Honeysuckle Summer (The Sweet Magnolias #7)(32)

“Yes, really,” she said seriously. “Come on, super stud, let’s find a place for you to live. Then we can discuss what lies ahead for you and me.”

Because it was better than spending another boring evening on his own, Walter walked out with her. “Just so we’re clear, this is strictly business.”

“Of course it is,” she said at once, then met his gaze. “Until it isn’t.”

“Why do you do that?” he asked.

“What? Flirt?”

“Practically throw yourself at a man you barely know,” he corrected. “You’re a gorgeous woman. You’re obviously well educated. You have a great sense of humor. I can’t imagine that men don’t fall all over themselves asking you out.”

“You didn’t.”

“Because you never gave me a chance.”

“What is so wrong about a woman taking the initiative?”

“It’s not wrong exactly,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “It just makes you seem desperate. That’s not an attractive quality.”

“Are you saying women need to sit back and wait around until some man notices them? That’s a waste of time. I see a man who intrigues me, I let him know it.”

He regarded her with frustration. “And how’s that been working for you?”

“Up until you, not all that badly, as a matter of fact,” she said with a touch of defiance.

Walter smiled despite himself. “Look, I’m hardly an expert. My marriage certainly fell apart mostly because I was clueless about how a woman ought to be treated, but I do know one thing. Relationships are all about achieving an optimum balance of power.”

Rory Sue gave him a disbelieving look. “Meaning, I suppose, that the man is superior and everything has to be on his terms.”

“Of course not.” He had learned that lesson.

“Okay, let’s say I stop right here, turn around and kiss the daylights out of you,” Rory Sue suggested. “Who has the power then?”

Walter swallowed hard, his gaze suddenly locked on her lips. “You do,” he said.

“And you object to that on principle? Because a man should take the initiative when it comes to sex?”

“Not always,” he said, suddenly unable to think of anything except hauling her back to the inn and into his bed. He didn’t like how easily she could throw him off of the moral high ground. He sucked in a deep breath and forced himself to concentrate on counting backward from a hundred. When he felt more in control, he finally looked her way again and caught her smug expression. She knew exactly the kind of effect she was having on him and she was enjoying every minute of it.

“Tell me about the first house we’re going to see,” he said, his tone brusque.

“It has three bedrooms,” she said slowly and dramatically, amusement in her eyes. She lowered her voice to a sexy purr. “And the most amazing Jacuzzi tub you’ve ever seen in the master bathroom.”

She managed to imbue the description with enough innuendo that Walter flushed.

“Rory Sue, this has to stop,” he commanded. “If you expect me to look at houses with you, you can’t be talking about bedrooms and tubs.”

She laughed then. “You don’t want me to mention bedrooms or bathrooms?”

“No. I’ll find ’em on my own.”

“You scared I’m going to seduce you in one of them, Walter?”

He stared at her. He’d never met anyone quite like her before. He held her gaze.

“Truthfully?” he responded, losing the fight with his conscience. “I’m thinking we’re not going to make it to any of those bedrooms tonight. How fast can you get to the Serenity Inn?”

“Really?” Her face lit up. “Well, hallelujah!”

That was pretty much his reaction, as well. Tomorrow would be soon enough to figure out just how big a mistake he was making.





8




Raylene had been on medication for a couple of weeks now, but she was no closer to stepping across the threshold at the house than she had been before starting treatment. She’d been so sure she’d at least be able to go back out on the patio by now, but she still couldn’t make herself do it. She regarded Dr. McDaniels with frustration after yet another failed attempt just to step outside the front door.

“I’m not getting any better,” she said as she hovered inside the door, palms sweating and heart racing.

Dr. McDaniels gave her an unrelenting look. “Maybe you need to take a leap of faith here.”

“Meaning?”

“Look around, Raylene. There’s no danger in sight. I’m right here with you. Take a deep breath and take that first step. Don’t stand here thinking about all the times you’ve failed. Just do it.”

Raylene regarded her incredulously. “Don’t you think I want to?”

The doctor’s gaze remained steady. “I don’t know. Do you?”

Angered that the psychologist questioned her determination, Raylene stepped outside almost without realizing she was doing it, then turned to give Dr. McDaniels a defiant look. The older woman was grinning at her.

“There now. That wasn’t so impossible, after all, was it?” she said.