Summer Desserts by Nora Roberts Page A

exciting than lovemaking. The coffee sat cooling. Shadows spread through the room as the sun went down.
    “The last bite,” Summer murmured, offering it. “You approve?”
    He caught the ends of her hair between his thumb and finger. “Completely.”
    Her skin tingled, much too pleasantly. Although she didn’t shift away, Summer set the fork down with great care. She was feeling soft—too soft. And too vulnerable. “One of my clients has a secret passion for éclairs. Four times a year I go to Brittanyand make him two dozen. Last fall he gave me an emerald necklace.”
    Blake lifted a brow as he twined a strand of her hair around his finger. “Is that a hint?”
    “I’m fond of presents,” she said easily. “But then, that sort of thing isn’t quite ethical between business associates.”
    As she leaned forward for her coffee, Blake tightened his fingers in her hair and held her still. In the moment her eyes met his, he saw mild surprise and mild annoyance. She didn’t like to be held down by anyone. “Our business association is only one level. We’re both acutely aware of that by this time.”
    “Business is the first level, and the first priority.”
    “Maybe.” It was difficult to admit, even to himself, that he was beginning to have doubts about that. “In any case, I haven’t any intention of staying at level one.”
    If she were ever going to handle him, it would have to be now. Summer draped her arm negligently across the back of the sofa and wished her stomach would unknot. “I’m attracted to you. And I think it should be difficult, and interesting, to work around that for the next few months. You said you wanted to understand me. I rarely explain myself, but I’ll make an exception.” Leaning forward again, she plucked a cigarette from its holder. “Have you a light?”
    It was strange how easily she drew feelings from him without warning. Now it was annoyance. Blake took out his lighter and flicked it on. He watched her pull in smoke, then blow it out quickly in a gesture he realized came more from habit than pleasure. “Go on.”
    “You said you knew my mother,” Summer began. “You’dknow of her in any case. She’s a beautiful, talented, intelligent woman. I love her very much, both as a mother, and as a person who’s full of the joy of life. If she has one weakness, it is men.”
    Summer folded her legs under her and concentrated on relaxing. “She’s had three husbands, and innumerable lovers. She’s always certain each relationship is forever. When she’s involved with a man, she’s blissfully happy. His interests are her interests, his dislikes her dislikes. Naturally, when it ends, she’s crushed.”
    Again, Summer drew on her cigarette. She’d expected him to make some passing comment. When instead, he only listened, only watched, she went further than she’d intended. “My father is a more practical man, and yet he’s been through two wives and quite a few discreet affairs. Unlike my mother, who accepts flaws—even enjoys them for a short time—he looks for perfection. Since there is no perfection in people, only in what people create, he’s continually disappointed. My mother looks for elation and romance, my father looks for the perfect companion. I don’t look for either of those.”
    “Why don’t you tell me what you look for then?”
    “Success,” she said simply. “Romance has a beginning, so it follows it has an end. A companion demands compromise and patience. I give all my patience to my work, and I have no talent for compromise.”
    It should have satisfied him, even relieved him. After all, he wanted nothing more than a casual affair, no strings, no commitments. He didn’t understand why he wanted to shake the words back down her throat, only knew that he did. “Noromance,” he said with a nod. “No companionship. That doesn’t rule out the fact that you want me, and I want you.”
    “No.” The smoke was leaving a bitter taste in her