Chapter Ninety Two

Her black stretch jeans, matching battle jacket, the red top that skimmed rather than hugged her waist, and Reeboks on her feet—that should take her anywhere with reasonable style and comfort.

Once fully dressed, she relaxed enough to lake some time over her hair and a bit of make-up. There was no telling whom they might meet and she wanted Collins to feel proud of her. Fortunately the sleep had done her good. She was no longer feeling like death warmed up, as she hadafter the long flight, and the queasiness had left her stomach.

But what about tomorrow morning? she asked herself as she brushed the tangles out of her hair. How long could she keep deceiving Collins about her pregnancy? More to the point, did she want to? Apart from subjecting herself to the panic that had just churned through her, she wasn't ever going to feel right while she kept this secret from him. She could feel herself tensing up at the thought of the next few hours in his company, pretending she had nothing to worry about.

But if she didn't pretend...this was her first real chance to relate to him on other levels beside the sexual, her first chance to see how much he was drawn to her as a person, not just as a pretty woman on hand in his penthouse suite. If she blurted out she was pregnant and told him he'd fathered the baby, she was frightened of precipitating a crisis that would shatter any hopeful harmony she might reach with him, given a few days together.

Satisfied with her appearance, Jasmine took several deep breaths to calm her jumpy nerves, then walked out to the amazing living room, telling herself not to be overawed by all this spacious luxury. Only Collins response to her counted, not the glamorous surroundings nor what they signalled about how big a success he was in his world. What lay in his heart...that was what she had to learn while she was here.

The suite was on the top floor of the Beverly Wing with a wrap-around balcony on three sides. Collins stood by one of the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out. He had an imperious look about him, the proud cast of his head, the tall, powerful physique, clothed in black jeans and leather jacket. Jasmine wondered if he had more worlds to conquer in his mind, or would he feel satisfied with reaching the zenith of this one ... an Academy Award... the Hollywood dream?

'Collins....' she called, wanting him to turn to her.

He snapped around, exuding an animal vitality that instantly said he would always have more places to go. There would never be resting on any laurels for Collins Templeton.

'Ready...' he said with relish, his eyes eating her up from head to toe with more than warm approval.

He closed the distance between them with a few quick strides. The magnetic energy targeting her held Jasmine breathless and tingling and when Collins hooked her arm around his with purposeful possessiveness, her heart swelled with the wild hope that he wouldn't want to let her go. Not this time.

'I've called for a car. You'll like Santa Monica. It's fun,' he informed her.

And so it proved to be. A whole street was blocked to traffic, an open mall where the most amazingly colourful people strolled along, wearing way-out clothes and incredible hairdos. A jazz band was selling soul at one end of it. At the other was a string quartet offering classical music.

There were buskers in between, offering other forms of entertainment, like the balloon blower who created plastic animals for the children.

Restaurants with hugely varied cuisines extended out onto the pavements. Street stalls sold a fascinating array of fashion accessories.

A display of wonderful hats tempted Jasmine into trying some on. Collins  happily encouraged her, offering critical comment on how well or not each one suited her, enjoying the role of arbiter. A soft reversible hat caught her eye. It felt like velvet and it could be worn as mainly black with a turned up tiger-print rim or the other way around.

'Yes, that one!' Collins said emphatically when she modelled it for him.

'Why this one?' She liked it but didn't see it as extra special.

'Because it's you.' he declared without a moment's hesitation.

'Me?'

'Leopard, tiger...a powerful cat. Beautiful, graceful, lethal.'

She was stunned by this description. 'Is that how you see me?'

He cocked his head in teasing consideration. 'Lethal might be overstating it. Definitely dangerous.' he said.

'A cat?' She looked her incredulity. 'Have I ever shown you claws?'

His smile was very wry. 'You keep digging into my mind, Jasmine Leclaire.'

What about your heart? She wanted to ask, but she held her tongue and returned the smile instead. 'You do quite a bit of that to me, Collins Templeton.'

'Good! I'd hate to think you had all the power.' he replied.

She shook her head, never having thought she had any power, but his admission did indicate there was more than just physical lust on his side. He thought about her. But was it anywhere as much as she thought about him?

'We'll take this hat,' he said, turning to the salesman and whipping out a twenty dollar note while Jasmine was still bemused by his responses.

'I'll pay for it,' she protested.

'It's done,' He grinned as he took her arm and led her on. 'You look great in it.'

'Thank you.' It was still on her head. She left it there. 'My goldfish wouldn't like me as a cat,' she dryly observed.

He laughed. 'They don't get to stroke you and hear you purr.'

The simmering look in his eyes sent a wave of heat through Jasmine. The desire he stirred flared between them, choking off any further banter.

'Let's choose a place to eat,' Collins said gruffly, steering her towards the closest restaurant.

Neither of them attempted conversation until they were safely seated with a table between them. Jasmine found herself fixating on Collins hands as he perused a menu, thinking of how seductively his long sensual fingers teased and caressed and aroused. She had to tear her gaze off them and concentrate on ordering a meal. She was hungry, desperately hungry for many things beside food.