Free More Than a Mistress by Leanne Banks Page A

further by asking him something else about the flood, then she carried the conversation while he ate. “I didn’t realize this was such a busy time of the year for you. You’ve had a heavy workload lately, haven’t you?”
    Daniel shrugged. “It hasn’t been that bad.”
    Sara’s eyes widened. “Oh, really? That’s not what Troy said.”
    â€œTroy has a bad habit of exaggerating. He—” Catching the skeptical expression on Sara’s face, Daniel stopped. Realization trickled in. She’d caught him. He cleared his throat.
    â€œ Unavailable is the word he used. Repeatedly.” Sara smiled sweetly. “I should know. I’ve heard him use that word ten times during the last week. When you didn’t return my calls, I wondered if you’d left the county.”
    Daniel grimaced. Not answering Sara’s calls had been his greatest exercise in self-control. He’d wanted to badly. Just to hear her voice, even if she fussed at him about the dog, even if she said no. He set down his biscuit. “I knew that if you told me you didn’t want the pup, I’d have to take him back and you wouldn’t give him a chance to see how it would work out.”
    â€œInstead I suffered through seven nights of listening to him howl at the top of his lungs.”
    Daniel winced. “Could you put him outside?”
    Sara looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “So the neighbors could complain? It’s been cold, Daniel. I don’t know anything about puppies, but it can’t be good for them to be outside in the cold.”
    â€œYou want me to take him back?” he asked in resignation.
    â€œNo. Pavi and—”
    â€œPavi?”
    â€œHis name.” Her lips twitched. “I named him after Pavarotti, the opera star. We’ve come to a meeting of the minds.” She thought of the puddles on her kitchen floor. “Sort of. I’m going to keep him.”
    Daniel was enormously pleased. “You like him.”
    Sara smiled. “How could I not?”
    â€œI was right.”
    Sara nodded, and her expression became thoughtful. “About a lot of things.”
    Daniel felt the punch of her gaze clear to his gut.
    â€œIf you’re not too busy…” she began and looked down. The way she twisted her hands was clear evidence of her edginess.
    â€œI’m not.” Daniel covered her hands with one of his own. The twisting stopped, and her gaze met his. Her eyes were full of emotion that changed like the weather, but the need he read was blatant. In his gut he felt the familiar, relentless rise of heat that no cold shower could ease. A wise man would sense the danger and would approach with caution. But he’d gone way past wisdom. There were layers of secrets enveloping Sara, and he wanted to peel them all off.
    She turned her hand over and twined her fingers through his. “I was wondering if you’d like to take me up on that rain check for dinner.” Her voice was soft and warm, as he imagined her body would be. “That is, if you’re available.”
    â€œI’m available, honey,” he growled without the slightest hesitation. He tightened his hand around hers. “Just name the time.”
    Sara tried to think. The sensible part of her knew she was headed straight for the frying pan by getting involved with Daniel Pendleton. The sensual part just didn’t give a damn anymore. “The day after tomorrow is Christmas Eve,” she managed. “The next day is Christmas.” She lifted her shoulders. “I don’t know.”
    Daniel had spent the last six months deciding what to do about Sara Kingston. He wasn’t interested in waiting any longer. “Tomorrow night. I’ll take you out.”
    Sara shook her head. “No,” she said firmly. “You wanted a rain check for a meal. I’m fixing a meal for you.”
    Nearly groaning, he tossed