Page 11 of Shadows of Eternity

She convinced herself that, should he call for a date, she would plead a headache or say she was busy, or that she wasn’t interested in seeing him again.

The thought had no sooner crossed her mind when her cell phone rang. Probably Janae, she mused, as she picked up the phone. But it wasn’t Janae.

“Leia?”

That deep, whiskey-smooth voice that tied her insides in knots poured over her. “Rohan. Hi.”

“Are you busy tonight?”

All thought of refusing fled her mind. “No.”

“How about a late date?”

“How late?” she asked, a teasing note in her voice.

“After the show. Say, nine-thirty?”

“I don’t know,” she said, even though her heart was screaming,Say, yes!“It’s kinda late.” Why was she playing hard to get, she wondered, when she had the feeling they both knew she would say yes.

“But not too late?” he coaxed. “I’d really love to see you again.”

Who could resist that sexy voice? Certainly not her. And just like that, she had a date to go dancing with the best dancer of all.

He picked her up at nine-thirty sharp. She practically swooned when she saw him looking absolutely breath-taking in a pair of black pants and a black leather jacket over a white shirt. His smile was devastating.

“You look beautiful,” he said, as his gaze devoured her.

“Thank you,” she murmured. “So do you. How did you get here so fast? I mean, if your last dance is at nine … ”

“I was so anxious to see you again that I might have exceeded the speed limit a little.”

“Yeah, right.”

He shrugged. “Are you ready?”

With a nod, she grabbed her handbag and followed him out to his car. Ever the gentleman, he opened her door and waited for her to get settled before rounding the car and sliding behind the wheel.

He took her to The Velvet Rose, a nightclub she’d passed by a couple of times. It was a rather elegant place, the lighting muted, the music unintrusive. The décor was understated but obviously expensive. Fresh roses in crystal vases decorated every table, as well as the reception desk and each end of the bar. Small, black lacquer tables were scattered around a large dance floor. A number of high-backed booths lined the back wall.

Rohan held her chair for her before taking his own seat. “What would you like to drink?”

Leia bit down on her lower lip. “A Grasshopper,” she decided at length. She usually ordered a Sea Breeze but maybe it was time to try something new.

Rohan gave the waitress Leia’s order and asked for a glass of red wine for himself.

Leia grinned. “I guess you’re not much of a drinker, either,” she mused. “I figured you for a whiskey man.”

“Once upon a time,” he said.

“Oh?”

“I overdid it in my younger days,” he explained with a shrug. “Now I stick to wine. Tell me about yourself.”

“I told you, I’m a schoolteacher.”

“There must be more to you than that.”

“I’m pretty much a home-body. Teaching takes up all my weekdays. I don’t go out much.”

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