as the invitation. “Are you actually flirting with me?” she asked, not bothering to hide her astonishment.
He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “To tell the truth, it’s been so long, I can’t say for sure.”
The soft sigh of his breath across her cheek was almost as heady as a kiss. It made Val want to move an inch or two closer, to coax his arms around her. She’d been wanting him to kiss her for so long now she was just about ready to make it happen and damn the consequences.
“Maybe if you have a little food, you’ll know for sure,” she said, turning and leading the way to the buffet that she had helped the housekeeper set out earlier. “Do you want the whole meal now or just an appetizer?” She turned to find his gaze locked on her.
“An appetizer,” he said quietly. “Some things shouldn’t be rushed.”
He really was flirting with her, she concluded. What she couldn’t figure out was why. Not twenty-four hours ago he couldn’t get away from her fast enough. Was it the party atmosphere? She hadn’t noticed that his personality changed all that much at past parties. She regarded him suspiciously.
“What’s really going on here, Slade?”
He looked as innocent as a newborn. “I have no idea what you mean. I thought we’d grab some food, find a place away from the ruckus and enjoy some quiet conversation. Does that bother you for some reason?”
“Of course it doesn’t bother me,” she retorted. “It’s just so...out of character.”
“Maybe I’ve reformed.”
“Overnight?”
“They say the love of a good woman can do amazing things to change a man.”
She plunked down her plate. “Okay, that’s it. Who said anything about love?” Her gaze narrowed. “Has Laurie said something to you?”
“About?”
“Me, dammit.”
Laughter danced in his eyes. “Can’t say that I’ve talked to Laurie recently.”
As her temper lathered up, his grew cooler, Val noticed. It was very irksome. She tried to match his calm, even tone. “Harlan Patrick, then.”
He grinned. “Val, I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss about sneaking off to a corner to chat. For weeks now you’ve been pestering me with a million questions. Now when I’m ready to talk, the cat’s got your tongue. Why is that?”
“Because it doesn’t make sense. Neither does that comment about the love of a good woman. I think you’re making fun of me, Slade Sutton.”
He set his plate down and cupped her face in his hands, hands that were just a little rough from hard work. Hands capable of incredible tenderness, she discovered.
“Maybe I’m just waking up,” he said, his gaze fixed on her mouth. “I’d like to kiss you, Val. You going to turn skittish if I do?”
Her breath caught in her throat. Finally, after all these months, he was going to kiss her. It was what she’d been praying for. She’d imagined his lips on hers a thousand times. She’d ached to have him wake up and notice her.
Because she couldn’t have gotten a word past the lump in her throat if she’d tried, she simply shook her head.
Slade smiled. “Okay, then.”
He lowered his head until there was little more than a sliver of air between his mouth and hers, and there he stopped. Anticipation shimmered through Val. It required all of her willpower to simply wait, when she wanted so desperately to close that distance and finally discover if he tasted half as wonderful as she’d imagined. Her heart pounded at the prospect. Her nerves rioted.
“Daddy!”
Annie’s shrill, excited voice cut through the air. Slade jerked away so quickly, Val very nearly cried out at the loss.
“Hey, Daddy, look at me! I can dive off the board.”
Slade glanced down into Val’s eyes with mute apology. “Let’s see, angel,” he called out. He took Val’s hand and urged her to come with him as he moved back toward the pool.
Sure enough, Annie executed a perfect dive off the low board. She swam to the edge of the pool and stared up at them hopefully.
“What did you think?”
“Awesome,” Slade said. “How long have you been doing that?”
“Since a few minutes ago. Zack taught me.”
“Then you’re a natural,” he praised. “Maybe we should see about getting you some diving lessons this summer, if it’s something you’d like to do.”
Her eyes shone. “Could I? Zack says there’s a lady in town who gives lessons. She was in the Olympics once. She’s really, really amazing. So, do you think we could call and find out if she’d take me?”