Love Takes Time by Adrianne Byrd Page B

toast.”
    â€œHold on.” Quentin stood and brought Alyssa her wine.
    She remained locked in her father’s arms while she accepted the offered glass. Their eyes met with a smoldering heat. A second later, her father’s arms tightened against her waist.
    â€œTo the Jansens,” Roger saluted. “May your good fortune continue to reign.”
    â€œHere! Here!” everyone chorused.
    â€œAnd while your stars continue to rise, I hope you don’t forget about your friends,” Quentin added and the group chuckled.
    Though his words were simple enough, therewas a wild fluttering in her center that caught his double meaning.
    â€œAmen,” Beatrice shouted.
    She had him, she realized, right in the palm of her hand.

Chapter 8
    â€œI sn’t Sterling absolutely dreamy?” Tangie said the moment she and Alyssa returned to her small bedroom.
    The question elicited a reflexive laugh from Alyssa. Sterling? Dreamy?
    â€œHe is,” Tangela insisted. “He’s handsome, studious, nice…and rich as hell.”
    â€œI guess. It’s just…”
    â€œIt’s just what?”
    â€œI don’t know.” She shrugged. “He always just seems so stiff and so serious about everything,” she said, even though she knew that wasn’t quite true.
    â€œWhatever. You’re incapable of noticing anyone else whenever Quentin is around.”
    Alyssa smiled at the obvious truth. Tonight shehad practically clocked Q’s every move in the restaurant, even when she was pretending not to. By the end of the night, Quentin had flirted with practically every woman in attendance, whether they were married or not. It was part of his charm. No one took him seriously.
    So why did she? What made her think that he was really interested in her?
    â€œHello. Earth to Alyssa.”
    Tangie waved her hand in front of Alyssa’s face. She jumped. “What?”
    Her best friend laughed and shook her head. “Girl, you really got it bad. We’ve traveled all around the world and you have given every gorgeous, rich and not-so-rich bachelor one excuse after another. The minute we arrive back here, you’ve been behaving like a lovesick teenager. Snap out of it!”
    Alyssa wished she could, but nothing on earth was going to get her to forget about that kiss—that wonderful, warm, earth-shattering kiss. She sighed and plopped down on the bed. “I just don’t know if I can,” she finally admitted. “I mean…what if this was really meant to be?” she asked, pulling off her shoes. “I used to sit up in this room day after day plotting and planning how to become Mrs. Quentin Dwayne Hinton. When I left for college, I thought I’d grown out of it. But now…” She glanced around. “Something about being here…and seeing him just brings all those emotions back.”
    â€œAll right.” Tangela sighed and then sat next to her. “So what are you going to do about it?”
    â€œThat is the big question.” Alyssa stood and walked over to her bedroom window. The Hinton estate had always reminded her of some grand fairy-tale palace. Her prince was always so close and yet so far away.
    â€œWell, if you want my opinion,” Tangie said. “I say go for it. Hell, what do you have to lose? You both are adults now. Right? This is the twenty-first century. There’s no rule saying that the servant’s daughter can’t marry up.”
    â€œMarry!” Alyssa’s smile returned.
    â€œI can’t believe it. You’re actually afraid of going for it.” Tangie laughed. “I’ve never known you to be afraid of anything.”
    Was she afraid?
    â€œPlus, judging by the way Quentin couldn’t keep his eyes off you, I’d say you have more than a fair chance of finally snagging him with a sharp hook.”
    Alyssa’s hopes soared, but she tried not to let it show.