Convince Me (Holton Series #1) (10 page)

He heard Anna sigh and she looked
away.  Steven waited a moment and then started to speak but she stopped
him.

“I owe you an apology, Steve. 
What I said and, more importantly, how I said it, was inexcusable.  I am
sorry.  I have had to worry about money for some time now and I tend to be
a little sensitive about the subject but that’s my problem – not yours.”

Steven nodded briefly taking that
to mean he could pay for the meal, which he gratefully did.  He wanted to
give Anna everything she wanted.  He knew she didn’t need his help
financially but he hoped she needed him in other ways.

The Brockman firm had a large
clientele.  He and Andrew used it and so did most of the businesses in
town as well as individuals for income tax purposes.  He assumed that Anna
had purchased the business from Mr. Brockman for a reasonable amount. 
Steven remembered Anna’s comment about her father spending money.  It was
certainly possible she had every reason to be sensitive about the subject.

When they left the restaurant, they
decided to take a quick walk around the observation deck before heading back to
the car.  The sun had just set and most of the buildings downtown had
turned on their lights.  Steven and Anna walked to the railing and looked
out over the bright lights that spread for miles.

“So many people,” Anna said softly.

“I know,” Steven said wrapping an
arm around her waist.  She leaned back against him.  “One time I went
to Los Angeles to visit Tori.  I was claustrophobic.  Too many people
in one place.”

“When my mom first died, I thought
about moving to Dallas or Houston or even San Antonio.  I wanted to be
just another person in the crowd,” Anna said.

Steven tightened his arm. 
“I’m glad you didn’t.  Their loss is Holton’s and my gain.”

She laughed and then asked
seriously, “Does it ever bother you?  That everyone in town knows you,
knows almost everything about you?”

Steven thought back to the first
day they had met and the irritation he had felt when Julie knew about his
accident before he had a chance to tell her himself.  “Sure, it bothers me
sometimes.  Once in a while, I just want to tell people to mind their own
business but I also know that if I ever need something those same people will
be there for me every time.”

They were silent for a minute.  Anna
had some bad feelings about her hometown.  Steven knew she wasn’t yet sure
that Holton was any better.

“I remember,” he said trying to
explain the appeal Holton had for him, “when Andrew’s wife died.  I was at
the hospital with Andrew and I know that at least half the town came by
sometime during that long night.  And for weeks, months even, after she
was gone, people helped Andrew with the children and even with our
office.  It is times like those that make me realize that no matter how bad
it gets, I have someone I can count on.”

Anna nodded and gave him a shy
smile.  Steven leaned forward and kissed her lightly.  He wanted to
pull her into his arms and press his lips to hers.  He wanted to feel her
body pressed against his and watch desire flood her face.  But he
resisted.  He could push for a physical response.  They both knew the
attraction was there but he want more.  But Anna was still wary and Steven
wasn’t about to rush her.  He had made that mistake once and he wasn’t
willing to risk it again.  The price was too high.

They returned to the ground level
and walked down the street to the waiting carriages.  Anna was delighted
with his choice and they rode through the streets wrapped in a blanket. 
Their driver was willing to talk so Steven asked the guide for some local
history.  The man knew his business and kept them entertained with
interesting and amusing stories throughout the entire ride.

Steven drove slowly back to Holton,
not ready for the night to end.  They were silent but it was a comfortable
silence.  Steven was pleasantly tired and hoped that Anna felt the
same.  They arrived at her apartment all too soon.  He walked her up
the stairs and Anna invited him in for coffee.  Steven knew he should
leave.  They both had to work in the morning and it would be too tempting
to stay the entire night if he gave in but one look at her face and all
resistance flew out the window.

They took their coffee into the
living room and sat on the couch, which now sat opposite the two large prints. 
They talked about their evening and about the stories their driver had told
them.  Steven tried to keep his mind off the bed that was just a few feet
away in the next room.  He finished his coffee and leaned back on the
couch.  He drew Anna into his arms.  I will just hold her for a
minute, he thought to himself.  She leaned her head against his shoulder
and they sat there silently, just enjoying the intimacy.

Steven knew this was right. 
With Anna in his arms, his world was complete.  He slowly drew his hand up
and down her arm and worked on keeping his hormones in check.  He glanced
at the front of his pants and hoped that Anna wouldn’t notice his reaction to
her closeness.  He waited a moment and shifted slightly trying to
adjust.  He then looked down at Anna’s face and realized she had fallen
asleep.  Steven chuckled. 

“Well,” he said softly, “I guess
that is my clue to leave.”

He slipped his arms under her and
rose from the couch trying not to wake her.  He walked slowly into the
bedroom and laid her down on the bed.  Her cat was seated in the center of
the bed and gave Steven a disgusted look when the movement jostled her from her
resting place.

“Sorry,” Steven said softly and
reached out to scratch the cat under her chin.  Sophie accepted the caress
but soon grew tired of sitting and curled up into a ball next to Anna. 
Steven felt a surge of envy.  He badly wanted to crawl into bed beside Anna
and fall asleep with her in his arms.

The bedroom was a surprise to
him.  To him, Anna was all woman but her dress was conservative and she
always wore solid colors.  Her bedroom, however, was all floral.  It
was a completely feminine room.  Her bed covers were pink with mauve roses
and ruffles around the edge.  She had matching curtains and a matching
cloth on the bedside table.  Under the window, here was an old fashion
chase lounge and in one corner a huge full length mirror on a stand.  In
the other corner was a small vanity table complete with mirror and stool.

It was a beautiful room but one out
of character for the practical, restrained woman he had come to know.  It
was another side of her he had yet to explore.

Steven looked down at her once last
time.  She was still fully dressed and he knew he didn’t have the will
power to undress her but he did remove her shoes and loosened the top two
buttons on her dress.  She sighed and turned onto her side.  Steven
leaned over and softly kissed her goodnight.

It was not the ending he had
planned but it was satisfying nonetheless.  He let himself out of her
apartment and drove home through the quiet streets.

His cellphone rang just as he was
unlocking the door.  He hoped it was Anna.  Steven was only a little
disappointed when he saw it was Victoria instead.

“So how did it go?” she asked
excitedly.

Steven grinned.  Victoria was
the happiest person he knew and she made other people happy by just being in
the same room or on the same phone line.  It was a unique talent and
Steven loved her for it.

“It went great, Tori.”  He
settled into his armchair knowing it was going to be a long conversation. 
His sister would want a blow-by-blow account of the entire evening.  He
didn’t care.  He was still too wound up to sleep anyway.

“It couldn’t have gone that great,”
Victoria said knowingly.  “You are already home.”

Steven looked at his watch and was
surprised to see that it was just a little after eleven.  He had thought
it was much later.  He laughed at Victoria’s statement.

“She fell asleep in my arms,” he
told his sister knowing she wouldn’t let that one pass without comment.

“Yeah, but were you in her bed at
the time?”

“Tori, shame on you,” he said
trying not to laugh.  “A gentleman never tells.”

She laughed her very infectious
laugh and Steven soon joined in.  Then he said, “You are not supposed to
talk like that.  You are a very proper and well-bred young lady.”

“Oh Steve, you are so full of
it.  When are you going to realize I am all grown up?”

“Never, I’m afraid.  To me,
you will always be my baby sister,” Steven said a little sadly.  He missed
his siblings and although they spoke and emailed often, it just wasn’t the
same.

“She’s special, Tori,” he said now
wanting to share it with her.

“I know.”  There was a short
pause.  “You’ve never called me before a date.  I knew last night
that she was important.  I’m really happy for you, Steve.  You
deserve it.  I can’t wait to meet her.”

Steven leaned his head back on the
chair and told her all about the date.  In spite of the fact that Victoria
could talk more than anyone he knew, she was also a good listener.  They
talked for almost an hour and when Steven finally ended the call, he knew he
would now be able to sleep.

He had made some headway with Anna
tonight.  Their relationship wasn’t where he wanted it to be but they were
getting closer.  She fell asleep in his arms.  She was starting to
trust him. Now all he had to do was turn that trust into love.

The persistent ringing woke Anna
from the deepest sleep she had in weeks.  Her arm snaked out to shut off
the alarm but then she suddenly sat up.  The ringing wasn’t her alarm
clock but the phone.  Anna glanced down and realized she was still fully
dressed and the memories of the previous evening came flooding back.  She
remembered resting her head on Steven’s shoulder.  She could hear his even
breathing and the steading constant beating of his heart.  She had felt
safe and content.  Apparently so content, she had fallen asleep.

She looked down at her dress with
distaste.  Either Steven had carried her to the bedroom or sometime in the
night she had managed to make her own way there.  Somehow, Anna was
certain it was the former.  Steven had removed her shoes and unbuttoned
her dress but thankfully that was all.  She was embarrassed enough about
falling asleep in his arms.  It would have been much worse if he had
undressed her too.  She wanted to be fully awake when he did that!

Anna grinned at the thought. 
The ringing of the phone brought her back to the present and she leaned over to
pick it up.

“Good morning.”  Steven’s deep
voice came across the line to give her a warm feeling straight down to her
toes.  “I didn’t know how to set your alarm so I thought I better call to
make sure you woke up in time for work.  Are you awake?”

“Barely,” Anna laughed still a
little embarrassed.  Steven didn’t seem to think anything was wrong so she
tried to not worry about it.  “Thanks for calling.  I’m sorry I fell
asleep on you last night.”

“I’m not,” Steven replied in a low
caressing voice.  Anna shivered at the sound.  “I like you sleeping
in my arms.”

“Oh, Steve,” Anna said with a tremor
in her voice.  She wasn’t sure how to answer that so she remained
silent.  He seemed to understand for he changed the subject.

“I know you have a lot to do this
week but can we meet one day for lunch?”

Anna smiled.  “I’d like that.”

“Okay, I’ll call you later and we
will arrange something.  I better let you go or I’ll be late for
work.  Have a great day, honey.

Something flickered in her at the
endearment.  She sighed softly, “You too.”

After she hung up the phone, Anna
laid back on the bed and relived the night before.  It had been a magical
evening.  Anna felt that maybe she had finally met the man who could make
her lose all her fears.

Sophie jumped onto the bed and
demanded her attention.  The cat rubbed her head under Anna’s hand and she
absently petted the animal.  A smile seemed fixed on her face as she
remembered the carriage ride and the drive home.  Anna had never felt so
comfortable in a man’s presence and she had enjoyed herself immensely. 
Falling asleep in Steven’s arms was something she never thought she would be
able to do but she had felt so safe.  It was a rare feeling for her and
she had been so relaxed that she slept deeply.

She needed the sleep.  She
felt more rested now than she had since the move to Holton.  Steven’s care
wasn’t as difficult to accept as she had thought it would be.  Perhaps she
was learning to trust.  As long as Steven did not try to control her life,
she would be satisfied.  It gave her a wonderful feeling that would carry
her through the day.

Anna looked at the clock and then
jumped from the bed.  She had to hurry or she would be late.  She
gave Sophie one last stroke and started her day.

Steven did call her and they met
for lunch the next day.  The following weeks were some of the happiest in
Anna’s life.  Steven did not pressure her but wanted to see her often
enough that it was very flattering.  They usually had lunch at least once
a week and made plans for every weekend.

Steven was a great guide and Anna
soon learned a lot about the area.  They took two more trips into
Dallas.  Once to visit the Dallas Museum of Art and then attended the
Dallas Symphony.  The Dallas Symphony played at the
Meyerson
Symphony Center located in the Arts District.  It was an elegant and
romantic date.

Another day they spent at the zoo
and then the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.  Even in winter, the
Arboretum had an assortment of seasonal flowers and ornamental shrubs. 
The weather was nice so it was pleasant to be outdoors for a while.

Two totally different days but both
were a lot of fun.  Steven was a wonderful companion and Anna was falling
deeper in love every day.