Plain Jane's Plan

And here she’d thought his interest in her was professional!

Jeff slung his arm around Allison’s shoulders. “Some other time, perhaps,” he answered for her. “Allison and I have plans for next week. Would you like me to get you a fresh iced tea, sweetheart?” he asked with almost sickly devotion.

Once she got over her shock that Jeff had been listening to her conversation with Dr. Handel, she wondered why he was bothering. Sherry, quite the opportunist, was busy flirting with the obstetrician. “No, I think I’ll drink water today,” she answered just as sweetly.

“Did you enjoy your morning?” he asked, playing with a bit of her hair, tickling her ear with it.

Allison’s nerves vibrated from her toes to her scalp. She had to keep reminding herself that all this affection was counterfeit.

Before she could answer, he spoke again, addressing the surgeon. “I don’t mean to divert Allison’s attention from you. It’s just that we’re…well, we’re newly engaged.”

Dr. Handel, apparently a good sport, smiled widely. “Well, then, let me offer my congratulations. May I kiss the bride?”

Oh, great! Thanks a lot, Jeff.

“I’m afraid that’s a privilege I reserve for myself,” Jeff said smoothly just before he swooped in and kissed her full on the lips. It wasn’t a gentle, teasing kiss, either. It was a full-blown, grinding, lip-locked kiss—a French kiss, she and her friends used to call it in high school. And it affected her like no other kiss ever had. All those previously awakened nerve endings crashed together in a crescendo of desire that heated her core to the boiling point in record time.

Uncomfortable with the public display, Allison gently pushed him away. “What are you doing?” she asked. Her tone was teasing, but the way she stared at him was intended to let him know she was slightly alarmed by his behavior.

“Just making it clear you belong to me,” he said easily, though his breathing was uneven. Was it possible the kiss affected him, too?

The others at the table had stopped their conversation to stare with amusement, though Sherry looked more intrigued than amused. Had she guessed there was something not quite right about the relationship between her quarry and his ersatz fiancée? Was she still looking for some chink in the armor of love and devotion?

Allison didn’t think she could continue sitting at this table as if nothing had happened, but neither did she want to cause a scene or leave room for too much speculation. She looked at Jeff. “I don’t really want to hear the lunch speaker.”

“Me, neither.”

In unison they put their napkins on the table and slid their chairs out. Allison kept a wary eye on Jeff, in case he decided to make another unpredictable move. But all he did was meet her gaze, rather boldly, she thought.

“Y’all are leaving?” Sherry asked. “But you’ll miss dessert. They’re serving raspberry fudge cake.”

“I think they’ve got their own dessert in mind,” the obstetrician said in a stage whisper.

Allison wanted to object. That wasn’t the impression she’d meant to leave. But to argue the point would just draw attention to it. She picked up her purse and tote bag. “Nice to meet all of you.”

Sherry gave her a forlorn little smile as Allison whisked herself away from the table, nearly knocking down a waiter with a tray full of raspberry fudge cake. If she’d thought she could get away with it, she’d have nabbed a slice from the tray and taken it up to her room.

Jeff was following right behind her as she wove her way out of the crowded ballroom. He caught up to her as she made her way through the lobby toward the elevators.

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