wouldn't be able to get here. An expert in probability theory, you
know. One of the best in his field. I'm sure you'll enjoy talking to
him. He's been recently engaged in a hush-hush research project over in
Nevada."
"Oh, so you're in the same field as Alyssa, are you?" David McGregor
nodded wisely at the younger man.
"Why, yes, as a matter of fact," Jordan returned smoothly, his gleaming
gaze still on Alyssa's desperately composed features. "We have several
parallel interests."
Oh, God. Was that a promise of vengeance she saw in that threatening
gaze? "Wouldn't you like a drink, Jordan?" Anything to distract him,
even temporarily. "Come on into the kitchen and I'll fix you something."
"That sounds delightful. It's been a rather long and extremely
frustrating week." Jordan murmured.
"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."
"I'll be right there," Jordan promised, 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,
and Jordan reached 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, Jordan was 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 charming
Jordan. Fascinating man. Who would have thought a professional
mathematician
know. One of the best in his field. I'm sure you'll enjoy talking to
him. He's been recently engaged in a hush-hush research project over in
Nevada."
"Oh, so you're in the same field as Alyssa, are you?" David McGregor
nodded wisely at the younger man.
"Why, yes, as a matter of fact," Jordan returned smoothly, his gleaming
gaze still on Alyssa's desperately composed features. "We have several
parallel interests."
Oh, God. Was that a promise of vengeance she saw in that threatening
gaze? "Wouldn't you like a drink, Jordan?" Anything to distract him,
even temporarily. "Come on into the kitchen and I'll fix you something."
"That sounds delightful. It's been a rather long and extremely
frustrating week." Jordan murmured.
"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."
"I'll be right there," Jordan promised, 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,
and Jordan reached 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, Jordan was 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 charming
Jordan. Fascinating man. Who would have thought a professional
mathematician
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