many problems in the area," he said.
"Not in business. Only, well, you know, romantically."
That mysterious smile touched his mouth, again. "I understand. And if things were different, I'd be honored to fill that role for you. However—" His gaze shifted to a point past her shoulder and his expression grew pensive.
When he brought his attention back to her, there was a purposeful fire in his eyes that she'd never see before. "You've shared something very personal about yourself that affects me, even if indirectly. I appreciate that. It's made me realize that to work effectively in the years ahead we need to be honest with each other."
He grasped her upper arm and guided her deeper into the shadows. "There's something you need to know about me, CK. Something very few people do. Not even my father."
She caught her breath, suddenly afraid of what he was about to say. Had Steve embezzled money? Did he work for the mob? Had he murdered someone? What was so awful that he couldn't tell his own father?
He bent his head and brought his mouth close to her ear. "I'm gay," he whispered.
CK froze and then burst out laughing as relief swept through her like a spring breeze. When a bewildered frown creased his forehead, she threw her arms around his neck and gave him a quick hug. "I thought you were going to confess something really horrible."
"Not the reaction I feared, well...perhaps a little with the hysterical laughter." His whole manner suddenly relaxed. "Now you know why my father's plans for us are out of the question."
"Why haven't you told him?"
His expression sobered. "He's a born and bred Texan until you pry his empty rifle from his cold, dead fingers kind of man, CK. I don't think he'd understand."
"I can tell he really cares about you. You might be underestimating him."
"You don't know how hard he's tried to hook me up with women." Steve grimaced. "He means well, but—"
"Not gonna happen."
"No." He studied her, thoughtfully. "I'm very concerned about your problem with your grandfather, though. There has to be a way to stop him."
"He has the leverage to do it and the stubbornness to see it through. I'm stuck. And to be honest," she blushed, "since Ryan started helping, I'm feeling more interested in this whole 'find someone' game."
"Coming here was his idea?"
"He's been trying to scare me off so I'll change my mind."
"Ahh."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He smiled down at her, a sparkle of mischief in his eyes. "Nothing. Just 'ahh.'"
* * *
Ryan drummed his fingers impatiently on the table. Where was she?
Making a fool of himself by chasing her down was starting to seem like the lesser of several evils. What if she was trapped in a dark corner, unable to defend herself? What if she didn't want to defend herself and had already gone home with another guy? What if—?
A feather-light electric buzz spread through his chest. He glanced up to see CK coming toward the table.
She smiled broadly, making her whole face glow and his pulse quickened. Irritation scratched at his nerves. How could she be happy when she'd put him through hell?
"See you guys later," she said in a breezy voice as she grabbed her purse off the chair. "I'm going out with Steve."
"You can't leave with a stranger. I won't—" Ryan frowned. "Who?"
She beamed at him, the ridiculous smile still lighting her face. "It's Steve. We're going for coffee and then he's taking me home."
"Big congrats," Ajax said, his voice a bit blurry. "Fast work."
CK shrugged, making interesting things happen above the neckline of her dress. "Not really. He asked, and I thought, what the heck? I'll let Farley know on my way out."
"You're leaving with stuffy, rake up his butt, Junior? I can't believe it."
Her smile faded, morphing into a disapproving frown. "I don't know what your problem is tonight, Anderson, but I suggest you get a handle on it. You barely know him. You're in no position to pass judgment."
She looked down her nose at
"Not in business. Only, well, you know, romantically."
That mysterious smile touched his mouth, again. "I understand. And if things were different, I'd be honored to fill that role for you. However—" His gaze shifted to a point past her shoulder and his expression grew pensive.
When he brought his attention back to her, there was a purposeful fire in his eyes that she'd never see before. "You've shared something very personal about yourself that affects me, even if indirectly. I appreciate that. It's made me realize that to work effectively in the years ahead we need to be honest with each other."
He grasped her upper arm and guided her deeper into the shadows. "There's something you need to know about me, CK. Something very few people do. Not even my father."
She caught her breath, suddenly afraid of what he was about to say. Had Steve embezzled money? Did he work for the mob? Had he murdered someone? What was so awful that he couldn't tell his own father?
He bent his head and brought his mouth close to her ear. "I'm gay," he whispered.
CK froze and then burst out laughing as relief swept through her like a spring breeze. When a bewildered frown creased his forehead, she threw her arms around his neck and gave him a quick hug. "I thought you were going to confess something really horrible."
"Not the reaction I feared, well...perhaps a little with the hysterical laughter." His whole manner suddenly relaxed. "Now you know why my father's plans for us are out of the question."
"Why haven't you told him?"
His expression sobered. "He's a born and bred Texan until you pry his empty rifle from his cold, dead fingers kind of man, CK. I don't think he'd understand."
"I can tell he really cares about you. You might be underestimating him."
"You don't know how hard he's tried to hook me up with women." Steve grimaced. "He means well, but—"
"Not gonna happen."
"No." He studied her, thoughtfully. "I'm very concerned about your problem with your grandfather, though. There has to be a way to stop him."
"He has the leverage to do it and the stubbornness to see it through. I'm stuck. And to be honest," she blushed, "since Ryan started helping, I'm feeling more interested in this whole 'find someone' game."
"Coming here was his idea?"
"He's been trying to scare me off so I'll change my mind."
"Ahh."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He smiled down at her, a sparkle of mischief in his eyes. "Nothing. Just 'ahh.'"
* * *
Ryan drummed his fingers impatiently on the table. Where was she?
Making a fool of himself by chasing her down was starting to seem like the lesser of several evils. What if she was trapped in a dark corner, unable to defend herself? What if she didn't want to defend herself and had already gone home with another guy? What if—?
A feather-light electric buzz spread through his chest. He glanced up to see CK coming toward the table.
She smiled broadly, making her whole face glow and his pulse quickened. Irritation scratched at his nerves. How could she be happy when she'd put him through hell?
"See you guys later," she said in a breezy voice as she grabbed her purse off the chair. "I'm going out with Steve."
"You can't leave with a stranger. I won't—" Ryan frowned. "Who?"
She beamed at him, the ridiculous smile still lighting her face. "It's Steve. We're going for coffee and then he's taking me home."
"Big congrats," Ajax said, his voice a bit blurry. "Fast work."
CK shrugged, making interesting things happen above the neckline of her dress. "Not really. He asked, and I thought, what the heck? I'll let Farley know on my way out."
"You're leaving with stuffy, rake up his butt, Junior? I can't believe it."
Her smile faded, morphing into a disapproving frown. "I don't know what your problem is tonight, Anderson, but I suggest you get a handle on it. You barely know him. You're in no position to pass judgment."
She looked down her nose at
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