"It would be such fun, dressing up together," Favour pressed.
"I didn't bring dress-up clothes with me," Jasmine remembered, not so much seeking an excuse but simply stating the truth. "And that's because I didn't plan on going on a date with anyone"
"You u can try mine on." The eager offer was rushed out. "in fact, now that I think about it, I've gota little black number that would look fantastic on you. It's a jersey so it doesn't matter you're more curvy than I am. It will stretch to fit."
More curvy and taller. And their taste in clothes was different. Which was why they'd never swapped or borrowed. But what she wore tonight was not an issue, Jasmine decided, as long as she pleased Favour.
Twenty seven today. Her little sister...who had her life more in order than Jasmine had managed in her twenty nine years. Still, Favour's career in the public service carried minimal stress and steady promotion, given areasonable level of performance. The advertising world was far more cut-throat and Jasmine spent most of her working days living on the edge.
Different lives, different needs, different natures, different...even in looks.
Favour's hair had been very blond in her childhood and she'd kept it blond with the help of a good hairdresser. She kept it short, too, its thick waves cleverly cut and styled to ripple attractively to just below her ears. Having inherited their father's blue eyes and skin that tanned to a lovely golden honey, she always looked sunny and vibrantly alive.
Dark and intense were the words more often attached to jasmine. Her hair was a very deep rich brown, as wavy as Favour's but worn long.
There never seemed to be time in her life for regular hairdresser appointments. Currently it fell to below her shoulder-blades. Luckily she only had to wash it for it to look reasonably good.
Her eyes were more amber than brown, like their mother's, but her eyebrows and lashes were almost black, giving them a dark look. The only feature she'd inherited from their father was height. She was a head taller than Favour who had his colouring but their mother's more petite figure.
Different to each other but family nonetheless.
A close family.
And jasmine liked to see Favour happy.
"Okay, I'll go with you. But I'm taking my own car so if Leonard's friend is a total disaster I can come home by myself whenever I like. Agreed?"
Sheer delight lit up Favour's pretty face. "Yes. Yes. Agreed." she said.
Yes, it was worth the effort, Jasmine thought, and resigned herself to sharing an evening with a man who would probably bore her to death.
-----------------
She was really doing this. Going on a blind date...
She looked down at the little black and white fox terrier, sleeping blissfully at Favour's feet. He'd been called Luther after Martin Luther King who'd done all he could to integrate the black and white races in America.
Bringing people together.
Jasmine smiled at the dog who'd certainly brought her sister and Leonard together. Maybe she needed a dog in her life. It was surely a better means of meeting men than Favour's current plot. Bound to provide more lasting and devoted company, too. A steadfast, uncomplicated love. Yes.
She'd give up Robert and buy herself a dog. Now that was a much better solution to her problems than a blind date.
_____-
Leonard insisted they set off at a quarter to eight, even though it was barely a ten-minute drive around the coast to the beach town of terrigal where they were dining in style tonight. Favour and jasmine were to meet them at the restaurant at eight, which probably meant anything up to an hour later. Collins had little faith in female punctuality, particularly with social evenings. Still, the less time he had to spend with his blind date, the better.
Terrigal was a prettier beach than Forresters with its row of Norfolk Pines lining the foreshore, but it was tame in comparison with none ofthe wild, dangerous surf that stirred the sense of primitive elements at play. This was a highly civilised beach; calm water, smooth sand, edged by lawns, a large resort hotel and many fashionable boutiques and restaurants. A yuppie place, not a getaway, Collins thought, glad that Leonard had chosen to buy a house on an untamed shoreline.
The restaurant they were heading for was called The Galley, built above the sailing club on the other side of town and facing towards theHaven, a sheltered little bay where yachts rode at anchor. The main street traffic was heavy and slow. By the time they got through it and reached the parking area adjacent to The Galley, it was precisely eight o'clock.
Drinks at the bar coming up, Collins anticipated. He watched a zippy red convertible coming down the incline to the car park as Leonard was collecting a celebratory bottle of Dom Perignon from the back seat of his beloved BMW. Had to be a Mazda MX-5, Collins decided, and was surprised to see two women occupying the open front seats. It was the kind of car guys would cruise in. Women were always worried about their hairstyles being blown awry.
"I told you they'd be on time," Leonard crowed, nodding to the car Collins was watching. "That's Jasmine driving."
A long-haired brunette. The blonde in the passenger seat had to be Favour. "Is it her car?" he asked, finding himself interested by the unexpected.
"Yes. Favour calls it Jasmine's rebellion."
"Against what?"
Leonard shrugged. "Being a woman, I guess."
Collins rolled his eyes at him. "You mean I'm about to be faced with a raging feminist." he asked.
Leonard's answering grin was unrepentant. "More a femme fatale. Just watch your knees. They might buckle any minute now."
Not a chance, Collins thought.
She parked the convertible right at the end of the row of cars, the furthest point away from the entrance to the restaurant. Ensuring it wouldn't gel boxed in, Collins decided, in case she wanted an easy getaway.
Which makes two of us, darling, he thought and frowned slightly.
He and Leonard waited at the BMW for the two women to join them. The black roof of the red convertible lifted from its slot at the back of the car and was locked in at the front. The blonde emerged first, waving excitedly at Leonard. She looked very cute, wearing a clingy blue dress with shoestring shoulder straps. A pocket Venus for Leonard, Collins thought, smiling at his choice.
Well, Jasmine, strut your stuff, he silently challenged as a long rippling mane of very lustrous brown hair rose from the driver's side, the kind of hair that would look good on a pillow. Feel good, too. A tingle of temptation touched his fingertips. He clenched his hands to wipe it away. This was not the lime to let a woman get to him. So she had great hair. No big deal.... The workings of the brain under it probably had no appeal at all.She turned to close the door and lock the car. Collins attention was galvanised. Leonard hadn't lied. He hadn't even exaggerated. Jasmine Leclaire was a stunner. Helen of Troycame to mind. Here was a face that could definitely launch a thousand ships. It seemed to simmer with sexual promise, aided by the erotic positioning of a deep pink flower over her right ear. The tingle in his fingertips moved to his groin and there was nothing physical he could do to remove it. He tried willing it away. Impossible mission. She moved to the back of the car t
"Nice car," he said, nodding to where she'd parked. "I like it" His eyes leased as he asked, "What does it say about you?" She already felt under attack from him and instinctively she fended off the probe that was asking her to reveal private feelings. "Ermmm... Does it have to say anything?" Jasmine asked "Cars always say something about their owners." Collins replied and withdrew his hand. Then gestured to his friend. "Now take Leonard here. His BMW says he's made it. He's solid. He likes proven performance." "Right on," Leonard agreed. "So what car do you own?" Jasmine asked Collins, wanting to learn something about him.He grinned. "I don't. If I need a car, I hire one." "Don't let him fool you, Jasmine" Leonard quickly inserted. "Collins is a bikie from way back. He's got a whole stable of bikes to suit whatever mood he's in and whatever he wants to do." "An open road man," she observed, thinking Collins had to have the kind of mind that would hale any form of confinement.
He paused to consider. His eyes beamed a speculative challenge as he answered, "Whatever two strangers want to make of it." "'Without a tomorrow." jasmine asked. "Tomorrow I'm gone." he replied. Well, that was laying it on the line. No future with Collins Templeton. Not that she had had time to even think of one or consider whether it might be desirable."Then I'll just take this one night experience with the man behind the name," she countered, pride insisting that his schedule did not affect her expectations from this blind date, which had been zero before she met him anyway. Sexual invitation simmered back at her. "I wonder if you will." She hadn't meant a one-night stand. Another wretched blush goaded her into being uncharacteristically provocative. "You win some. You lose some." It was a warning for him not to assume anything. He grinned. "The game is afoot. And you can't cut and run because your sister is watching and she'll kill you if you do." He laughed, trying to lig
Her long throat moved in a convulsive little swallow. Dry-mouthed from the heal coursing through her? The low V-neckline of her dress pointed into the valley between her breasts, shadowed by the soft swell of lush feminine flesh on either side. He wanted to fill his hands with her, wanted to... "Coffee, anyone?" The waiter deftly removed the emptied dessert plates as choices were made around the table. "Short black," Jasmine said, Strong and dark, Collins thought, which was how he wanted it, too."The same for me." he said. He didn't hear what the others ordered. The waiter departed. Leonard suggested they walk on down the hill to the Crowne Plaza after they'd finished their coffee, disco the rest of the night away. Favour applauded the idea. Jasmine smiled al her sister but said nothing, waiting Collins reaction with no persuasion from her either way. Hours of ear-blasting music and hot, sweaty dancing didn't appeal to Collins. Nor did a long sexual tease with Jasmine that promise
He made it sound intensely sensual, made her feel intensely sensual. She took refuge in sipping coffee again, trying not to wonder just how elemental he was and how he would look as nature had fashioned him.The open-necked shirt had been tantalising her all throughout dinner, giving her a glimpse of tight black curls arrowing down his chest. His forearms weren't hairy, their darkly tanned skin gleaming like oiled teak. She imagined his whole body would be mainly like that with a sprinkle of black springy curls in the most masculine places. The desire to know, to touch, conflicted terribly with the sensible course of simply wishing him well and waving him goodbye. He wasn't going to be in her life.Except for this one night.Leonard paid the restaurant bill, insisting it was his party treat for Favour. Everyone had drank their coffee, it was time to go. Nervous tension gripped Jasmine as Collins moved to hold her chair back for an easy rise from the table. She looked at the full moon
Oh, he knew how to kiss. His tongue mated with hers in a rhythm that exactly matched the pulsing it set off in her body. Fireworks sparkled along her nerve endings, making every inch of her so sensitive that the merest brush of clothing against her skin seemed overwhelmingly sensual and sexual.He shifted, pulling her closer and pinning her body to his, so they were locked together and her throbbing center was out of reach even as it grew heavy and aching with need.All from a kiss.Her body wanted to fight the imprisonment until she felt his hardness against her belly. She understood then. He wanted her every bit as much as she wanted him. Somehow that freed her in a way desire alone couldn't have.He continued to hold her close with one arm as he kissed her, but his other hand began to wander. He stroked her side from breast to thigh, to the point where his leg trapped hers, then swept it up again, slowly...oh, so slowly.And as it returned upward, she gasped.She arched a little, b
There was no struggle over any sense of right or wrong in his conscience. It was full steam ahead for Collins Templeton. And maybe that was part of his strength, part of his overwhelming attraction. He knew what he wanted and went after it with single-minded purpose.They turned right at the end of Crystal Street. The car climbed a steep hill—the head land—went over it and down the other side, turning sharp left and coming to a halt in a large dead-end parking circle that wasclosed in by a nature reserve, a thick belt of trees and bushes cutting off any sight of the ocean.Shadows from overhanging foliage put them in a pool of darkness.There were no other vehicles here. The sense of being very much alone with Collins Templeton sent a quiver of apprehension down Jasmine's spine. Was she mad to do this? Was she?Then he was opening the passenger door, drawing her out of the car and into an embrace that shot a flood of positive responses through her body, swamping any chilling fears. He
Her whole body was wire-tight with anticipation when his arms slid around her waist. She almost crumbled at the contact, the need for it was so intense. She leaned back against him, revelling in the sense of being encompassed and protected by his hard, warm strength, wanting to feel a togetherness that could face anything and survive intact. He rubbed his cheek over her hair and she felt his chest rise and fall as he breathed in its scent, mingled now with the smell of the sea. 'You should have been called Eve,' he murmured. The beginning of time, she thought, elated that he was in tune with her own feelings. 'And you, Adam?''The caveman in me has definitely been stirred tonight.' Was it the cavewoman in her responding? It didn't matter. Having surrendered to whatever it was, she simply wanted to be swept along with it. His hands slid up to capture her breasts, fingers softly kneading, savouring their fullness. She closed her eyes, inwardly focusing on his touch and the sensation