“You’re quiet. Nickel for your thoughts.”
“You’ve raised the proverbial penny,” she said, smiling. “I’m thinking what a great night this is and how fun it is to dance with you.”
“Ah-ha, at least I’m in there somewhere.”
“Of course. How could I overlook you? My dashing employer.”
“Dashing—I haven’t ever been called that. My grandfather might have been. I still need to work on my image.”
“Dashing is good. Dashing is exciting.”
“In the eighteenth century it was,” he said, teasing her.
“Still is in my books.”
“I would definitely prefer to hear sexy….”
“I’m sure you would, but we’re not going there. Besides, if I told you that, it would go to your head.”
“Not so, I think it would go somewhere else instantly,” he replied with amusement.
The piece ended and the band launched into a fast number. Will began to dance and she danced with him, moving around him, enjoying the physical release as much as she liked watching him.
He was way beyond a description like dashing. He was sexy, hot, virile. What fun he was. But how many hearts had he broken? She suspected a fair number, and she was skirting close to allowing herself to become one more on his list.
When the music ended he smiled at her. “Ready to sit and cool down or do you want to keep dancing?”
“We’ll sit and cool for a short time. Actually, I could dance all night if I had a chance, because I haven’t in such a long, long time and I love to dance.”
“That is an incredible shame,” he said, taking her arm to steer her toward their table.
As soon as they were seated, the waiter appeared with salads.
“Will, this is really special and so very nice of you.”
“I told you, I’m grateful. Ava, you can’t wear that necklace every day..”
She laughed. “I certainly can’t. I will rarely wear it. It’s too beautiful to take out of the house and too fancy to wear except for special occasions. Very rare in my busy life. A teacher with diamonds and emeralds—not likely.”
“Not impossible. But I want you to have something simpler that you can enjoy every day.” He produced another box and handed it to her.
Startled, her eyes widened. “Will, this is too much! You can’t give me something else.”
“I can and I am. Take it. I want you to have it. It’s another token of my appreciation. Go ahead and open your present.”
She stared at the box and then at him again. He waited patiently and she shook her head as she reached for it. “You shouldn’t have. Though I know the words are lost on you.”
“Yes, they are. I should have. You really should have whatever you want.”
She opened the box and lifted out a watch with a silver band, studded with diamonds. “This is beautiful. It’s a gorgeous watch. Thank you so much.”
“Thank you, Ava. You’ve changed our lives completely.” He raised his glass. “One more toast—to one of the best teachers ever, a beautiful woman, an unselfish, caring soul.”
She touched her glass with his. “Thank you. I’m touched, and the gifts are overwhelming.”
“Enjoy them. You’ve helped Caroline immeasurably. If she can escape her world of silence and sorrow, I can’t tell you what it will mean to me and my family and, of course, to her.”
“She’s the sweetest little girl, Will.”
“I think so. I loved my brother, and I want to do this for him and for her. He trusted me with her care, and I’ve felt as though I’ve failed him terribly every day since his accident—until today. Today, because of you, I felt I was living up to Adam’s trust in me. That’s important.”
Impulsively, she placed her hand over his. “I know it is.”
“You’re important, Ava,” he said in a husky voice, wrapping his hand around hers.
Candlelight and torchlight flickered across his face, highlighting his strong cheekbones and straight nose, throwing his cheeks in dark shadows. His eyes were midnight, impossible to tell his thoughts. Slipping her hand away from his, she looked away. Her appetite had fled. Desire was a raging fire, burning away everything else.
She picked at her salad, knowing she should eat and should try to get him out of her mind. She looked at the beautiful watch. The small diamonds glittered in the yellow lights. The night was surreal: his yacht; a sexy, breathtaking man; gifts of diamonds and emeralds. A night such as she had never known. How could she continue to resist his charm and seduction?
“Now I really do have a penny for your thoughts,” he said in a deep voice, leaning toward her.
“No, I will never tell you. It would definitely go to your head.”
“At least that’s good news. You’re not eating.”
“Yes, I am, and it’s delicious.”
Standing, he came around to hold her chair. “I think we have time now for that tour of my yacht. We’ll come back to dinner.”
When she stood, he took her hand. His hand was warm, enveloping hers. “I suspect we are ruining a wonderful dinner by leaving now,” she said.
“No, we won’t. Neither one of us is particularly hungry. You’ve barely eaten a bite. Wait until you work up an appetite.”
Hunger had fled because she was fluttery over him—something she would never admit.
“So tell me about your yacht.”
They entered a glass elevator to go down two decks. When they emerged, he steered her into a passageway. “I’ll show you my cabin.” He entered an elegant room that was as comfortable and outfitted as some of the living areas in his mansion.
As he turned her to face him, she drew a deep breath. He stood inches away and his dark eyes conveyed desire that set her heart racing. Wrapping his arms around her, he drew her into his embrace to kiss her.
She was lost from the first look into his eyes. She closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around him and kissed him in return, reaffirming the excitement that simmered between them and her own longing. How long since they had last kissed?
Eons, it seemed to her. She stood on tiptoe, kissing him passionately, holding him tightly.
“Ava, this is paradise,” he whispered. “It’s right and perfect for you to be here in my arms.”
She felt the same, yet she had sense enough to know it was all an illusion that would vanish. For the moment it didn’t matter. She wanted his kisses and wanted to kiss him in return.
Her heart pounded and she clung to him tightly. “Will,” she whispered, and then her mouth was on his again as she kissed him passionately.
She wanted him, longed to touch and kiss and explore. Warnings and caution were not heeded. She needed, just once, to do what she wanted because this chance wouldn’t come around again. She was already in love with him, part of his life for now. He had opened up opportunities for her, and maybe that was the most he could give of himself.
She ran her fingers in his thick hair, caressing his nape, sliding her hand down the strong column of his neck.
His hands were at the fastening of her dress. He pulled open the zipper and