Arianna will think itâs quite the fashion statement.â
She narrowed her eyes at him, but he continued despite the warning. âWhatâs the perfect foil for shark-tooth accessories? A grass skirt, perhaps? A top made of two coconut shells?â
âThatâs enough, Sayers. You can keep your chauvinistic fantasies to yourself.â
âOh, but that wouldnât be any fun at all. Iâd much rather share them with you. That way maybe youâll invite me back to your place to view your lovely collection of shrunken heads.â
âIâm not a headshrinker! Iâm a behavioral psychologist and trainer. Can you cut me some slack here?â
âMaybe Iâd rather cut off your slacks.â His very white teeth gleamed at her.
Her eyes widened. This had to stop, and now. Sheâd gone crazy and let things get way out of hand in the barâs parking lot, God knew why. But enough was enough. âOkay, thatâs it. We are going to disregard what happened and be professionals here. One more sexual comment out of you and I call a cab.â
âThatâs a shame.â
âI mean it,â she said.
He raised his hands, palms up. âOkay. No more.â
She tossed back some wine. âAnd you can start telling me right now why youâre using sex as a way to turn the conversation away from your main issue.â
He felt his jaw tightening. âWhich isâ¦?â
âBeing judged by women.â
9
J ANE LOOKED INTO S AYERSâS blazing eyes. His jaw was a block of granite.
âYou are way off base, OâToole.â He drained the contents of his wineglass.
âOh, I donât think so. Let me guessâdomineering mother, quite possibly verbally abusive. Father not around much?â
âYou are so over the line.â
âAnd you werenât just now?â
He pushed his chair back from the table, tossed his napkin on the surface.
âRunning away? What does a big, tough guy like you have to get intimidated about? If Iâm so off base here, why not set me straight?â
He froze. âYouâre going to regret this,â he said softly. âI can promise you that.â
âMaybe.â She couldnât help a shiver but refused to look away.
He sneered at her. âYou really want to go there, huh? I suppose your professional instinctsâand your vulgar curiosityâjust scream for the information.Well, why not, Doc? After all, youâre so damned sure you know everything already.â
She didnât blink, didnât back off, and his sneer grew more pronounced, but he began.
âOne of my earliest memories of Mommy Dearest is of her tossing me up on a high-strung two-year-old thoroughbred, seventeen hands. She gives me the reins and then slaps the bejesus out of its hindquarters.
âIâd never ridden a horse in my life. My only emotion was terror, I can tell youâabsolute terror. I hung on to that beast like a burr while it bucked uncontrollably and then galloped for miles, trying to scrape me off on trees, fence posts, even the side of a barn. You know how I dismounted? When the creature finally wore itself out, dropped to its knees and rolled on me.â
Jane had covered her mouth with her hand and simply stared at him as he continued.
âMummy and her martini thought it was fabulous entertainmentâshe laughed herself sickâuntil she had to rush me to the emergency room with several crushed ribs and a snapped femur. Simply ruined the rest of the day for her, Iâm sad to say.â Dominic poured himself some more wine.
âThen there was the sailing incident. Listen up, Jane. This is a good one! Mummy and her current beau hauled me out onto the Chesapeake on his shiny new J-35. No doubt she couldnât find anyone to dump me on.
âSomehow between the rumrunners and the seabreezes, they got a little confused with the lines and ignored the threat of some
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