“This bothers you?” he asked. Most women of his acquaintance would find a car a very appropriate birthday gift.
Her pansy eyes focused back on him. “No. Not really. Well, except that I don’t drive, but that’s not the point. It’s just that I think he’s trying to make up for something.”
“Perhaps he regrets spending so little time with you through your formative years.” Dash said.
Her soft, feminine laughter affected his libido in a most unexpected way.
“He had the housekeeper take me out to dinner for my birthday after having the Porsche delivered by the dealership.” She said said.
“He bought you a Porsche?” That was hardly a suitable gift for a young woman who did not even know how to drive. She could kill herself her first time behind the wheel with such a powerful car. He would have to speak to Patchett about making sure she had received proper driving instruction before she was allowed onto the roads alone. Though why he suddenly cared so much he didn’t know.
“Yes. He also bought me a mink coat. Not a fake one, but the real thing.” She sighed and sat down in one of the burgundy leather reading chairs. “I just can’t help thinking that something is up” She peeked up at him through her lashes. “Though I have no idea what it could be.”
He shook his head and leaned back against the desk, wondering how she would react if he told her her father’s plan. Would she still want to be seated here talking to him? “I’m sure your father loves you very much, and in his own way just wants the best for you”
Tess smiled. “I guess. I’m really excited about the six-week European tour he gave me, though. Even if I won’t be leaving for six months. He booked it for early.” Her eyes shone with undisguised delight at the prospect. “I’ll be traveling with a group of college students and a tour guide.” She added.
“How many other young women will there be?” Dash asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. There will be ten of us in all, not including the guide of course.” She crossed one leg over the other and started to swing the ankle back and forth, making her dress swish with each movement. “I don’t know what the ratio of men to women will be.”
“You are traveling with men?”
“Oh, yes. It’s all coed. Something I would have loved to do in college, but better late than never, don’t they say?” she asked.
He didn’t know about that, but the idea of this naïve creature spending six weeks with a group of libidinous, college age men did not please him. Why he should care, he did not stop to analyze. It was his nature to act on not only his behalf, but that of others as well. That should be the reason.
“I do not think it is wise for you to go on such a trip. Surely a wholly female group would be more enjoyable for you.” He said.
Her leg stopped its swinging and she stared at him, clearly dumbfounded.
“You’re kidding, right? Half the reason for going on the trip is to spend some time with men close to my own age.” She said.
“Are you saying you object to your father buying you a husband, but not when it comes to him buying you a lover?” He didn’t know what had made him say it.
Only that he had been angry, an inexplicable reaction to the news she was interested in male companionship.
She blanched and sat back in her chair as if trying to put distance between them. “I didn’t say that. I’m not looking for a…a lover.” She said.
Then in a whirl of purple chiffon, she jumped up. “I’ll just get back to the party.” She eased around him toward the door as if he were an angry animal threatening to pounce.
He cursed himself as she opened the door and fled. There had been tears in her lavender eyes. What the gossiping duo had not been able to do with their nasty commentary, he had managed with one sentence. He had made her cry.
Two now familiar hands grabbed her shoulders from behind. “Please, Tess, you must allow me to once again apologize.”
She said nothing, but she didn’t try to get away. How could she? The moment he touched her, she lost all sense of self-will. And he did not have a clue, but then why should he? Business tycoons did not look to hopelessly average, twenty-six-year-old virgins for an alliance…of any sort.
She blinked furiously at the wetness that had already trickled down to her cheeks. Wasn’t it enough that she had been forced to overhear her shortcomings cataloged by two of her father’s guests? That Dash Black of all people should have heard as well had increased the hurt exponentially. Then to have him accuse her of wanting her father to buy her a lover! As if the idea that any man would desire her for herself was too impossible to contemplate.
“Let me go,” she whispered. “I need to check on my dad.”
“Neal has an entire household of servants to see to his needs. I have only you.”
“You don’t need me.” She said.
He turned her to face him. Then keeping one restraining hand on her shoulder, he tipped her chin up with his forefinger. His eyes were dark with remorse. “I did not mean it, Tess. I’m sorry.”
She just shook her head, not wanting to speak and betray how much his careless words had hurt. She was not blasé enough to take the type of sophisticated joking he had been indulging in with equanimity.
He said something low and wiped at her cheeks with a black silk handkerchief he had pulled from his pocket. “Don’t distress yourself like this. It was nothing more than a poorly worded jest. Not something for which you should upset yourself.”
“I’m sorry. I’m being stupidly emotional.” Tess said.
His gorgeous brown eyes narrowed. “You are not stupid, Tess, merely easily hurt. You must learn to control this or others will take advantage of your weakness.”