Sleepless Nights (The Donovans of the Delta) by Peggy Webb Page B

against the wall. He wanted to run until he fell in his tracks. He wanted to shout his fury until the very rafters of the house fell down. Instead, he continued holding her beautiful face, his thumbs massaging her jaw as he gazed down at her.
    “I’ll make you believe it.”
    Letting her go, knowing she didn’t believe in his love, was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. He released her, realizing that winning her again would take time. At that moment he wished for some of the superpowers the press had credited him with when he was quarterbacking for the Texas Titans. Since he had none, he’d have to rely on instinct to get him through the game, the most important game of all. He’d call the plays as he saw them. Serious, playful, passionate—he’d be whatever it took to win Amanda again.
    Her laugh was shaky. The sound of it made him sad and happy at the same time; he felt sad because he was the cause, and happy because her unease gave him hope.
    He watched as she sat down in the chair, smoothed her skirt over her knees, tossed her head in defiance.
    “Never. Your expectations are exceeded only by your arrogance.”
    Thank God, he thought, she had gotten her spunk back.
    “I take that as a challenge, Mandy. And you know how I love a challenge.”
    “Almost as much as you love being outrageous.” She dug into her purse and held up the jewelry box. “I believe this belongs to you.”
    “No. It belongs to you.”
    “I can’t accept diamonds and emeralds from you. Give them to somebody else.”
    He took the box and unsnapped the lid. “These are yours, and you will have them.” He undid the clasp. “Don’t pull away, Amanda. I’ve waited all day to see them against your skin.” He leaned down to fasten them at her throat.
    She pushed his hands aside. “Then you bought them for your own amusement?”
    “For amusement, for love. Take your choice.”
    “Amusement, then. But be forewarned, Tanner. I don’t plan to be your plaything. You’ll have to amuse yourself with someone else.”
    His laugh was one of pure delight. “You amuse me, Mandy, whether you want to or not. You delight me; you enchant me. And I’m going to enjoy romancing you every bit as much as I enjoyed trying to maneuver you into my bed.”
    “Aren’t they one and the same, Tanner?”
    “You know damned well they’re not. You can’t pretend brittleness with me and get by with it. I know you too well.”
    “And I know you too well to fall under your spell a second time. The surrey didn’t work; the flowers didn’t work. And neither will the necklace. Tanner, you’re a gorgeous man, a mouth-wateringly handsome man.”
    “That’s a nice start.”
    “I don’t deny that I feel desire in your arms.”
    “I’ll accept that too.”
    “But I can never trust your love again.”
    “You can and you will.” He scooped her from the chair and held her fiercely to him. The necklace, still dangling from his hand, bit into her flesh. Tanner had her so mesmerized, she hardly noticed.
    “Stubborn woman. I could kiss you into submission.”
    “Is this your notion of romance? Caveman tactics went out years ago.”
    Tanner hoped the flush on her cheeks and the brightness in her eyes meant that he was disturbing her. He knew the passions that raged beneath her cool exterior. With effort he held himself in check. Romance, not mere sex, was the object here. He was looking for a lifetime commitment, not quick relief.
    “Texas Titans have a lot to learn. Teach me, Amanda.”
    She chuckled. “Do you know how hard you are to resist when you get that little-boy-waiting-for-Christmas look on your face? You must practice that look in the mirror.”
    “I learned it from Paul. He always used it to wheedle the biggest piece of gingerbread out of Mom. It took me three years to catch on.”
    “Speaking of gingerbread, I’m hungry. Didn’t Anna mention that she had a fresh batch in the oven?”
    “Have you had dinner, Mandy?”
    “No. I came