“So you’ve done your duty.”

“We’re going to dinner tonight.”

Tyler paused so long, Jared wondered if they’d lost the connection. “Why?”

“Why what?”

Tyler’s sigh sounded loud and clear through the phone line. “Don’t be an ass. Why are you taking her to dinner?”

Because I want to see her again. “I’ve decided to offer her a business proposition.”

“What kind of a proposition? Christ, Jed, what the hell are you talking about?”

“I think this area could be perfect for the spa we’ve been talking about.”

The one Jared had been thinking about for the past few months. The hotel had been only the first step in their plans. Now that it was running smoothly, Jared needed something else to keep him occupied. The woman and the spa would do for now.

“And you decided that…when? In the space of a few hours?”

“Yes. Look, we can talk about it when I get home. I’m going to check out some land, maybe meet with a few Realtors while I’m here. It may not pan out but my nose is twitching, Ty.”

“I bet that’s not all that’s twitching.” His brother released another sigh and Jared knew Ty was pinching the bridge of his nose like he always did when he was frustrated with him. “Just keep in touch. And…if you run into Kate, tell her I said hello.”

Jared grinned at his brother’s attempted nonchalance. “You sure you don’t want to come up here and help me look at property?”

“Yeah, fuck you, little brother. Just don’t get too cozy up there or you’ll find yourself out of a job.”

“You can’t fire me, bro. Fifty-fifty partnership, remember? I’ll tell Kate you said hi.”

* * *

“The man won’t know what hit him.”

Annabelle glanced at the clock—six forty-five—then back into the mirror. “You don’t think it’s too much for dinner? I made reservations at The Boxcar.”

Kate shook her head, her mouth curved in a satisfied smile. “No way. It’s perfect.”

Actually, Annabelle had to agree. She looked great in the straight wool skirt covered with bold geometric shapes of blue, rust, and green, and a deceptively simple V-neck sweater in the same green. The sweater showed just enough cleavage and she’d attached Jared’s grandmother’s pin to the V, drawing attention to the swells of her breasts. Not too dressy, not too revealing, yet clingy in all the right places. Luckily, she’d found the skirt stuffed in the very back of her armoire and, even luckier still, it fit and matched the turtleneck.

Paired with brown suede stiletto boots and a wide brown belt, her hair curling around her shoulders, she looked so very…feminine.

“And you don’t think this is a huge disaster just waiting to happen?”

Kate’s hands planted on her waist. “I think you’d be foolish if you don’t go. And if we’re going to have this conversation again, I’m going to go downstairs and smash your netsuke collection in a frustrated rage.”

Yes, they’d been over this same material a hundred times already.

Kate had called her boss earlier and told him she wouldn’t be back for the rest of the day. Surprisingly, he hadn’t given her a hard time. They’d spent the time digging through Annabelle’s closet for a suitable outfit for tonight. The activity had kept her mind off what had happened this morning while giving her something else to obsess over. She wanted Jared to take one look at her and have his tongue fall out.

And when she opened the door precisely at seven, she knew she’d achieved her goal.

While his mouth didn’t hang open, she saw heat flare in his eyes, making her burn from her toes to the top of her head. And everywhere in between.

Jared recovered first but not before a telltale nerve in his cheek began to tick. “Hello again, Belle.”

His gaze held hers for several seconds before he deliberately let it rake over the rest of her.

And she couldn’t resist checking him out as well. Dressed in black pants, a tight cream sweater, and a black leather jacket, he looked devastatingly handsome. She didn’t think she’d be able to eat a bite of dinner without wanting to have him for dessert.

And when he smiled, her mouth watered.

“You look beautiful.” Jared glanced over her shoulder and his smile dialed down just the slightest bit to friendly warmth. “Kate, how are you?”

“Fine thanks. It’s nice to see you again, Jared.”

“And you. By the way, Tyler says hello.”

Annabelle caught the blush that suffused Kate’s face when she turned to take the coat Kate held. “Ah, that’s, um, nice. Thanks.” Kate turned an almost frantic look her way. “I’ll lock up when I leave, Annabelle. Have a good time.”

Poor Kate. Just the mention of Tyler’s name—

“Are you ready to go, Belle?”

Of course, the sound of Jared’s voice made her shiver.

She forced herself to meet his gaze and smile, just enough heat in her eyes to make him wonder.

Pulling on her coat, she stepped through the door. No need to tempt fate by inviting him in, even for a minute.

Then he took her arm and heat sizzled at the contact, even through the layers of clothes. As he led her to the BWM sedan sitting at the curb, she forced herself to speak.

“I made reservations at The Boxcar. It’s only a couple of minutes away. I’m sure it’s not up to the standards you’re used to, but they have good food and it’s a nice place.”

He handed her into the car and shut the door, then walked around and settled into the driver’s seat. “I’m sure anywhere you choose is fine, since I’m not familiar with the area.”

After giving him directions, she leaned back in the plush leather seat and tried to keep from ogling him. The inside of the car felt toasty compared to the twenty-degree weather outside, but she couldn’t be sure if that was due to his proximity or the car’s climate control.

“Kate looks good,” Jared said after she’d told him how to get to the restaurant. “Tyler asked about her when I called earlier. They seemed to hit it off at the party.”

“Your brother seems like a nice guy.”

Jared laughed at her slight emphasis. “You’re going to make me work for everything, aren’t you, Belle?”

She gave him wide eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course you don’t. I don’t mind. But there is something I’d like to talk to you about tonight.”

Annabelle stiffened at the serious tone of his voice. What did he know? What had he found out?

“I’ve got a proposition I’d like to run by you.”

Oh, God. Her heart pounded like she’d just run a five-minute mile but she forced a cool smile. “A proposition, huh?”

“Yeah.” He grinned again, making her insides twist into knots. “I’ve been searching for a new location, somewhere for a spa. One out in the country, where there are no sirens, no cars. Somewhere isolated.”

It was so not what she’d been expecting him to say that she sat in silence for at least half a minute before she said, “A spa? Out here?”

Those perfect eyebrows arched. “You sound doubtful.”

“It’s just not—When did you come up with the idea to build out here?”

“This morning, actually. It’s close to the regional airport and minutes from the turnpike. The antiques trade in the area will be a draw and I’ll hire you to furnish it. I’m thinking high-end English charm, Victorian without the clutter. Maybe a little Middle Eastern luxury mixed in. A sensualist’s dream.”

She opened her mouth to tell him no, but her imagination turned traitor. Images of huge canopied beds, ornate furniture, and rich jewel-toned fabrics flashed in her mind.

Now her stomach tightened with anticipation. Damn the man. It wasn’t fair how he could tie her in knots like this.

Still, she couldn’t accept it. That would require spending way too much time with him. And the more time she spent with him, the more chance there was for him to discover her secret.

But, oh, the offer was tempting. The man, even more so.

“Budget wouldn’t be an issue,” Jared continued.

Of course it wouldn’t. The man didn’t play fair.

“And Tyler would agree with this?”

“We’ve been kicking the idea around for at least a year. We need something new to focus our energies on. A new challenge.”

Had he glanced at her when he’d said that? Did he consider her a challenge? Someone to conquer before moving on?

“Sounds like you’re bored, Jared.”

He shrugged, drawing her gaze to his broad shoulders. “Maybe a little. Nothing a new project won’t fix.”

“And how long does a ‘new project’ usually keep you busy?”

His mouth curled up in one of his devastating grins. “As long as it takes to make sure everyone’s satisfied.”

Now she no longer needed the heater to keep her warm.

Luckily, he pulled into the restaurant parking lot and stopped the car. Call her a coward but she opened her door and got out before he could do something chivalrous like open it for her. She didn’t need any help liking this man.

He caught up to her before she’d taken more than two steps away from the car and put his hand on her back. She barely felt his fingers through the layers but she knew they were there.

She straightened her back so she didn’t sink into him like she wanted.

Jared stopped just before they entered. “Are they authentic?”

Turning, she found him staring at the structure with a contemplative look on his face. She couldn’t help but smile at his expression. “Yes. They used to be dining cars on the line from Reading to Philadelphia sixty or so years ago. The owners bought the cars and opened the restaurant about twenty years ago. They’ve expanded the seating areas over the years but the cars are still intact. They have great food.”