Page 12 of Gentle Persuasion

Cole slipped up behind her and, before she knew it was happening, had the piece of paper out of her pocket.

“What are you—?”

“Doing my job,” he said. “Remember? I’m a detective…and I sense you did not tell the truth about your fortune.” His teasing was gentle, but the smile died on his face as he read her fortune.

His heart is in your hands.

“Well, hell,” he said shortly.

“Exactly,” Debbie answered, took the bit of paper out of his hands, and stuffed it back in her pocket.

“You get the glasses. I’ll get the door.”

Chapter 3

“Did you pack sun block?”

Debbie dug through her bag and then nodded.

“Do you have sunglasses, something to read, the package of trail mix, the—?”

“I’m ready,” Debbie interrupted. “You can’t put this off any longer, Cole Brownfield. Take me to the beach, and take me now.”

I’d love to take you now, but there are too many witnesses, and I don’t think I’m ready for you.

“Get in the car,” he ordered. He turned to his father. “Don’t expect us until you see us coming. We’ll get something to eat before we come home tonight.”

Morgan nodded, concealing his glee behind the morning paper. “Have a good time,” he said.

“Are you sure you’ll be all right?” Debbie asked. “Don’t forget, there’s plenty of leftovers, and I think there’s still some fruit salad if Buddy didn’t—”

“Get her out of here,” Morgan ordered, smiling as he turned his cheek up for the kiss she was offering.

“We’re already gone,” Cole said, and ushered her out the door.

***

The sun was bright and hot and persistent. The windows in Cole’s car were down, at Debbie’s request. The air tunneled in one and out the other, whipping their hair and clothes in carefree abandon. Her attention was yanked in all directions by the intriguing unfamiliarity of California. She was constantly asking questions. And the palm trees lining the streets seemed to enchant her.

The closer they got to the beach, the more varied and bohemian the sights became. Debbie could hardly wait.

If she’d been given the task of finding the complete opposite of the area in which she’d grown up, she couldn’t have picked a better place. Laguna Beach, California, with its sun and surf and tropical atmosphere, was diametrically opposed to the wide, often dry flatlands of western Oklahoma.

Cole needed a chauffeur. Then he could have ridden the way he wanted, with his eyes on his passenger instead of the roadway.

The rambunctious wind kept plastering her clothes against her body, teasing him with reminders that the wind could touch where he dared not. Her breasts were outlined beneath her soft white blouse, revealing the top of her red swimsuit. Her legs, firm and shapely, dangled from the seat in a half-hearted effort to reach the floorboard. He also knew the bottom portion of that red suit was as snug a fit as the top, and ready to be revealed as soon as her brief black shorts were removed.

She was full of anticipation and questions. And she made him nervous as hell. There was a simmering quality to her personality today that told him he’d better beware.

The Debbie Randall that he’d first met at the Longren Ranch—the one who’d charmed every other member of his family and then ignored his existence, the one who’d lined up five Brownfield men like peas in a pod to assure Lily that her wedding would go off without a hitch, the one that had sent him running in panic from Oklahoma—was back.

He turned off the highway and headed south. Aliso Beach was just ahead. They parked. He grinned as Debbie began grabbing at all the paraphernalia she’d brought along.

“Well, this is it, girl,” he said. “We walk from here. Looks like someone besides us decided that this would be a good day to spend at the beach.”

Debbie stared. There were cars for miles, gleaming, metallic status symbols as multihued as peacocks, lining the streets and parking area. Just beyond them, she could hear voices and laughter. She grabbed her bag, slid her sunglasses down on her nose, and opened the door, her anticipation mounting as a new adventure was about to begin.

Cole sensed her excitement. It was contagious. He’d gotten a glimpse of her wonderment last night during their impromptu meal. What would today reveal of this charming bit of femininity? And more important, what would be revealed of himself? Each day, it was becoming harder and harder to ignore the fact that Debbie Randall was stuck in his craw. It would take everything he had to insure that she didn’t get a toehold on his heart. Cole, male that he was, was blind to the fact that it was already too late. He was long past help.

---