“They’re too crowded. I don’t like crowds.”
“Uh, you forget I saw you in action in those relief camps right after Hurricane Sylvia. The tents were packed tighter than sardine cans and you were right in the middle of it.”
“That was different. I was helping people.”
“C’mon back to the party,” he coaxed. “I’ll let you give the Heimlich maneuver if anyone chokes on a canapé.”
There was that brief smile again.
His heart gave a strange bunny hop. He held out a hand. “C’mon.”
They stood there a moment; Haley posed on the top steps, Jeb at the bottom, groveling, palm outstretched.
“Don’t leave me hanging, ba—” He almost said baby but stopped in the nick of time.
“Why should I come back to your party?”
“For one thing, you’re a good friend. Ahmaya needs you.”
“Low blow.”
“I’ll use any tool in the arsenal.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you care so much if I’m at your party or not?”
It was a very good question. He didn’t have a glib answer handy and ended up just blurting out the truth. “I’ve got enough yes-men and yes-women around me. I need someone who knows how to luff a sail.”
“A what?”
“There are no brakes on a sailboat. The only way to slow down is to luff the sail. That means to under-trim the sail so it doesn’t catch any wind.”
“In other words, I’m a brake, huh?”
“Well, you know you are a stickler for rules, etiquette, proper behavior and all that.” He waved a hand.
“A wet blanket.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“A Debbie Downer.”
“I didn’t say that, either.”
“Why would you want a brake at your party? Parties are supposed to be go, go, go. No-holds-barred. Looks like you’d want an accelerator, not a brake.”
“Don’t be offended by the brake comment. A brake is a good thing,” he said. “A brake is very necessary. A brake keeps you safe.”
“Like a mother?”
He shoved fingers through his hair. “This isn’t going well, is it?”
“Not in the least.” She folded her arms over her chest, but the smile was back and stayed a fraction of a second longer this time.
“Come luff my sails, Haley.”
She hesitated. Ha! He had her.
“You’re already dressed to impress. Why waste it?” he cajoled.
“I don’t know why I’m even considering this.”
“’Cause part of you doesn’t really want to spend tonight all alone washing your hair.”
“I don’t mind being by myself.”
Man, she was a hard nut to crack. “Okay,” he said. “But you don’t know what you’re missing.” Taking a calculated risk, he turned to go.
“Wait.”
He grinned, stopped, but did not turn back around. “Yes?”
“I am pretty hungry. I’ll stay for a bite to eat.” The sound of her mincing down the metal stairs in her stilettos rang out into the twilight.
He bent his arm at the elbow, signaling for her to take it. To his surprise, she did.
“Only because I’m wearing high heels,” she said, reading his mind as she slipped her arm through his.
Her touch ignited a firestorm inside him. Jeb gulped. Good thing he was sailing out tomorrow—one more day around Haley and there was no telling what might happen.
HALEY HAD NO IDEA WHY she’d allowed smooth-talking Jeb Whitcomb to coax her into coming back to his party.
Partially, it was true that she was hungry and hated to cook for just herself, plus, there was her promise to Ahmaya, but there was another part of her that she didn’t really want to poke. The part that liked being around Jeb.
The minute they reached the deck of his sailing yacht, Haley let go of his arm. She was disturbed to find herself breathless.
“What would you like to drink?” Jeb asked.
“You don’t have to get my drink.”
“It’s no problem.” He lifted a finger at a white-gloved waiter waiting at the ready.
Haley supposed a lot of women fell for the master-and-commander routine. Your every wish was his command. Seductive, for sure, but she mistrusted anything that wasn’t hard-won.
The waiter appeared at his side.
“Could you please bring Miss French a…” Jeb looked at her expectantly.
“Diet cola.”
“Seriously?”
“I don’t drink.”
“Not ever?”
“Rarely. New Year’s Eve. Wedding toasts. That kind of thing.”
“This is my going-away party.”
“So?”
“You’re not going to toast my journey?”
“I can toast with diet cola.”
He got a knowing look on his face. “Aha.”
“What?”
He shrugged. “Nothing.”
“The ‘aha’ meant something.”
“It’s not important.”
“Then why did you say it?”
The corner of his mouth tipped up. “I’ve figured out something about you.”
She pulled her lips downward. “And what is that?”
“You’re afraid of losing control.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“I never said anything was wrong with it. Just had a lightbulb moment.”
“I like to keep my wits about me.”
“Make an exception,” he said.
“You want me witless?”
“Maybe.”
“Why?”
“To prove you can let your hair down.”
“I don’t have to prove a thing to you.”
He leaned closer. “No, but wouldn’t it be fun to stop thinking so much for once and simply let go?”
“Five minutes ago you were telling me you needed someone who knew how to luff a sail.”
“If the sailcloth stayed luffed, you’d never set sail.”
“Nothing wrong with dry land.”
“You’re not a sailor?”
“Landlubber all the way. That’s me.” She groaned.
The waiter cleared his throat.
“You’re