“Stunning hardly describes what I…what I see right now.”
It amazed her that this man who always seemed in command now groped for words. Then she realized that the evening was as overwhelming for him as it was for her.
“Perhaps I’d better bring my Colt .45 along,” she said to lighten the mood.
“Whatever on earth for?”
“I want to be sure that you bring me home tonight and not some other woman. And I’m serving notice that, like my forebears before me, I’m fully capable of protecting my interests.”
He was perplexed for a second and then gave that rare full-throated laugh that she enjoyed so much.
As the car pulled away from the curb, Jon pressed the lever that revealed the bar, opened a bottle of champagne and filled two crystal champagne glasses. He handed one to Haley.
“To a really lovely woman,” he said.
“Thank you,” she said and sipped her drink.
“Nels wouldn’t tell me what your background is,” he said, looking intently at her. “He just said that it is very intriguing. I’ve done some guessing, but I want you to tell me.”
“I’m twenty-eight. My father was African American from North Carolina, and my mother is Native American. Our tribe is Comanche, and most of our people are out in Oklahoma, though they are not on reservations. My parents lived and worked in Washington, DC, where my mother still lives. We lost my father twelve years ago.”
“How’d your parents get to Washington, DC?”
“They both went to college there, so that’s where they settled.”
He nodded very slowly. “I see. Were you happy growing up?”
“Yes. We had love to spare. I have one brother who’s a few years my senior. I’ve known two of my grandparents. My paternal grandfather used to visit us often when I was little, and he always spoke about our heritage. He was such a wonderful man, and he loved my brother and me so much that we used to say he just wrapped us up in love as if it were a blanket. I’ll miss him as long as I live.” He refilled their glasses.
“Are you like your mother?”
“Well, I look a bit like her, but I have my father’s disposition, more or less. Why?”
“Oh, I just want to know as much as possible about you.” He took her hand, stroking it gently. Without realizing it, she moved closer to him, feeling a comfort, a peace that she didn’t think their relationship warranted. She sighed.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.