After The Music. Diana Palmer

tried to buy me for the night,” Sabina said curtly.

      Jess made a soft sound. “Oh, my. No wonder you hit him! Good for you! Will you tell Al?”

      She debated about that. “I’d rather not. Al doesn’t know about my background. Just tell Al I’m not sorry I did it, but I’m sorry I embarrassed him.”

      “Al doesn’t embarrass easily.” Jessica toyed with the steering wheel. “I was pretty shocked when he asked me to hostess for him.” She glanced up. “He’s never invited me to his apartment before.”

      “He’s started to notice you,” Sabina said cautiously.

      “Well, at least Thorn didn’t toss me out tonight,” Jess replied sadly. “He strikes me as a little snobbish where his family is concerned.”

      Sabina’s temper flared again. “What he needs is someone who can put him in his place. And if he isn’t careful, I may blacken his other eye for him!”

      Jess laughed. “I can see it now—a TKO in the fifth round…”

      “Good night,” Sabina said, closing the car door behind her. She waved at Jess and went upstairs. Of all the unexpected endings to what had begun as a lovely evening. Closing the door of her apartment, she decided to skip dinner. She’d lost her appetite anyway. Sleep would be a welcome relief. But instead of losing herself to dreams, her mind replayed an image of Thorn and the way he’d kissed her. He’d touched her deeply, in ways she’d never expected to be touched.

      How could she blame him for thinking she was easy, after the way she’d reacted to his unexpected ardor? He couldn’t have known about her childhood, about her mother. She turned her hot face into the pillow. Now she’d made an enemy of him, and what was Al going to think? If only she’d stayed out of the kitchen, none of it would have happened.

      She had a feeling she was going to be under siege shortly. The oil baron wasn’t going to stand for having her in Al’s life after this. She’d have bet money that he was already brooding about ways to get her away from Al, because she knew he had the impression that she and Al were more than friends. And part of her was even looking forward to the confrontation. She liked a sporting enemy.