Hooper, Kay - [Hagen 09] by It Takes A Thief (V1.0)[Htm]

might take you out this afternoon. Naturally, I said that he
had my blessing."
    Jennifer slid off her stool, staring at her mother with
increasing alarm. It didn't surprise her that Dane had won Francesca
over so quickly; her mother was predisposed to love charming men
with gallant manners, and Dane was undoubtedly that. "Mother,
you didn't . . . you didn't say – "
    Francesca lifted a scornful brow. "My baby, would
that be subtle? Of course, I did not say that I knew he was your man.
This is for him to tell me. And he will." She nodded
decisively. "But now, you must change."
    "I will not," Jennifer said stubbornly. "And
I'm not going anywhere with him." She drew a short breath. "He's
a gambler, Mother. A gambler."
    Francesca didn't look surprised, but only thoughtful.
She studied her daughter for a moment, then shrugged carelessly.
"Then you must tell him that, my baby."
    Jennifer tossed her pencil aside and squared her
shoulders. She turned away from her mother and left the room,
unsurprised when Francesca didn't accompany her. Holding on to
her fragile surface control, she went into the small living room,
determined to stop this insanity. But when she halted two steps into
the room and saw him, she couldn't seem to find the words.
    He was standing by the fireplace, gazing up at a
beautifully framed sketch done in pastels that hung above the mantel.
The drawing was of Rufus Chantry, and he was, curiously, dressed as
Dane was dressed now, in light-colored sports jacket and pants with a
white shirt open at the throat.
    "Yours?" Dane questioned softly without
looking at her.
    "Yes," she answered, admitting to being the
artist.
    He turned to face her, smiling a little but with
unreadable eyes. "A characteristic pose, holding a deck of
cards?"
    Jennifer glanced past him at the sketch, and felt her
throat tighten. "It was the only time he was still," she
said, admitting nothing now.
    Dane nodded. "I see. Your eyes are gray."
    She looked back at him, caught off guard.
    "The morning brought doubts, obviously," he
murmured.
    She wondered if her eyes really did change color, or if
that was only his idea. "The doubts were already there,"
she said in an even tone. "I just took a long hard look at them.
"
    "And condemned me without a trial?"
    Jennifer felt something Inside her turn over with a
thud. Oh, he was good, she reminded herself fiercely. He was so good
she could feel herself responding to him, even now. That beautiful
voice of his controlled just a hint of sadness or bitterness; his
smile was crooked, his eyes shadowed and unreadable. Her impulse
was to blurt, I'm sorry! because something told her she had
hurt him with her doubts, but she held the apology back.
    "I don't know why you're here," she said.
ignoring his question.
    He came to her slowly, but made no effort to touch her
when he stood before her. "Will you go for a drive with me?"
he asked softly.
    "I'm working." Tautly, she added, "Some
other time."
    "We need to talk, Jenny."
    "I've taken myself out of the game," she told
him.
    "It isn't a game," he said, suddenly rough.
"If it was, I wouldn't be here. I shouldn't be here,
Jenny, because if Kelly found out – Look, I just want to spend
some time with you. Will you come with me?"
    She could feel herself weakening, feel the surface
control melting away like a thin layer of ice heated from below.
Against all reason, she wanted to be with him. "I don't trust
you," she heard herself saying bitterly.
    "I know." He took her hand and led her toward
the front door, as if he knew she would go.
    Jennifer didn't protest. She allowed him to take her out
to his rented car, which was a gleaming white Ferrari, and put her
into the passenger seat. She watched him move around the car and
gracefully fit his big frame behind the wheel.
    "Why do big men always drive sports cars?" she
asked idly.
    Dane sent her a faint smile as he started the powerful
car and put it into gear. "Some macho thing, I suppose."
    "Don't you know?" She was