Northern Rebel Daring in the Dark - By Jennifer Labrecque Page 0,29
it?”
Lars laughed, appreciating her quirky humor.
“You’re safe enough—even if you say no.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and studied him for a moment. “Have you ever actually been turned down?”
Was that sarcasm or was she really curious? Hell if he knew, but it prompted a chuckle. “Of course. I’d like to show you something.”
She mockingly widened her eyes. “Now, that is moving a little fast...”
He laughed again. Yep, he’d definitely like to show her that. “I wanted to show you Mirror Lake. It’s a thermal lake, so it never freezes over, and it’s an eagle haven. All in all, it’s a pretty cool place. I was thinking a late evening outing and a swim.”
“I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”
He grinned. “Me neither.”
“You are a bad influence.”
“I gave you fair warning. Moral corruption is contagious.”
“You may be right.”
He grinned. “I’m always right.” They both knew it was bullshit but it was fun. “Nine o’clock?”
She hesitated so long he thought she might just turn him down yet. Finally, she spoke. “Nine works.”
“Should I knock on your door?”
“I can meet you on the sidewalk.”
“Sure. If that’s what you want.”
He’d won that skirmish and gained ground.
* * *
DELPHI FLOPPED BACK on the quilt-covered bed in her room and stared at the tongue-in-groove ceiling. Obviously the wedding and the fun at the reception had gotten to her because she’d agreed to go out with Lars Reinhardt. He’d made it seem so natural. And once she’d agreed, she’d realized just how much she’d wanted to say yes.
What had happened to finding him brash and annoying? Well, he was fairly brash, but really not so annoying once you got used to him. She’d had such a great time at the reception. She’d never, ever danced like that—whirling and twirling and then being held close. And then there’d been the flirting and the simmering sexuality between them.
Delphi had been so alternately angry and numb following the incident with DeWitt that she hadn’t experienced the least ounce of sexual desire since. Lars had changed that. She definitely wasn’t numb anymore. And, she realized with a start, she wasn’t nearly as angry as she had been. The touch of his palm against hers, the feathering of his breath against her neck as they danced and again when they talked in the hallway, the sheer masculinity of his size and his very maleness...
The entire afternoon had been heady and romantic with an undeniable sexuality.
He was, however, a virtual stranger and she’d agreed to go to some lake with him.
She called Skye on her cell and cut straight to the chase after the perfunctory greetings. “So, I lost my mind and agreed to go to Mirror Lake with Lars Reinhardt this evening. Do you know anything about him?”
She sensed Skye’s hesitation on the other end of the phone. “I only know he’s Bull’s nephew. Liam is a great guy but I don’t know much about him. Any other man here I could vouch for or warn you off, but Lars is an unknown quantity.”
Worrying her lip between her teeth, Delphi rolled to her side. “I don’t want to start off here on the same sour note I left in Atlanta.”
“I don’t see how that could possibly happen. In fact, maybe a few dates with Lars will erase some of the lingering...ick—” Delphi smiled at the use of the word from the highly educated, fairly formal Skye “—of the whole DeWitt debacle,” Skye reasoned. “I understand your reasons for wanting to keep the whole thing quiet, but he deserves to be reported to the board for his actions.”
Her reasons boiled down to one thing: it would be further hell to go through. At the most DeWitt would get a slap on the wrist. He’d still come out on top while she remained unemployed. “Yep. But that falls into the gap between an ideal world and the real world.”
“I know. So perhaps escaping into an ideal world with a good-looking, well-built man for a little while is a good thing. Are you attracted to him?”
A shiver ran through Delphi at the memory of his nearness. “Is the sky blue today?” She laughed at herself. “Yesterday I wasn’t so sure I liked him, but he’s sort of growing on me.”
Skye laughed. “That has a familiar ring.” She had expressed a similar sentiment in regards to Dalton. “I say go and enjoy. Even if Lars is a dud, Mirror Lake is pretty amazing.”
“Okay. I’ll go and proceed with caution. Extreme caution. By the way, is