated weakly. Almost simultaneously, there came a burst of delighted laughter from the group nearJordan, and she swung around nervously to stare at the far end of the porch.
"Yes, indeed. He's recently finished an overseas assignment, apparently, and he has some wonderful stories to relate. Excuse me, I must be getting back. Love these tidbits," she added,
"I know the kind," David said with a chuckle. "I'll see you out on the porch after Alyssa gets your drink for you, Jordan. Hurry. You don't want to miss the sunset. She's got a fabulous view from here."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"I'll be right there,"Jordanpromised, glancing with polite invitation toward his reluctant hostess.
"Perhaps a Scotch and soda?" he prompted a little too gently.
Wordlessly, Alyssa swung around and made for the kitchen bar she had set up for the evening. When she reached for the bottle of Scotch, however, her fingers trembled, andJordanreached across the low counter to take it firmly from her hand.
"An excellent brand," he approved, pouring a generous drink for himself. "And since I'm not working this evening, there's no reason I shouldn't enjoy myself along with the rest of your guests." He glanced up challengingly. "Is there? Being, as I am, one of the most respected men in my field." He lifted the glass in salute and downed a healthy swallow.
Alyssa licked her lips once, trying to think. "Jordan, you must see that this is going to be awfully awkward for both of us."
"Not at all. I'm beginning to look forward to the remainder of the evening. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I will go out and join your other guests. Wouldn't want to miss that sunset."
"Jordan. . . !" she called after him anxiously, but it was too late. With a soft, gliding stride, he was already halfway across the living room, heading for the porch. Helplessly, Alyssa stared after him and then reluctantly followed. What else could she do? She didn't know Jordan Kyle well enough to even make a guess at what he would do out there on her porch. It was rather like turning a wolf loose among a bunch of conservative sheep.
By the time she reached the porch herself,Jordanwas already back into conversation with David McGregor and his wife. In addition, David was cheerfully introducing him to others. Alyssa cringed inwardly as she heard the words "probability theory expert," and then her attention was being captured by Cari Davis.
"Not putting all your eggs in one basket, I see," Cari murmured with a smile that would have frozen hydrogen. "Very wise. But, then, being a professional woman, I'm sure you've had plenty of experience at this sort of thing."
"I beg your pardon?" Blankly, her mind still on Jordan, Alyssa stared at her guest.
"I'm talking about your charming Mr. Kyle, of course. Always wise to keep a couple of men on the line at the same time, I imagine." Before Alyssa could ask her what she was talking about, Cari had moved off to join another group of guests.
Reality was turning into a crazy nightmare.
Unable to think of anything else to do, Alyssa grabbed a platter of canapes' and headed grimly for the nearest cluster of people. For the next several minutes, she made herself act the part of the perfect hostess, trying desperately to keep her anxious gaze from veering toward the knot of people around Jordan Kyle.
"Oh, Alyssa." Mildred McGregor smiled, coming up behind her and reaching politely for a canape.
"There you are. I've been looking for you. I've just met your charmingJordan. Fascinating man. Who would have thought a professional mathematician could be so interesting? I must say, when I was in school, I avoided the subject like the plague. Strictly the liberal arts type. But yourJordanis very Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
intriguing. And so amusing!"
"Amusing?" Alyssa repeated weakly. Almost simultaneously, there came a burst of delighted laughter from the group nearJordan, and she swung around nervously to stare at the far end of the porch.
"Yes, indeed. He's recently finished an overseas assignment, apparently, and he has some wonderful stories to relate. Excuse me, I must be getting back. Love these tidbits," she added,
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