The Barons of Texas: Jill by Fayrene Preston

she hesitated and something made her look back at the bed. Her mouth fell open. She’d never seen her sheets in such a tangle. In fact, the whole bed was a mess. The contents of her erotic dreams came rushing back to her, and her face warmed. Hurriedly she made the bed.
    “May I see my appointment list, please?”
    “You bet.” With brisk efficiency, her assistant laida brown leather folder in front of her. “This is your day.”
    Jill opened the folder. Her first appointment wasn’t for another hour, but once they started, they were scheduled back to back. At least she had an hour to return calls, review reports and check on several projects she had under way. “Thanks, Molly.
    “Do you have something else for me? Because if not, I’m still working on the Barstow report.”
    “That’s fine.” As Molly left the office, Jill lifted a cup and sipped at the decaffeinated coffee Molly always freshly brewed for her. There were mornings when she would have killed for a good strong cup of regular coffee, but because of her headaches, the doctor had banned them.
    “Good morning.”
    She almost choked on the coffee. “Colin.”
    He bypassed the chairs and settled himself on a corner of the desk. “Great morning, isn’t it?”
    Molly immediately reappeared in the doorway. “Mr. Wynne? Did you have an appointment?”
    It was Molly’s polite way of letting the intruder know he wasn’t scheduled. Jill was much less polite. “What in the hell are you doing here?”
    Colin flashed Molly a grin. “Does she swear like that very often? Never mind. Before you offer, I’d love a cup of coffee, thank you. Oh, and make mine black and fully leaded.”
    Molly looked at Jill. With a sigh, she nodded. Molly disappeared, but left the door open.
    Colin’s sudden appearance had instantly caused her composure to disintegrate, but Jill managed to quickly pull herself together. She sat back in her chair, foldedher arms beneath her breasts and gave him a hard look. “Would you like me to repeat the question?”
    “Thanks, but no thanks. I heard the first time.”
    “And the answer is?”
    “Fact of the matter is, we did have an appointment this morning. Remember? I said I’d see you at nine.” He glanced at the gold watch on his wrist. “It is now fifteen minutes after nine. Sorry I’m a little late, but I dropped by your house first. I was sure I had said I would pick you up there. My fault, I’m sure. I must have said here.” The gold streaks in his brown eyes suddenly became more pronounced, more mesmerizing. “But then, I was a little preoccupied with the evening we had just spent together.”
    She sat very still, willing herself not to blush. “You shouldn’t be here, Colin. I distinctly remember saying that I’d call you this morning.”
    He gave a nonchalant nod toward the sun currently flooding in through her office’s floor-to-ceiling windows, which offered a spectacular view of downtown Dallas. “Well, I don’t know about you, but that is what I call morning.”
    Molly returned, carrying his coffee. He took it from her with a smile. “Thanks. Listen, Molly, please correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s morning, right?”
    “Right.” Puzzled, she glanced at Jill, her brows raised in question. When Jill didn’t respond, she asked, “Anything else?”
    Jill shook her head in resignation. “No, that’s it for now.”
    Molly left and this time closed the door behind her.
    “I had planned to call you, Colin, but it’s been a busy morning.” A well-placed little white lie fromtime to time never hurt anything, and in this case it would help.
    “And I said I would see you, but no matter. I’m flexible.” He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a thin cell phone and held it out to her. “Want to call me?”
    “You know, I never realized before just how impossible you are.” She pushed away from the desk and stood. He was looking only moderately spectacular this morning, she reflected with annoyance,