Kings of California. Maureen Child

sconce had been chosen to define the darkness rather than defeat it.

      The musical clink of crystal and the whisper of muted conversations were flavored with soft jazz piping from the three piece band. Completing the atmosphere, each round table boasted a single votive candle and the effect of dozens of flickering flames was nearly magical.

      All in all, it had been a perfect evening. Adam was considerate, charming and never even hinted at the deal her father had broached to him. And while Gina was enjoying herself, she’d been dealing with a twist of nerves in her stomach since the hostess had first seated them. Now that dinner was over and they were sipping a last cup of coffee before leaving, time was up.

      She either faced Adam with her own deal—or came to her senses and forgot the whole thing. Gina stared out the glass wall beside their table and watched as waves rolled ceaselessly into shore, slamming into the rocks, sending white spray into the air.

      “What’re you thinking?”

      “What?” She turned her head to find Adam watching her with a bemused smile on his face. “I’m sorry. Mind wandering.”

      “To where, exactly?”

      Here it was, she told herself, fingers curling around the fragile handle of her coffee cup. Speak now or forever hold your peace. Funny that was the phrase that sprang to mind.

      “Adam,” she said before she could talk herself out of it, “I know what my father said to you.”

      His features tightened. “Excuse me?”

      Now it was her turn to give him a small smile. Shaking her head, she said, “Forget it. Papa confessed all.”

      He shifted on his chair, scowled a little and picked up his coffee cup. “Did he also mention that I turned him down?”

      “Yeah, he did.” Gina swiveled in her seat, turning her back on the wide vista of ocean and cliffs to face him. “And by the way, thanks.”

      “No problem.” Sitting back in his chair, Adam watched her. Waiting.

      “But,” she said, “I had to wonder about you asking me out to dinner. I mean, if you weren’t interested in buying a bride, why the invitation?”

      His mouth flattened into a thin line. “One has nothing to do with the other.”

      “I don’t know,” Gina said softly, running the tip of her index finger around the outside rim of the cup. “See, I’ve had some time to think about all of this…”

      “Gina.”

      “I think that when Papa first—” she paused as if looking for the right word before continuing “—proposed, if you’ll pardon the pun, his little deal, your first reaction was no. Of course not.”

      “Exactly,” Adam agreed.

      “And then…” She smiled when he frowned. “You started thinking. You came outside. You saw Mom and I and you told yourself that maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all.”

      Adam straightened in his chair, then leaned over the table, peering directly into her eyes with a hard stare. “I did not bring you here so that I could propose to you.”

      Gina actually laughed at that. “Oh, you wouldn’t have done that. Not right away, anyway. You brought me here on a date.” She stopped and grinned, looking around the restaurant in approval. “And it’s been lovely, by the way. Anyway, after tonight, there would have been other dates. And after a couple of months, you would have proposed.”

      He stared at her for a long, silent minute and Gina knew that she was right. For whatever reason, Adam had reconsidered her father’s offer. Which was good. In a way. Of course, she didn’t like the idea that he’d been seriously willing to marry her for his own gain. Actually it made her heart hurt to think about that too long. After all, she’d been in love with Adam King since she was fourteen years old. But at least it made her own plan seem more reasonable.

      “Okay, that’s enough.” He lifted one hand in a silent signal to their server, requesting their check. “I’m sorry you feel this way, but since you do, there’s no point in continuing this. I’ll take you home.”

      “Not ready to leave yet,” she said, leaning back into her own chair to watch him. “I know you, Adam. And right now, you’re a little embarrassed and a lot on the defensive.”

      “Gina, what I am is sorry that you misunderstood.”

      “But I didn’t,” she said. “In fact, I completely understand.”

      “Understand what?” His tone was clipped, impatient.

      “Look, I know how much getting the King holdings back together means to you,” Gina said and felt a tug of satisfaction when his eyes flashed at the thought. “I know that you would do just about anything to ensure that happens.”

      “Believe what you will,” Adam said, then paused as the waiter delivered their bill in a sleek, black leather folder. Once the waiter was gone, he continued, “But there are limits to what I’m willing to do. Lines I won’t cross.”

      “Well, if that’s true, it’s a shame.”

      He blinked at her. “I beg your pardon?”

      “Adam, I know you want the land. I know you don’t want to be married. And I know you don’t like being manipulated any more than I do.”

      He nodded. “Go on.”

      “See, I’ve had a little time to think about this and I’m pretty sure I’ve come up with a solution that’ll work for both of us.”

      Still scowling, he folded his arms across his chest. “Now, this I’ve got to hear.”

      She smiled and realized that the flutter of nerves that had been irritating her all night were suddenly gone. Because she’d finally brought everything into the light? Because she knew that what she was doing was the right thing? Or was it the wine they’d had with dinner?

      Didn’t matter now, she thought. She was in way too deep to quit at this point.

      “Well,” she said, letting the words tumble from her mouth in a rush, “the thing is, I’m willing to discuss my father’s offer to you.”

      Adam was stunned. He couldn’t believe she was saying any of this. First off, that she knew about Sal’s offer was bad enough. The fact that she’d guessed Adam had reconsidered the deal was disquieting. Did she really know him as well as she seemed to? And why in the hell would a woman like Gina be willing to consider such an insulting bargain?

      In the candlelight, Gina’s eyes seemed to shine with the deep, rich glow of antique gold. Her skin was soft and smooth and lightly tanned. He’d hardly been able to look away from her all night. His gaze caught in the tumble of thick, dark curls that hung down her back in waves so silky they invited a man’s hands to delve into them. Her black dress hugged every curve—and she had good ones—and her long, tanned legs looked amazing in high-heeled sandals that should have been impossible to walk in.

      All night, she’d tormented him, simply by being Gina. How had he not noticed years ago just how beguiling she was? Had he really been blind enough to dismiss his little neighbor because he’d once known her as a pigtailed child? Well, she was all grown-up now and surprisingly enough, was damn calm and accepting about the bargain her father had offered.

      And somehow, that worried him more than anything else.

      “Why would you want to do that?” he asked and watched as something not quite identifiable flashed in her eyes.

      “I have my reasons,” she said, then smiled at him again.

      Adam hissed in a breath. She really was beautiful—but it was more than that. It was something indefinable. Something that tugged at him. Prodded him. Why else would he have considered Sal’s proposition for more than an instant?

      “What