Their eyes met, and there was instant sexual awareness.
Immediately, spontaneously, Netherland's heart began hammering deep within her chest, and her pulse began racing. Her knees weakened, which made her slow her pace somewhat. The palms of her hands felt damp. She blinked as if the action would will him away. It didn't. He was still sitting there looking at her as intently as she was looking at him. There was something overpowering and aggressive about him and instead of backing away from it, she found herself drawn closer, so she kept on walking until she had reached their table. All five men stood.
She barely heard Trevor telling the others how wonderful the food served at her restaurant was. She barely recalled the introductions of the other men, Clayton's two brothers—Justin and Dex. Her mind, body, soul and spirit were on the man who stood next to Trevor. She knew his eyes had not left her since he had seen her from across the room. She breathed in deeply when she presented her hand to him. “Nice meeting you, Ashton.”
She found her hand folded gently in the warmth of his as he looked deep within her eyes and said softly, “The pleasure, Netherland, is all mine. Please sit down and join us for a minute.”
She knew she shouldn't. She had a million things to do. A wedding reception was being planned for the next day in one of her banquet rooms. But his request sent her entire body into overdrive, and she found herself sitting in the chair he pulled out for her—next to his.
It was only later, after enjoying herself immensely as she listened to Justin and Dex Madaris try and convince Trevor, Clayton and Ashton about the benefits of marriage that she discovered the explosive attraction between her and Ashton had been a complete waste of good energy. The discovery had come when Trevor jokingly called Ashton “Colonel.”
She had turned to Ashton and saw his eyes were still on her. “Why did Trevor just call you Colonel? Were you once a colonel?”
He smiled at her with the sexiest grin she thought she would ever see on a man. “Yes, ma'am, still am. I'm a colonel in the marines.”
She blinked as she felt a heavy hand clamp itself around her heart. “You're in the marines now?” she asked softly, hoping he would say no and that he had recently retired or something. Instead he met her inquisitive eyes. Something in her tone must have alerted him to the fact that she was asking for a reason—a very important reason—a reason he didn't quite understand.
“Yes, I'm in the marines now, and I'll probably stay in the marines until the day I die.”
She shook her head, confused. He didn't resemble a military man, especially by the head. “But your hair?” she asked, making sure she understood him correctly. “Isn't it too long?” She had been around enough military men to know the low crew cut was Uncle Sam's standard.
“No, my hair isn't too long. Since I'm legally part Indian, the right to wear my hair this length is protected by federal law.”
Netherland nodded. She knew then and there that any thoughts of ever becoming involved with him were over. The last thing she would let happen was to allow a man in her life who didn't have roots. She had been through that with her father, and had promised herself never to go through it again. She had worked too hard for independence and stability in her life to toss them aside for overactive hormones.
Netherland brought her thoughts back to the present. She had promised herself that day that she would not start anything with Ashton she couldn't finish.
Yet, tonight in his arms, she had broken that promise.
Chapter 5
Netherland swiveled around in the chair at her desk. “What do you mean he left town?”
Rainey shrugged. “That's the rumor on the floor tonight. Carolyn Taylor claims she saw Ashton getting on a plane for D.C. yesterday while she was at the airport. She says he was wearing his military uniform and was giving all the women at the airport heart failure because he looked so good.” Rainey looked pointedly at Netherland. “Everyone wants to know when he's coming back.”
Netherland picked up the papers she'd been reading and tossed them in the tray on her desk. She hated admitting it but she had missed seeing Ashton underfoot for the past two nights. “And how would I know?”
Rainey smiled sweetly. “After Tuesday night, I'd think you'd know everything about him. The two of you stayed in your office close to an hour.”
Netherland frowned. She didn't need Rainey reminding her of that. “So? That doesn't make me privy to all his business.”
“Considering you're the woman he plans to marry, I'd think that—”
“He is not marrying me, Rainey. Regardless of how long we stayed locked in my office, nothing has changed. My position is still the same. We're not involved.”
“Yeah, if you say so. And I guess there was a pretty good reason why your lips were all swollen the other night. Looked to me like someone had done a job on them. A very delicious job.”
As she scowled furiously at Rainey, a logical voice in Netherland's head told her to quickly change the subject. So she did. “How's Jada working out?”
The glimmer of amusement in Rainey's eyes indicated she'd caught on to Netherland's ploy and decided to go along with it…for now. “Jada's working out fine, and pretty much keeps to herself. She seems to be a real nice person who looks more like she's eighteen than twenty-three. She's too young to have had so much sadness in her life, and she continues to look sad.”
Netherland nodded, agreeing. Jada Roberts was going out of her way to be a good employee but on several occasions Netherland had noted the sadness in the young woman's eyes.
At that moment the phone rang, and Netherland picked it up. “Sisters.” She smiled at the voice on the other end. “Yes, Syneda, I do cater occasionally.”
Netherland nodded. “Yes, this is short notice but I think I can handle it. What time did you have in mind?”
Netherland gave another nod. “All right. I can drop the food off on my way home.” She smiled. “That's fine, don't mention it. I'll see you in a little while.”
“Oh, Nettie, you're a lifesaver,” Syneda exclaimed as she opened the door and took a couple of the boxes from Netherland's hands. “There's no way I could have prepared this much food after a late day in court. I don't know what possessed me to volunteer to be the hostess for tonight's poker game.”
“Don't mention it,” Netherland replied, smiling as she followed Syneda, carrying the food Sisters had prepared. “I hope I didn't bring too much.”
Syneda grinned. “Too much food for a bunch of hungry, gambling men? Is there such a thing?”
Netherland chuckled. “No, I guess not.” When they reached the kitchen she was surprised to find a group of women assembled around the table.
“You know everyone, don't you, Nettie?” Syneda asked as she took the rest of the boxes out of Netherland's hands.
“Yes.” Netherland had met all of them at a bridal shower given for Syneda at Sisters last year. There was Trevor's very pregnant wife, Corinthians; Dex's wife, Caitlin; Justin's wife, Lorren; the Madaris brothers' two sisters, Kattie and Traci; and the Madaris's cousin, Felicia. “Hi, everyone.”
“Hi, Nettie,” they said returning the greeting in unison.
“We're glad you were able to deliver. For a minute we thought Syneda was going to have to cook for us,” Felicia Madaris Maxwell said, grinning. “I have too much to do tomorrow to be out sick.”
“Okay, knock it off,” Syneda said, trying to hide her smile behind a frown. “A