Heaven, Texas (Chicago Stars #2)(13)

He looked annoyed. “What do I need a navigator for? I’ve made this trip so many times I could do it blindfolded. No, sweetheart, you’ll have to come up with something better than that.”

At that moment, she heard a peculiar buzzing sound. It took her a moment to realize that the Thunderbird was equipped with a car phone. “You seem to get a lot of calls. I could answer them for you.”

“The last thing I want is somebody answering my phone.”

Her mind raced. “I could, uh, rub your shoulders while you’re driving, to work out the kinks. I’m very good at massage.”

“That’s a nice offer, but you have to admit, it’s hardly worth taking an unwelcome passenger all the way to Texas. To Peoria, maybe, if you do a good job, but not any farther. Sorry, Miz Gracie, but so far you haven’t offered a single thing that’s caught my interest.”

She tried to think. What did she have that a worldly man like Bobby Tom Denton would find at all interesting? She knew how to organize recreational activities, she understood special diets, drug interactions, and had listened to enough of the residents’ stories to have a fairly comprehensive knowledge of World War II troop movements, but somehow she couldn’t imagine any of that persuading Bobby Tom to change his mind.

“I have excellent vision. I can read road signs from incredible distances.”

“You’re grabbing at straws, sweetheart.”

She smiled enthusiastically. “Are you aware of the fascinating history of the Seventh Army?”

He gave her a faintly pitying look.

How could she make him change his mind? From what she had seen last night, he was only interested in two things, football and sex. Her knowledge of sports was minimal, and as for sex…

A pulse leaped in her throat as a dangerous and very immoral idea popped into her brain. What if she offered her body for barter? She was immediately appalled. How could she even think of such a thing? No intelligent, modern day woman who considered herself a feminist would consider…The very idea…Of all the…This was definitely the consequence of allowing herself too many sexual fantasies.

Why not? a devil inside her whispered. Who are you saving it for?

He’s a libertine! she reminded the lusty part of her nature that she tried so hard to suppress. Besides, he wouldn’t be interested in me.

How will you know if you don’t try? the devil replied. You’ve dreamed about something like this for years. Didn’t you promise yourself that having a sexual experience would be one of the top priorities in your new life?

An image flashed through her mind of Bobby Tom Denton lowering his naked body over hers. Her blood raced through her veins and her skin prickled. She could feel his strong hands on her thighs, pushing them open, the touch of his—“Is something wrong, Miz Gracie? You’re looking a little red in the face. Like somebody just told you a dirty joke.”

“Is sex the only thing you think about!” she cried.

“What?’’

“I refuse to sleep with you just so you’ll let me come along with you!” Appalled, she snapped her mouth shut. What had she done?

His eyes twinkled. “Shucks.”

She wanted to die. How could she have embarrassed herself like this? She swallowed hard. “Forgive me if I’ve leaped to an incorrect conclusion. I know I’m a homely woman, and I’m certain you wouldn’t be sexually interested in me anyway.” Her face grew redder as she realized she was making things worse instead of better. “Not that I would be interested, either,” she added hastily.

“Now, Gracie, there’s no such thing as a homely woman.”

“You’re being polite, and I appreciate it, but that doesn’t alter facts.”

“See, now you’ve piqued my curiosity. You may be right about being homely and everything, but it’s kind of hard to tell with the way you cover yourself up. For all I know, the body of a goddess might be hiding underneath that dress.”

“Oh, no,” she said with brutal honesty. “I assure you, my body is quite ordinary.”

Once again the corner of his mouth kicked up. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I trust my judgment a little more than I trust yours. I’m sort of a connoisseur.”

“I noticed.”

“I believe I already commented on your legs last night.” She flushed and struggled for an appropriate response, but she had so little experience conversing on a personal level with virile males that she found it difficult to know exactly what to say. “You have very nice legs yourself.”

“Why, thank you.”

“And a pleasant torso, also.”

He gave a crack of laughter. “Damn, Miz Gracie, I’m going to keep you around today just for the entertainment value.”

“You are?”

He shrugged. “Why not? I’ve been acting crazy ever since my retirement.”

She could hardly believe he’d changed his mind. She heard him chuckle as he retrieved her suitcase and asked Bruno to return her rental car. His amusement had faded, however, by the time he’d once again settled behind the steering wheel, and he gave her a stern gaze.

“I’m not taking you all the way to Texas, so get that out of your mind right now. I like to travel alone.”

“I understand.”