his dark eyes on her as they reached the door to the restaurant.
“When did they die?” he asked, placing a huge hand on the door so that she couldn’t open it without moving him out of the way—an impossibility.
She studied her sandaled feet. “When I was twelve,” she said tightly. Her eyes darted back to his, and before she could erase it, he read the bitter sadness there.
“Have dinner with me,” he said shortly, his tone impatient, as if he was offering against his better judgment.
Both her eyebrows went up over emerald eyes. “And be lectured on how I hold my fork?” she burst out.
“Touchy little thing, aren’t you?” he asked.
She bristled at him. “Only when I’m being bulldozed by Yan...by northerners.” She corrected herself quickly.
One corner of his chiseled mouth quivered, and she could see the smile that died on it flickering briefly in his eyes. “Why don’t you say it... Yankees? All right, I’m from Chicago. What about it?”
“I’m from Georgia. What about that?” she countered. Her eyes glistened with emotion. “And for your information, Mr. Accent Expert, I was born and raised in Georgia, and this accent isn’t put on. It’s real!”
“How to speak Southern in three easy lessons?” he prodded. “Hi, y’all?”
Her mouth compressed angrily. “No wonder they fired off that cannon at Fort Sumter,” she breathed. “No wonder...!”
“Peace, Georgia.” He chuckled, and something akin to a smile pulled at his hard mouth. “Suppose we raise the white flag over some seafood?”
Her eyes wandered over his broad, hard face. This was insanity...
“Well?” he added curtly.
“All right,” she murmured.
He opened the door and ushered her to the entrance of the restaurant, with its huge peacock chairs overlooking the bay where ships and seagulls caught the eye.
The hostess seated them at a window seat and gave them menus to scan.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Nikki sighed, her eyes dreamy and soft. “Look at the seagulls putting on a show. It’s like watching miniature airplanes do spins and barrel rolls.”
“You like airplanes?” he asked.
She nodded. “Very much. I took a few lessons before I ran out of time and money. It was fun.”
He glanced at the menu. “What do you see that you like?”
“Oh, the clam plate, please.” She glared at him over her menu as she added, “And dutch treat. I buy my own meals.”
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Pardon me, honey, but I don’t think your body’s worth a whole meal. Possibly not a cup of coffee.”
Her fingers crumpled one edge of the menu. “I think I’d like to order another table.”
“Stay put. I’ll reconsider after I’ve got something in my stomach. It’s been a hell of a day.” He shifted to tense and then relax the muscles in his big body.
“If my company is so distasteful, why did you invite me to sit with you?” she asked, taking the battle into the enemy camp.
His dark eyes narrowed. “I was lonely, Georgia,” he said quietly.
She felt something leap at her heart and collide with it. “Oh.” She waited until the young waitress took their order before she spoke again. “Surely you know people here?”
His broad, square-tipped fingers toyed with his napkin.
“I came down on business,” he said. “I don’t care for the kind of socializing most of my associates go in for.”
She folded her hands primly in her lap, easing back into the unexpectedly comfortable peacock chair that seemed to be the style in the restaurant.
“What kind of business are you in?” she asked.
His eyes darkened, narrowed over a cold smile. “Don’t you know?” he asked silkily.
She looked away, ignoring that curt tone as her eyes widened on a newcomer in port. “Look!” she burst out. “Isn’t that a battleship?”
He followed her fascinated gaze to a dull gray ship flying a French flag, just steaming into the Prince George Wharf. “An escort frigate,” he corrected. “French navy.”
“I love the docks most of all,” she murmured. “I’ve never been near a seaport in my life. It’s just fascinating to sit and watch the ships dock and steam away. And the way those tiny little tugboats pivot them around in the harbor...!” She laughed.
“Are you this enthusiastic about everything?” he asked with a frown.
She glanced at him sheepishly. “It’s all new,” she explained. “New people, a new environment. I can’t help but be enthusiastic about it. This is the first foreign place I’ve ever seen.”
He glanced out the window with a shrug. “I’ve been here at least a dozen times. It’s just another hotel in another city to me.”