Anything You Can Do(60)
She suggested a couple of horses, and Austin held the racing form so they could both study it. Leaning his head close to hers, he discussed jockeys, trainers, records, and other variables.
"Okay," he finally said. "My money's on number nine."
When she agreed, they started back inside to place their bets. His arm dropped to her waist, and she was puzzled to find his touch not only unbearably exciting, but comfortable at the same time. Had her embarrassment been so great the night before that nothing would bother her now? Or maybe, having survived the situation, having seen each other at their worst, they no longer had a need for constraint. In any event, she moved closer to him.
When they returned to the box, Paula looked up. "Who've you got?" she asked.
"Nine," Bailey answered, settling into a chair. "Surprise Finish. What about you?"
"Prince Charming. How could I resist? What's your choice, Austin?"
"Nine," he replied, sitting next to Bailey, taking her hand, and smiling conspiratorily.
From the corner of her eye, she caught the exchange of astonished glances between Paula and Gordon.
"You both chose the same horse?" Paula asked in amazement.
This was almost as much fun as beating Austin at something.
When Surprise Finish came in first, Paula jumped to her feet. "You won!" she exclaimed, clapping.
"Umm-hmm," Bailey agreed, restraining her own excitement, trying to act as though there had never been a doubt in her mind.
"Beginner's luck," Gordon assured Paula, tearing up his ticket and tossing the confetti into the air. "They don't have a great system like you do. Who do you like in the second?"
"As a matter of fact, we do have a system," Austin said, standing and looking smug. "Shall we go talk directly to the horses again, partner?" He extended an arm, and Bailey took it, smiling up at him as they strolled away.
Since Bailey and Austin maintained ill-gotten gains had to be spent right away, they treated Paula and Gordon to dinner with their winnings acquired from a large percentage of the races.
"Well," Gordon drawled as they strolled across the parking lot of the restaurant to his car, "how about we all go by my place for an after-dinner drink?"
The afternoon and evening had been wonderful, and Bailey really didn't want it to end. However, the way Gordon and Paula looked as they walked hand in hand, gazing at each other with silly grins on their faces, told her they would probably just as soon have that drink alone.
"It's been a long day," she said.
"Yes, it has. I'm beat," Austin added.
Though he was only agreeing with her, Bailey didn't want him to want the day to end. She cast a surreptitious glance at him, but could tell nothing from his expression.
"Would you mind dropping us by Bailey's place so I can get my car?" Austin asked.
"No problem," Gordon replied.
Well, Bailey thought, examining the data, Austin had said, dropping us, but then he'd referred to getting his car. The evidence concerning the end of the evening was inconclusive.
Gordon drove to her condo and let them out. Austin stood beside her in the parking lot and waved as Gordon and Paula drove away.
"We really had them going," he said, taking her hand as they strolled down the sidewalk and up the stairs to her door.
"I think Paula gave serious consideration to the idea we really were talking to the horses!" Bailey agreed, unlocking the door then reaching down to catch Samantha as she dashed out.
"They'd never believe the truth if we told them." They looked at each other and burst into laughter.
As the laughter faded and neither of them moved, Bailey wanted to ask what the truth really was. Instead she stepped inside the doorway.
"I appreciate your cooperation tonight," she said, and hoped he'd deny that was the truth of which he'd spoken, that cooperation wasn't the only thing that had happened that evening.
He did. Following her inside, he closed the door behind them, took Samantha from her, and set the little dog on the floor. Wrapping his arms around her, he gently drew her to him, and somehow her own arms naturally made their way about his neck.
He smiled and shook his head in amazement. She understood. That was the way she felt.
His lips as they touched hers were familiar and strange. They'd kissed before, but never so easily, never deliberately. The burst of flame she always felt when Austin touched her was still there, but a warm intimacy now surrounded it.