Starstruck

Chapter Nine

Kendyl raced to the intercom and control console for the electronic gates. "Miss Barnes! Miss Barnes! Hi, Miss Barnes! I’m going to push the button and open the gate, okay? Okay?"

There was a slight pause then Ashley’s voice filled the kitchen and even through the intercom he could hear the amusement in it. "Thank you very much, Kendyl."

She pushed the button then jumped away from the console. "You let her in while I go change, Daddy. I’ll be right back."

He started to call her back — since she was already in the dress, she might as well show it off now instead of later — but she was gone, heading up the stairs at a full–out run.

The doorbell rang and Jason was startled at the way his pulse kicked up against his will.

He walked out to the entryway and opened the door then forgot to even say hello. She looked sweet and lovely and delicious enough to gobble up in one bite. He was so busy trying to convince himself he wasn’t hungry that he almost missed the wary look in her eyes.

"Hi. I’m early. I’m sorry."

He was a little rusty as a host but he tried to do his best. "Not at all. Come in. Kendyl’s gone to change her clothes and I’m not sure where my sister has vanished to. I’m sure she’ll be along soon."

She held out something in a white box wrapped in string. "I brought dessert. I didn’t know what you were serving so I didn’t know what kind of wine would be appropriate. And, anyway, I thought Kendyl might enjoy something sweet more."

"What is it?"

"Raspberry ribbon cheesecake. It’s my mom’s recipe."

"Kendyl will love it. I’ll just put it in the refrigerator. Why don’t you come outside with me while I put the steaks on?"

"You’re cooking?"

He had to smile at the utter disbelief in her voice. "I’m grilling. There’s a world of difference between the two. Throwing a couple steaks on the grill doesn’t exactly take much except a good spice rub recipe and a meat thermometer."

She still looked flabbergasted as he gestured her ahead of him into the kitchen. She walked past him and again the tantalizing scents of vanilla and almonds — with a hint of raspberry now — teased him.

He closed his eyes, stunned by the overwhelming urge to lean forward and bury his face in her curls and just inhale.

It had been far too long since he had been with a woman. Months. That must be the reason for this sudden fascination with this soft schoolteacher.

One of the downsides of being a responsible single father was the serious crimp it put in any casual encounters. It never seemed right to bring women home for the night with Kendyl in the house and lately he had been taking her along on the few trips he took out of town.

He had entertained some vague idea about calling Lexie Walker when he went to Nashvillle on the record recording trip next week to see if she might be interested in flying out to meet him, as she had done a few times before. Lexie was a producer he had known in Nashville . She was sharp, beautiful and sexy as silk sheets.

Oddly, the idea suddenly didn’t appeal to him at all. He didn’t have to look far to figure out why.