Sleepless Nights (The Donovans of the Delta) (3 page)

Maxine loved being the first one to hear a juicy story, but more than that she adored being the one to witness it. She had been standing near the punch table with a good view of everything that had happened between Tanner and Amanda, and she’d stepped on the feet of two people in her haste to be the first one to get to the source.

“You saw?”

“‘Me and everybody else in Greenville. Good lord! I thought he was going to make love to you right here in the Country Club.”

“That’s his avowed intention, but I doubt that even he is bold enough to do it in public.”

“Some women have all the luck.” Then, remembering their conversation at the shop, she gave Amanda a quizzical look. “I thought you weren’t planning to renew an old romance.”

“I’m not. It’s just a game we’re playing.”

“Some game! I’d love to be the winner. Shoot, I’d even love to be the loser.” She sighed dramatically. “That man looks good enough to eat. He’s a big old juicy steak, just waiting for some woman to bite in. Lord, he makes Wilford look like black-eyed peas.”

Amanda laughed. “And where is the lucky Wilford Trentwell?”

“Hiding in the men’s room, trying to get up enough courage to propose again.”

“He proposed?”

“On the way over. I turned him down. Thought I might have a shot at Tanner Donovan, but it looks like I was wrong.”

Amanda lost track of what Maxine was saying as she caught a glimpse of Tanner. He had wasted no time in finding another woman. He had Evelyn Jo Goff in a tight huddle on the dance floor. A blaze of jealousy coursed through her, and she wondered if he’d already found his substitute.

“Yes. I was definitely wrong.” Maxine spoke loud enough to make Amanda jump.

“What?”

Maxine patted her frizzy blond hair, then reached over to pat Amanda’s arm.

“I said, ‘Here comes Wilford.’ And since I’ve already got him hooked and am probably going to say yes just because I can’t stand this unholy state of unmatrimony, I’m going to be generous and let you have the first dance with him. Bring him back to me in one piece.”

“Thanks. You’re a real friend, Maxine.”

“I know.” When Wilford came within grabbing distance, she took his arm and thrust him toward Amanda. “Do me a favor, sweet pea, and dance with Amanda. Believe me, it’s the only chance you’ll get, because she’ll be mobbed as soon as she gets out on the dance floor.”

“It will be my pleasure.” Wilford adjusted his glasses and swung Amanda into his arms. He held her carefully, like a Dresden doll, guiding her across the crowded floor, dancing with more enthusiasm than expertise.

 o0o

Tanner saw them coming. As a matter of fact, he’d watched every move Amanda had made since she’d entered the room. Even after he’d walked away from her, pretending not to care, he’d watched her. When she’d thrown back her head, laughing in that full-throated, uninhibited way she had, he’d been jealous that he hadn’t been the cause of her joy.

The day before, he’d believed he could drive away and forget her, but he’d been wrong. She was still a fever in his blood, and he had to have her, even if it meant making a complete spectacle of himself in his hometown. That would certainly be nothing new. Shifting Evelyn Jo to get a better view of Amanda, he chuckled.

“What’s so funny, Tannah?” Evelyn Jo’s exaggerated accent was so thick, he could almost see it dripping from her mouth. If she hadn’t been such a good sport, he would have regretted his hasty choice of a substitute.

“I was just thinking how good it is to be home for Christmas, Evelyn Jo.” Out of the corner of his eye he noticed that Amanda had changed dance partners already. Good. He didn’t want one man to have his hands on her too long.

“We’ah always so
dehlighted
to have you home.”

“Tell me, Evelyn Jo, is Riverside Church having its annual Christmas cantata tomorrow night?”

“What a strange thing to be askin’.”

“I like to sing.” Amanda and her partner were dancing so close to them now that he could smell her perfume. She used to put her fragrance on every pulse point of her body. He remembered what fun he’d had tracing the scent and kissing every spot. He felt a sudden jealous urge to toss her partner out the window.

“I remembah. You have a beautiful baritone voice. Of course, they are. It’s tradition, you know.”

Now, what the hell was Evelyn Jo babbling about? he wondered. Then he remembered.

 “Amanda always used to sing the lead soprano part,” he said casually. “Now that she’s back in town, I don’t suppose she’s singing at Riverside again.”

“Why, as a mattah of fact, she is. She’s doin’ that part tomorrah. It made old Corinne Luckett madder than hell, if you’ll pardon the expression. She fancies herself the best voice in the Delta. The rest of us are tickled to death to have Amanda back. We’ah tired of Corinne’s screechin’.”

Tanner threw back his head and roared. One of the things he missed most about living in Dallas was the small-town intrigue. As he laughed, he caught Amanda staring at him. He winked. She merely arched her eyebrows and danced on by.

“I think Riverside is going to have a new voice in its choir tomorrow.”

“Why, Tannah. You don’t even know the music.”

“I’m a quick study. Especially with a good teacher like you.”

Evelyn Jo laughed. “I can take a hint, Tannah Donovan. But if you dare tell anybody you spent the night at my house practicin’ for the church choir, I’ll call you the biggest liah in the Delta.”

“Evelyn Jo, you can tell them anything you want, and I’ll vow and declare it’s true.”

“Then get ready to have your reputation enhanced, Tannah Donovan.”

Leaning down, he kissed her cheek. It gave him wicked pleasure to see that Amanda shot him a murderous look.

“You’re a real sport, Evelyn Jo.”

“I’m also dyin’ to get my hot little hands on that ex-husband of mine. Would you mind dancin’ that way and sort of droppin’ me off? Dancin’ with you, I think I’ve made him jealous enough to rouse his interest.”

“Why, Evelyn Jo. I do believe you’re a devious woman.”

“No more devious than you, Tannah. Everbody heah saw the way you kissed Amanda.”

He grinned. “I never did learn to be subtle.” He maneuvered them across the floor and released her. “Save the last dance for me.”

Evelyn Jo winked. “It’s a date, you big gorgeous hunk of man.”

She blew him a kiss, then put a special hitch in her size-twelve hips as she walked toward her ex-husband.

Tanner turned swiftly back to the dance floor, his gaze searching out Amanda. She was near the French doors that led to the courtyard, being held much too close by her third dance partner. Being in the same room with her this long and not holding her again would be negligent, stupid, and downright sinful, Tanner decided as he strode toward her.

He loved the way her eyes widened when he tapped her partner on the shoulder.

“Do you mind if I cut in?”

After Amanda had been relinquished to him, he pulled her close and leaned down to whisper, “Do you think we’ll get arrested for what we’ve been doing?”

“And what is that, Tanner?” Her voice was cool and controlled, but he could feel the wild thumping of her heart against his chest.

He pulled back and smiled triumphantly at her. “Making love in public.”

“You’re insane.”

“I saw the way you watched me.”

“I didn’t—”

“Just as I watched you,” he said, interrupting her smoothly. “It was in your eyes, Amanda. The lovemaking. Remember how it used to be?”

“No.” He knew she was lying. The racing of her heart told him so.

“All it took was a look between us, that long gaze that was purely sexual. We did it with our eyes, Mandy. Even sitting in old Mrs. Brensley’s English class. She never knew that Shakespeare could be so erotic.”

“I’ve read that people often romanticize the past, Tanner.”

“Our past doesn’t need romanticizing. It merely needs remembering.”

“Funny you should say that.”

“Why?”

“Aren’t you the man who swore to bed me, but not for old times’ sake?”

“Yes. But I’ll do anything to promote my cause.”

“The nostalgia bit won’t work.”

“Then I’ll have to try something else.”

He maneuvered smoothly around the dancing couples and through the French doors. Still holding her close, he danced her across the moonlit patio until they were standing under the stone archway that led to the rose garden. One hardy, late-blooming rose sent its fragile fragrance to them on the chill December air.

Without thinking of the consequences, or even caring, Tanner bent down and captured her lips with his. The moment he touched that sweet flesh, he was lost. Gone were his intentions of taking what he wanted without feeling. Forgotten was his resolve to purge his mind and his soul by thoughtless coupling. The woman he held was special. No other woman, before or after Amanda, had ever kissed the way she did. Her spirit was in the kiss, a joyful, exuberant spirit that reached out and touched his very soul.

Against all his carefully laid plans, Tanner found himself kissing her with tenderness and feeling. A thousand remembered kisses replayed themselves as they stood under the pale winter moon. He felt her hands steal around his neck and lace through his hair. He felt the subtle shifting of her hips as they fitted themselves against his in the well-remembered way that used to make him lose all track of time. As the kiss deepened, he was caught up in the rhythmic way she moved against him.

He knew that she was lost, too. She could be his for the taking. Soon. Perhaps tonight. He could sense it. Instead of triumph, he felt a strange sort of sadness. Silently cursing himself for a fool, he broke the embrace.

“Now I know, Amanda.”

Even in the dim light of the moon he could see the flush on her cheeks. It was disturbingly appealing.

“Know what, Tanner?”

“What works with you.” Leaning casually against the stone archway, he studied her. “You like to be dominated.”

His words had the calculated effect. She went from flushed uncertainty to towering rage.

“You’re an arrogant, frivolous playboy, Tanner Donovan, and I thank my lucky stars that I jilted you.”

“You’re magnificent when you’re angry. You bring the same passion to your rages that you do to your bed.”

“Is that all you think about?”

“Yes. My needs are very elemental. A little food, adequate shelter, plenty of sex, and I’m a happy man.”

“I’m glad I married Claude. Lord, I’d hate to think what life with you would have been like.”

“Fun.” He rammed his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching out and dragging her back into his arms. “By the way, if you’re so glad you married Claude, why did you leave him?”

“It had nothing to do with you.”

He wondered if she were lying and what difference it would make.

“I think it’s a habit you have, Amanda—loving and leaving. But this time it’ll be different. I’m the one who will do the leaving.”

He turned away from her quickly, before he could change his mind. And as he left her there on the moon-washed patio, he wondered if her words were prophetic. Would the hunter become the hunted?

CHAPTER THREE

Amanda was late, and it was all Tanner’s fault. If it hadn’t been for him, she’d have gotten a decent night’s rest; then she wouldn’t have fallen asleep on her sofa in the afternoon.

She parked her car and headed toward the Riverside Church. The choir room was empty when she arrived. Grabbing her robe off its hook, she hastily slipped it over her dress and started for the choir loft. The rest of the members were assembled in the hall, waiting to go inside the sanctuary.

Still fumbling with her collar, she picked her way through the crowd. “Excuse me,” she said as she edged around a very tall man.

“Do you need any help with that?”

She jerked her head up and looked into the twinkling eyes of Tanner Donovan.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was planning to sing . . . unless you have something else in mind.”

What she had in mind couldn’t be discussed in church. She still could feel the bruising crush of his lips on hers. Just looking at him made her want more, but she’d never let him know it.

“Behave yourself. You’re in church.”

“I was always naughty in church.” He reached up and straightened her collar, letting his hand linger on the nape of her neck. “You did know how to dress in a hurry, Amanda.”

She felt a quick rush of heat through her body. If she didn’t get away from him soon, she’d be doing things in the back of the church that would be fodder for another Donovan-Lassiter legend. Striving to get herself in the proper frame of mind, she stepped back.

“Unhand me, unless you plan to follow me to the front and sing soprano.”

“No. I prefer to sit behind you, so I can enjoy the view.”

She couldn’t think of a feisty comeback; her mind was too busy cataloging the wicked charms of Tanner Donovan. Fortunately the line began to move and she was forced to hurry into place with the sopranos. Otherwise she might have done something that would make even the most liberal-minded Southerners blush.

As she hurried forward she wondered what in the devil Tanner was doing there in a choir robe, and whether he actually intended to sing. She wouldn’t put anything past him. Especially after the previous night. He had a magnificent voice, but he hadn’t been in town long enough to attend a single practice. He had probably come only to sit back there and aggravate her.

Amanda slid into her seat, acutely aware of the moment Tanner sat down directly behind her. As the organ prelude swelled, filling the church with magnificent sound, she knew she was supposed to be thinking exalted thoughts, but the only thing that came to her mind was body heat. Tanner’s body heat. It reached out and seared her.

She was playing a dangerous game with Tanner Donovan, a game that might have no winners. But Fate had dealt the cards, and she would play the hand. Win, lose, or draw, she was in the game for the duration. With that last irreverent thought she turned her attention back to the service. She was here to sing, and nothing would stop her. Not even Tanner Donovan.