The Real Thing. Brenda Jackson
took a long sip of his drink as he watched Trinity leave her kitchen. Nice-looking backside, he thought, and then wished he hadn’t. Tara would skin him alive if he made a play for her sister. And if Tara told Thorn, there would be no hope for Adrian since everybody knew Thorn was a man not to toy with.
Then why did you flirt with Trinity just now? he asked himself, taking another sip. You’re only asking for trouble. Your job is to pretend the two of you are lovers and not lust after her like some horny ass. You’ve already crossed the line with that kiss—don’t make matters worse.
He took another sip of his soda. What could be worse than wanting a woman and not being able to have her? A smile touched his lips, thinking that Dr. Casey Belvedere would soon find out.
“I’m ready.”
He turned slightly and almost choked on the liquid he’d just sipped. She’d used one of those styling-irons to put curls in her hair at the ends. The style looked good on her. She looked good. All over. Top to bottom.
“You look nice.”
“Thanks. You look nice yourself. You didn’t say what show we’ll be seeing.”
“I didn’t? Then I guess it will be a surprise. I talked to Tara earlier today and asked her about your favorite dessert. She told me about your fascination with strawberry cheesecake, so I made arrangements for us to stop for cheesecake and coffee on our way back.”
“That’s thoughtful of you.”
“I’m a thoughtful person. You ready to go?”
“Yes.”
He placed the empty glass on the counter and crossed the room to link his arm with hers. “Then let’s go.”
* * *
“You’re driving a different car tonight,” Trinity noted when they reached the sleek and sassy vehicle parked in her driveway. The night he’d taken her to dinner he’d been driving a black Lexus sedan. Tonight he was in a sporty candy-apple-red Lexus two-seater convertible.
“And I own neither. A good friend owns a Lexus dealership in town and when I returned to Denver he sold me a Lexus SUV. But he figures as much as I’m seen around town with the ladies that he might as well let me use any car off his lot whenever I go out on a date. He’s convinced showcasing his cars around town is good publicity. And it has paid off. Several people have come into his dealership to buy his cars.”
“And I bet most were women.”
He chuckled as he opened the door for her. “Now why would you think that?”
“A hunch. Am I right?”
“Possibly.”
“Go ahead and admit it. It’s okay. I’ve heard all about your dating history,” she said, buckling her seat belt.
“Have you?” he asked, leaning against the open car door.
“Yes.”
“From who?”
“I’d rather not disclose my sources.”
“And you think they’re reliable?” he asked.
“I see no reason why they shouldn’t be.”
He shrugged before closing the door. She watched him sprint around the front to the driver’s side to get in. He buckled his own seat belt, but before pressing the key switch he glanced over at her. “There’s only one reliable source when it comes to me, Trinity.”
She lifted a brow. “And who might that be?”
He pointed a finger at his chest. “Me. Feel free to ask me anything you want...within reason.”
She smiled. “Then here’s my first question. More women have purchased cars from your friend than men, right?”
He returned her smile as he backed out of her driveway. “I’ll admit that they have.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“Why not?”
“Several reasons,” she said, noticing the smooth sound of the car’s engine as he drove down her street.
“State them.”
She glanced over at him. He had brought the car to a stop at a traffic light. “I can see where some women would find you persuasive and lap up anything you say as gospel.”
A smile she wouldn’t categorize as totally conceited touched his lips. “You think so? You believe I might have that much influence?”
“Yes, but mind you, I said some women.”
“What about you? Are you ready for a new car?”
She held his gaze. “Unless it’s free, I’m not interested. A car payment is the last thing I need right now. The car I presently drive is just fine. It gets me from point A to point B and if I sing to it real nice, it might even make it to point C. I can’t ask for anything more than that.”
“You can but you won’t.”
His comment was right on the money but she wondered how he’d figured that out. “Why do you say that?”
The car was moving again and he didn’t answer until when they reached another traffic light a few moments later. He looked over at her. “You’re not the only one with sources. I understand that beneath those curls on your head is a very independent mind.”
She shrugged as she broke away from his look to glance out the window. “I can’t handle my business any other way. My parents raised all of us to be independent thinkers.”
“Is that why you didn’t go along with Tara’s plan at first?”
She looked back at him. “You’ll have to admit it’s a little far-fetched.”
“I look at it as a means to an end.”
“I just hope it works.”
“It will.”
She was about to ask why he felt so certain when she noticed they had pulled up for valet parking. The building was beautiful and the architecture probably dated back to the eighteen hundreds. Freestanding, it stood as an immaculate building with a backdrop of mountains. “Nice.”
“Glad you like it. It was an old hotel. Now it’s been renovated, turned into a theater that has live shows. Pam’s group is working on a production that will be performed here.”
Trinity knew Dillon’s wife, Pam, used to be a movie star who now owned an acting school in town. “That’s wonderful.”
“I think so, too. Her group is working hard with rehearsals and all. It will be their first show.”
When they reached the ticket booth the clerk greeted Adrian by name. “Good evening, Mr. Westmoreland.”
“Hello, Paul. I believe you’re holding reserved tickets for me.”
“Yes sir,” the man said, handing Adrian an envelope. Adrian checked the contents before smiling at her. “We’re a little early so we might as well grab a drink. They serve refreshments while we wait.”
“Okay.”
When they entered the huge room, Trinity glanced around. This area of the building was nicely decorated, as well.
“What would you like?” Adrian asked her.
“What are you drinking?”
“Beer.”
“Then I’ll take one, as well.”
Adrian grabbed the attention of one of the waiters and gave him their order. It was then that a couple passed and Adrian said, “Roger? Is that you?”
A man who looked to be in his late thirties or early forties