in her clear blue eyes.
Kyle Sterling was certainly an interesting man, she thought to herselfâ¦a very interesting man.
CHAPTER THREE
T HE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING passed quickly. The uncomfortable tension had eroded and though Maren wondered how she was going to handle Kyleâs proposition, she felt herself relax in Kyleâs company. Though the conversation centered around business, the intimate restaurant provided a warm, quiet atmosphere that created a sense of familiarity. All too soon the waiter had served the final cups of cappuccino and the conversation lagged.
Moonglow shimmered on the dark sea and the soft waves broke into white foam as the tide caressed the opalescent sand. Maren wondered at the feeling within her; she felt almost as if she had known the enigmatic man with her for most of her life. And she had, really. During Marenâs early twenties, Kyle Sterling was a household word, his life an open book, edited carefully by his press agent. What Maren had known of him then was only what she and the rest of the record-purchasing American public were supposed to see.
There had been glimpses of the private Kyle Sterling that even his smooth-talking agent hadnât been able to hide. Rumors of a stormy marriage to a beautiful country singer, a child born, the marriage crumbling, and more recently, a near-fatal accident had continually headlined the scandal sheets. Conjecture ran high as far as Kyle Sterling was concerned. Maren had discounted the stories, knowing from personal experience how easily the press could misrepresent the facts.
As she stared across the small table into the bold eyes of the famous man, she felt as if she could trust him with her life. It was strange. She could sense that he didnât completely trust her, but she chalked it up to the fact that it had been only hours since they had really met on a personal level.
âWhere can I take you?â Kyle asked as he rose from the table and tugged at the lapels of his jacket. His eyes never left hers and for a heart-stopping moment, Maren imagined a seductive glint of passion in their mysterious depths. What would he say if she responded that he could take her anywhere he pleased? A tinge of scarlet touched her cheeks at the wayward thoughtâwhat was happening to her? In one evening she was willing to push aside all of her morals just to feel the touch of this one man. It was a disturbing thought, completely out of character, and she wondered if she was turning into one of those brash, lost souls called groupies.
With obvious embarrassment she regained her fragile poise and managed to smile. âMy car is at the office.â
He helped her with her jacket and the warm tips of his fingers brushed the back of her neck. For a dizzying second they seemed to linger and leave a heated impression on her skin.
They walked to his car in silence, listening to the sounds of the night: the quiet lapping of sea against sand, the muted chatter of guests in the restaurant and the hum of cars moving about the city. Maren noticed the lovers walking on the moonlit beach and she felt an urge to reach for Kyleâs hand and lead him to the waterâs edge. It had been so long since she had felt this way about a man. It was a dangerous, yet exhilarating sensation.
While driving toward the office, Kyle had become pensive, lost in thoughts that seemed miles distant. Maren was aware of nothing other than Kyle. She could smell the scent of his cologne lingering in the air, see his hard profile as he squinted into the night and feel the unleashed tension building within him. She knew now how he had been so successful as a country singer: There was a raw magnetism about him that contrasted to the quietly aloof image he attempted to project, a fire burning beneath the ice that enticed Maren. Kyle Sterling was captivating, and just being with him was risky.
Soon they were back at the office. He made no move to help her out of the car.
Kyle Sterling was certainly an interesting man, she thought to herselfâ¦a very interesting man.
CHAPTER THREE
T HE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING passed quickly. The uncomfortable tension had eroded and though Maren wondered how she was going to handle Kyleâs proposition, she felt herself relax in Kyleâs company. Though the conversation centered around business, the intimate restaurant provided a warm, quiet atmosphere that created a sense of familiarity. All too soon the waiter had served the final cups of cappuccino and the conversation lagged.
Moonglow shimmered on the dark sea and the soft waves broke into white foam as the tide caressed the opalescent sand. Maren wondered at the feeling within her; she felt almost as if she had known the enigmatic man with her for most of her life. And she had, really. During Marenâs early twenties, Kyle Sterling was a household word, his life an open book, edited carefully by his press agent. What Maren had known of him then was only what she and the rest of the record-purchasing American public were supposed to see.
There had been glimpses of the private Kyle Sterling that even his smooth-talking agent hadnât been able to hide. Rumors of a stormy marriage to a beautiful country singer, a child born, the marriage crumbling, and more recently, a near-fatal accident had continually headlined the scandal sheets. Conjecture ran high as far as Kyle Sterling was concerned. Maren had discounted the stories, knowing from personal experience how easily the press could misrepresent the facts.
As she stared across the small table into the bold eyes of the famous man, she felt as if she could trust him with her life. It was strange. She could sense that he didnât completely trust her, but she chalked it up to the fact that it had been only hours since they had really met on a personal level.
âWhere can I take you?â Kyle asked as he rose from the table and tugged at the lapels of his jacket. His eyes never left hers and for a heart-stopping moment, Maren imagined a seductive glint of passion in their mysterious depths. What would he say if she responded that he could take her anywhere he pleased? A tinge of scarlet touched her cheeks at the wayward thoughtâwhat was happening to her? In one evening she was willing to push aside all of her morals just to feel the touch of this one man. It was a disturbing thought, completely out of character, and she wondered if she was turning into one of those brash, lost souls called groupies.
With obvious embarrassment she regained her fragile poise and managed to smile. âMy car is at the office.â
He helped her with her jacket and the warm tips of his fingers brushed the back of her neck. For a dizzying second they seemed to linger and leave a heated impression on her skin.
They walked to his car in silence, listening to the sounds of the night: the quiet lapping of sea against sand, the muted chatter of guests in the restaurant and the hum of cars moving about the city. Maren noticed the lovers walking on the moonlit beach and she felt an urge to reach for Kyleâs hand and lead him to the waterâs edge. It had been so long since she had felt this way about a man. It was a dangerous, yet exhilarating sensation.
While driving toward the office, Kyle had become pensive, lost in thoughts that seemed miles distant. Maren was aware of nothing other than Kyle. She could smell the scent of his cologne lingering in the air, see his hard profile as he squinted into the night and feel the unleashed tension building within him. She knew now how he had been so successful as a country singer: There was a raw magnetism about him that contrasted to the quietly aloof image he attempted to project, a fire burning beneath the ice that enticed Maren. Kyle Sterling was captivating, and just being with him was risky.
Soon they were back at the office. He made no move to help her out of the car.
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