THE BENNETTS' CHRISTMAS (The Bennett Family and the Masters Family #6) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,40

The compartment wasn’t as crowded as it had been last night—people must still be in town. But at the next deck, a group of women got on and it was obvious they noticed Landon right away. They tried engaging him in private conversation, but he quickly shut them down.

Just before they disembarked, invisible ink was stamped on the back of their hands for access back on the ship later. Then, they walked down the plank and onto the dock, both very ready for their date to start.

“Do we need to catch a taxi?” she asked.

He glanced down at her and smiled. “No. I ordered us a limo for tonight.”

A limo? No sooner had her mind echoed his words, than a sleek black executive style sedan pulled up, and a uniformed chauffeur got out. “Here’s our ride,” Landon said. “We have the car for the rest of the night.”

Monica was truly impressed. As he led her over to the car, she smiled and said, “You’ve thought of everything, Landon.”

No, Landon thought, sitting beside Monica as their driver whisked them through the streets of Brisbane, he had not thought of everything. Until she had opened her cabin door, and he’d seen how breathtaking she looked in that red dress, he hadn’t given any thought as to the best way to get her out of that dress once they returned to the ship tonight. But he was definitely thinking about it now.

Sitting beside her, with privacy glass between them and the driver, Landon’s mind came up with a number of tantalizing ideas, most of which he had to shoot down. He knew he had to get his mind in check, but he was finding it hard to focus when her scent filled the car. She was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman.

She was beautiful, simply stunning. Everything about her was perfect—her hair, her makeup, her dress. She was the whole package. And she was still smiling. “I love it when you smile.”

She glanced over at him, her face half-illuminated by the lights shining off the buildings they passed. “Thank you. It’s been a while since a date has made me smile.”

That comment stirred his interest. “Why?”

“Let’s just say that in my experience, dates don’t usually begin or end well.”

He wanted to ask for specifics but decided to wait. Because now, he had a challenge—to make sure this evening not only started and ended well, but would also be one she’d never forget. “I want to make you smile every day. And I want to get to uncover the real Monica Bennett.”

And he meant it. There was something about her that intrigued him, especially his reaction to her. Even now, his arousal was pressing hard against the fly of his slacks. He’d never had a problem controlling his urges with other women, but Monica was making it downright impossible.

“You make it sound as if I’m putting on an act, as if I’m not showing the real me.”

“I don’t think that. But I don’t know that you truly know yourself yet. Like a flower, you haven’t fully bloomed. I want to see you blossom, Monica, in all your glorious splendor.”

Landon wasn’t sure just what that entailed but he definitely wanted to find out. In just the few days that he’d been around her, he’d seen she was a lot different from the other women onboard.

First of all, she didn’t act like she had to prove anything. Those other women who’d come on to him had seemed confident, but he knew better. Anyone who built themselves up by making others feel bad were weak. That was all there was to it. Even the fact that he had Monica by his side hadn’t slowed them down.

It was as if they assumed their brash boldness was a turn-on. That might be the case with some men, but he sure didn’t like it. He thought they were inconsiderate and overbearing. And he wanted no part of it.

Monica, on the other hand, seemed more even-tempered. Although he knew she could lose her cool when the situation warranted it—he’d seen it twice now, with Dusty and Jack.

“It will be another twenty minutes or so before we arrive at our destination. Would you like a glass of wine?” he asked, indicating the bottle and glasses on the compact table in front of them.

“That would be nice.”

He poured a glass and handed it to her, then poured one of his own. Taking a sip, he watched through narrowed eyes as she took