"Done!" Leonard readily agreed, grinning his head off. No problem in his mind.
Collins relaxed. Let tonight take care of itself, he thought, having dealt himself a ready bolthole.
__________
A blind date...
Jasmine Leclaire gave her sister a look designed to kill the idea on the spot. Stone dead. This weekend with Favour was a much needed time out from men— one in particular—and even being polite to any male at the moment would be an effort she didn't want to make.
The look didn't work. It spurred Favour into attack mode, eyes flashing the light of battle.
"You know your problem, jasmine?" she began. "You've been so fixated on Robert for so long, that you've developed tunnel vision. You can't even see other men could be more attractive. And a lot better for you, too."
So find me one, jasmine thought derisively, having done her own looking each time Robert had strayed, then forgiving him and taking him back because there simply wasn't anyone else she wanted to be with.
Compared to Robert, other men were dull, but this last infidelity went beyond the bounds of acceptability. For him to snatch a bit of sex with a graphic artist in her own office, a woman who worked on the accounts she handled...that was too bitter a blow to her pride.
This had to be the end of their relationship. The final end. All the sexual charisma in the world didn't make up for a long, continuing string of hurts, especially this worst one, right under her nose. It was time to let go, time to move on, but to what?
"I'm not up to a blind date, Favour" she said flatly, hoping Favour would end the subject, but Favour wasn't anywhere ready to do that.
"Well, I'm not going to leave you here to mope alone," came the belligerent retort from Favour.
"That's not going to happen. I won't mope. I'll watch TV... Or surf the internet."
"'Wallowing in escapism. That sounds like a horrible idea. I bet Robert isn't doing that. Good old action man will be unzipping his trousers for some..."
"Stop it! Stop it, Favour!" jasmine said, almost yelling.
“No, I won't. He tried it on with me, too, you know. Your own sister."
Shocked out of her irritation with Favour's unwelcome nagging, jasmine shot a sharp look at her sister, unsure if she was speaking the truth or wanting to blacken Robert's character beyond the pale.
"You never told me that before." she said. A fierce conviction blazed back at her.
"Yeah. Well, I'm telling you now. Get rid of him. Get over him, jasmine. He might have the gift of the gab and he might be a great performer in bed, but he only ever thinks of himself. You are an ego trip for him. And every time you take him back you feed his ego more. Holding on to him is sick."
Jasmine frowned over these discomforting assertions. Was it sick to keep wanting a man who couldn't be trusted with other women? Robert swore she was the only one who really counted in his life, but was that enough to hang on to? Obviously she couldn't count too much when he was hot for someone else, even her own sister.
"I won't hold on this time," she muttered.
"Then let me see you take some positive action in another direction. Like partnering this other guy tonight. It will really do you some good," Favour strongly argued.
"Thanks, but I'm not in the mood."
"You never are. Except for Robert who continually does the dirty on you. You've wasted four years on a dyed-in-the-wool philanderer and it's only ever going to be more of the same, him having it off with whomever he fancies, while you..."
"I already told you it's over."
"Until he soft soaps you again."
"No. I mean it." declared jasmine.
"Fine! So you should be celebrating being free from him, giving yourself the chance to eye off someone else."
She was just like her dog with a bone. Jasmine looked down at the miniature fox terrier sitting by Favour's feet and was grateful he wasn't yapping at her, too. She did need to be free of Robert, but in her own mind and heart first. Plunging into dating would only throw up comparisons that would keep him painfully alive in her thoughts.
In fact, Favour had just spoiled her attempt to forget him for a while.
Here they were, seated on the balcony of her sister's apartment, overlooking the Brisbane Water at Gosford, idly watching the boats sailing out from the yacht club, feeling pleasantly replete from a fine lunch, during which Favour had raved about her wonderful new boyfriend, Leonard. Why couldn't she just be happy with her own personal life instead of attacking Jasmine's?
"This guy has been a friend of Leonard's since school days. Now that tells you he values the people he likes. He's not a user and a dumper," Favour ran on, relentlessly intent on persuasion.
"Friendship between two men has no relevance whatsoever to how either of them view or treat women," Jasmine tersely commented, wanting an end to the argument.
"Right! So now you're cultivating a negative attitude. Not even giving people a chance. And I might add Leonard treats me beautifully."
"Lucky you! But I don't want to be stuck with a guy I don't know and might not like. It's just not worth the trouble"
"Well, you like Leonard, don't you? His friend should be at least an interesting person. The food at The Galley is always good. It's my birthday, and the best birthday present you could give me is to see you enjoying yourself without that asshole Robert."
"I have been. With you. Before you started on this blind date kick," Jasmine snapped in exasperation.
"As for birthday gifts, I thought you liked the bracelet I bought you..."
"I do. I love it. I really do."
"....and the lunch at the restaurant of your choice. Wasn't that birthday treat enough for you?" Favour's eloquent shrug was apologetic but it didn't stop her from turning the screws. "I just hate going out and leaving you alone, knowing you're miserable. I won't be able to enjoy the evening with Leonard if you don't come with me."
Emotional blackmail.
But there was caring behind it, Jasmine grudgingly conceded, and she didn't want to spoil any part of her younger sister's birthday. Favour had always been a pet, her naturally happy nature making her a pleasure to be with.
Their parents were away on an overseas trip, touring Canada this time, so it was up to Jasmine to make up for their not being here, showering love on their younger daughter. She thought she'd done enough but...would it really hurt to make the effort of being pleasant to a stranger tonight?
"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-th
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