Stormy Challenge by Stephanie James, Jayne Ann Krentz

encourage or discourage that tendency in him during the next two years?"

    "Your brother's contracting with me to teach him about business, not about women," Court murmured politely. "There's not much I could do about it, anyway.
    It's a taste a man either outgrows or he doesn't."
    "Really? And have you outgrown your taste for gorgeous blondes?" Leya tossed back with an ease she
    didn't feel. Susan Adams was still sending interested glances in Court's direction.
    "Yes, in point of fact I have," he growled, meeting her eyes very directly.
    "How long did the taste persist before you saw the light?" she taunted.
    "Until quite recently," he confessed airily.
    "You mean my brother could go on another ten years dating those creatures?"
    "Unless he gets lucky before that." Court grinned suddenly. "And finds himself a wasp-tongued shrew with hair the color of a jungle cat. Don't begrudge him the blondes in the meantime, though. They're the ones who will make him appreciate the shrew when he finds her! Come on," he went on firmly, taking her arm, "we'd better go over and say hello. Keith's seen us."
    Effortlessly, Court pushed a way through the crowd toward the other couple, dragging Leya along in his wake like a toy. She did manage to snag a glass from a passing tray, however, and had it secured in the hand farthest away from her escort by the time they reached Keith and his blonde. Her brother's green eyes met hers as she approached on Court's arm. His eyes lacked the silver tinge of her own, but the dark brown of his hair was similar. And the basic underlying intelligence, she had always thought, was pure Brandon. That opinion remained in place in spite of his recent decision to sign the contract with Court Tremayne.
    "Hi, Leya," Keith greeted her affectionately. "Glad you could make it tonight. Sorry you cut your vacation short, though. Good evening, Court, taking good care of my sister?" The vivid green of his eyes absorbed the protective way Leya's arm was tucked under Court's and the abnormal brightness in his sister's eyes.
    "You can trust me to look after her," Court said easily, smiling at the blonde. "Who are you in charge of tonight?"
    "This is Angie," Keith grinned cheerfully. Angie didn't appear to be blessed with a last name but she didn't seem to mind as the introductions were made. Her beautifully made-up blue eyes were full of a sultry invitation and the sexy red pout of her mouth was glistening with too much lip gloss,
    "I'm glad to see you and Court hitting it off so well, Leya," Keith remarked with a poorly concealed smile.
    "Did you have a few doubts?" Leya charged sweetly, lifting her glass for a swallow.

    "Where the hell did you get that?" Court interrupted before her brother could respond. He reached for the glass, but Leya managed to neatly sidestep.
    "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll find the ladies' room. Don't go away, Court, I'll be right back!" With a quick turn on her heel that swirled the red-and-gold skirt around her ankles, Leya swept off into the crowd, glass clutched tightly in her hand. She could feel Court's eyes on her for a moment but knew he wasn't following. When the prickling sensation at the back of her neck ceased, she veered from the direction in which she had been going and headed for the terrace instead.
    There was no one else outside to share the cold night air and the view of Santa Rosa's lights, so Leya sipped her drink in peace, her arms folded against the chill.
    And she thought about the same thing she had been thinking about all day: Court Tremayne. The only break came when her mind went briefly, angrily to the presence of Alex Harlow. But upset as she was at seeing Alex's cynical, handsome face again, there was no denying that Court somehow loomed the larger of the two in her mind tonight.
    "Hello, Leya." Alex's voice came from the shadows behind her. Well, hadn't she been half-expecting it? Wasn't that the real reason she'd come out here alone for a few minutes? To see if he'd