“I saw it,” Dellina dug her fork into the turkey salad. “I thought you weren’t getting serious about anyone for years? You have a plan.”

“We’re not serious, and I do have a plan. We’re just having fun. He’s not staying in town permanently, so nothing is going to happen.”

Although when he kissed her, she felt a lot of potential.

“It’s a fling,” she added. “Temporary and fun.”

“Sounds dangerous to me,” Ana Raquel said. “What starts out as something simple can get complicated really quickly.”

“She would know,” Dellina teased. “She’s been in a long-term relationship since the second grade.”

Ana Raquel groaned. “I’m serious. I really, really don’t like Greg Clary.”

“Uh-huh,” Fayrene told her. “Keep telling yourself that and maybe one day it will be true.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“I’M IMPRESSED,” ETHAN said, studying the data they’d downloaded from the computer system linked to the wind turbines. “The data is consistent. There’s an average of a twenty percent increase in generating power without any increase in wind. You’re getting more electricity from the same wind.”

Ryan nodded. “That was the goal.”

His boss looked at him. “Okay, I’ll admit it. I didn’t think it could be done.”

Ryan grinned. “You didn’t think I was that good.”

“I’d hoped, but you’re right. I lacked faith. Not anymore. If your designs are half as efficient as the tests show, this is a game changer.” Ethan checked the computer, then turned back to him. “I’d like you to stay on permanently. Is that an option?”

Ryan didn’t try to conceal his surprise. “I didn’t think you wanted to take on research. It’s not cheap.”

“I don’t have unlimited resources, but the company’s doing well and I have some wealthy investors.”

Ryan wondered if Josh was one of them.

“You’d have access to our customers’ facilities for testing. I’ve talked to most of them already, and they’re interested. Plus, we’d share a percentage on any licensing of patents.”

That got Ryan’s attention. Generally when an employee developed technology while working for a company, the company owned the patent and any income derived from it. After all, developing the technology was the job description. If a product did well, there could be a bonus of some kind, but that was it. To be offered a percentage was significant. Over time, that could be real money. Assuming Ryan was able to come up with something they could market.

“I’m intrigued,” Ryan admitted. “Give me a couple of days to think about it?”

“Sure. Get back to me Monday. If you’re interested, we’ll talk numbers. In the meantime, why don’t you go look at houses in town? Check out the town and see if this is somewhere you’d enjoy living.”

“I will.”

There was also someone he wanted to talk to. Someone who made the idea of sticking around even sweeter. Only Fayrene had a plan, and he wasn’t sure how she would react when he told her he might not be a short-term fling after all.

* * *

FAYRENE LOOKED AT her dining room table and nodded with satisfaction. Dellina had sent her specific instructions on how to set up the table to look both romantic and casual. Apparently it was all about the layers. A tablecloth with a runner and placemats, done in pretty colors. She’d added a few flameless candles and some fresh flowers.

In the kitchen, the salads were done and she’d prepared chicken with mushrooms and white wine. For the meal, she’d called Ana Raquel. Her twin had sent her several recipes that were delicious but didn’t challenge Fayrene’s undeveloped cooking ability. Or as her sister had put it: “Even you can’t mess these up.”

Fayrene hoped her sister was right. She wanted Ryan to relax and maybe have a bit too much wine. Because she’d made a decision—tonight she was going to seduce him.

It had been several weeks of fun dates and interesting conversation. Plenty of hand-holding and light kisses. If he was trying to seduce her with his warm eyes and gentle touch, he’d done a heck of a job. She was primed. Beyond primed. She was antsy and hungry, and she wasn’t talking about dinner.

But the meal was an important part of her plan. She was going to lull him, feed him and then rip off his clothes. She’d thought ahead enough to have a box of condoms waiting in her nightstand drawer.

She’d chosen her outfit carefully. She wanted to look pretty and sexy without being obvious. There was also the issue of being easily undressable. To that end she’d picked a sleeveless blouse and a skirt. They were feminine, and there weren’t any hidden closures. She’d painted her toes, used scented body lotion and put on a matching thong and bra set. While she didn’t actually like wearing a thong, desperate times and all that.

Now she glanced at the clock. Three minutes to six. Ryan was always on time—yet another characteristic she liked about him. He would be here and they would kiss.

Just the thought of his firm, teasing mouth on hers had her thighs heating, but she knew she couldn’t dwell on the image of his large hands roaming her body. There was a meal to get through. She wouldn’t think about him cupping her br**sts or the feel of his mouth on her tight, aching—

The doorbell rang.

She jumped and hurried toward it. Ryan stood on the tiny porch of her small apartment. She smiled and let him in.

“Hi,” she said as she raised herself up on tiptoe to kiss him.

“Hi, yourself.”

He handed her a bag of Jelly Bellys.

“Fruit only,” he teased.

She laughed, but before she could say anything, he kissed her. Just one soft brush that had her nerve endings swooning. Did they really have to have dinner? Maybe if she shrugged out of her shirt he would get the message and simply take her right there on the entryway floor. Or they could move to the sofa. She’d never done it on the sofa, but she’d seen scenes in movies and it looked doable for ordinary people. She was less sure about the whole standing, him supporting her position, although at this point, she wasn’t about to be picky.

“Something smells good,” he said.

For a second she thought he meant her, but then she remembered the simmering entrée. “I hope it lives up to the hype. Come on. I have some wine.”

“Wine would be good.”

She went into the kitchen to pull the bottle out of the refrigerator. He followed, which made her eye the counters. They could do it in here, she thought. They were the right height and—

“Fayrene, I need to talk to you.”

Something in his tone had her turning around to look at him. His dark eyes were serious, his expression almost stern. Desire fled, leaving behind worry. Something had happened, she thought, putting down the bottle of wine. Something important.

Possibilities crowded her brain. He was leaving sooner than he’d planned. He didn’t want to see her anymore. He’d found someone else.

In that moment, with her stomach writhing and her chest tight, she understood that Ryan leaving was going to be more difficult for her than she’d planned. That while he was supposed to be a fling, he’d somehow become a little bit more. Okay, a lot more. While she’d been busy having fun with him, she’d also been falling in love.

“What is it?” she asked, her lips suddenly dry.

He moved toward her and took her hands in his. “Ethan offered me a job. Full-time. He wants me to stay in Fool’s Gold.”

She pulled free of his hold and stared at him. “A job here? You’re not leaving?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I wanted to talk to you about it.”

Relief battled with fury. Because she knew what would happen. She was going to have to give up her dream. She was going to get married before she was ready and somehow her business wouldn’t get off the ground and she would never have her four employees and it was all Ryan’s fault.

One corner of his mouth turned up. “Whatever you’re thinking, you have to stop. I can hear the wheels turning from here.”

“No,” she said, stomping her foot. “It’s not fair. I have a plan, and while that might seem silly to you, it’s really important to me. I want to get my business going. I want to be successful.”

She paused for air. “I’m not stupid. I get all the psychological reasons. I lost my parents when I was young. It was horrible and unexpected and ever since then I’ve tried to control everything so I never feel so out of control again. So what? It’s my emotional scar, and I accept it. I want to start my business.”

She consciously lowered her voice to something slightly less shrill. “It’s not that I don’t like you. I do. A lot. But that’s not the point. You have to do what you have to do. It’s your decision. But I don’t want you to go and I’m scared of what will happen if you stay. I’ll get distracted by you and my feelings. We’ll get really serious and then we’ll get married and there will be kids and what about my career? What about what I want? Because when people get married, the woman is usually the one who compromises. I don’t want to lose my dream because of some guy. Even if that guy is you.”

She pressed her lips together and replayed her outburst. Heat burned her cheeks as she realized that, yes, she had discussed them getting married and having children, all while saying that wasn’t going to work for her, when all he’d done was tell her Ethan had offered him a job.

“I have to go throw up,” she said, spinning toward the bathroom.

He reached for her and pulled her close. “You’re a handful—you know that.”

At least he wasn’t running, she told herself. So maybe she hadn’t scared him too much. His arms felt good around her. Warm and strong and safe.

He eased her toward the living room, then settled her on the sofa. He sat next to her, her hand in his, his gaze locked on her face.

“Let’s take your concerns one at a time,” he said.

“Oh, let’s not.” She touched her cheek with her free fingers. “I shouldn’t have said all that.”

He shook his head. “One of the things I admire most about you is how determined you are and how honest. You say what you think. I want you to be honest.”

He gave her a gentle smile. “I know your goals are important to you. I understand you need to be successful and I’m impressed you’re self-aware enough to know why. We’re both young, so there’s no reason to move fast in this relationship.”

“Are you talking emotionally or about sex?” she blurted out before she could stop herself. “Because I’m open to...”

Another blush flared.

His eyebrows rose. “Sex, huh?”

She thought about the back part of the thong digging into her butt. “You have no idea,” she muttered.

“Good. We’ll get to that in a second. But let’s finish up with my job offer. Do you love me?”

She bit her lip and gathered all her courage, then nodded slowly. Admitting it while calm was much scarier than announcing it in the heat of a rant.

“I love you, too. I think you’re the most intriguing woman I’ve ever met. But you need to focus on your business, and I need to get settled with Ethan. Why don’t we do this—we’ll date exclusively for the next three years. Then I’ll propose. We’ll be engaged for a year and get married when you’re twenty-eight.”

Emotions flooded her. Warm, happy feelings that had her blinking to hold back tears. “You’d do that for me?”

“I’d do anything for you, Fayrene. I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”

She flung herself at him. He caught her and held her close. His mouth claimed hers with a kiss that promised her his heart. He slipped his hand to her knee and moved his fingers up the back of her thigh.

“Now about this sex thing,” he said, his voice teasing.

Then he reached the top of her thigh and the absence of panties. His whole body stiffened. She opened her eyes and found him staring at her. He swore under his breath.

“What are you wearing under that?”

She smiled. “I’m not sure I should tell you.”

“You could show me instead.”

“I suppose I could. But what about dinner?”

He stood and pulled her to her feet. “Dinner can wait,” he muttered as he guided her into the tiny hall and toward the only bedroom.

Later, when they’d made love and eaten the only slightly ruined dinner and had the wine, he took her in his arms again. “I don’t know how I got so lucky,” he told her. “Finding you like this.”

She smiled, bubbling with happiness. “It was all part of a plan.”