A New Day (44 page)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

     Tasha pulled into the parking lot, and killed the engine.  She looked at Tim leaning against the porch pillar, and stared at him.  She had the most insistent urge to turn and run, but of course that would not do.  He'd already seen her. 

    
It would be rude.  It was not something she was accustomed to doing.  She’d never run from any man … except Gary, of course.  And that had been a very different thing.

    
She pushed thoughts of Gary out of her head, and forced herself to get out of the vehicle.  She looked up at Tim, and was very impressed with the handsome package he presented. 

    
The evening breeze lifted his jet black hair, and swept it out of his eyes, and back over the crown of his head.  His eyes were deep and brooding, tonight.  His lips were so shapely and expressive under the heavy mustache;  his teeth were so even and bright.

     
He was wearing white jeans and a matching denim coat with very tailored, yet simple lines.  Underneath, he wore just a collarless shirt in a blue that made his eyes look electric; and tooled, fancy, tan Western boots.

    
The lady walking toward him was one who would capture and hold the attention of anyone who happened to be in the area.  She was exceptionally beautiful, and it was clear that she had the money to make the most of it.  She wore it well, just the same.  Elegance, grace.  She screamed finesse and sophistication without being over done.

    
She wore a tunic of sheer fabric in a floral pattern, in the most beautiful blending of colors that Tim had ever seen.  There were golden threads;  deep burgundies;  rich fuchsias;  purples and blues;  even some mossy greens.  Under it, she wore a camisole in a color that blended perfectly with her skin.  At first glance, one did not notice the undershirt at all, and one had the alluring and startling impression that there was simply nothing there. 

    
Several layers of the sheer material were cunningly crafted into the ruffles that fell into the handkerchief tails of the garment, so that subtle but adequate coverage was provided to obscure the lady’s breasts, trunk and pelvis.  The sleeves were long and slightly belled.  The mandarin collar was simple and did not interfere with the lovely, flowing lines of the garment.

    
Her jeans had no heavy seams or lines, and obviously had a bit of spandex in them to achieve the incredible, shapely fit.  They were the same buff color as the camisole, adding to the ‘naked’ appearance of the garments under the shirt.  Bone colored Western boots that came to the knee were entirely sexy, and unexpected.  Yet somehow, they fit, and added an earthy appeal to Tasha’s look.

    
Her hair was flowing over her shoulders, but her bangs were softly feathered over her forehead, hanging in the corner of her eye where they were longest.  It gave her a shy, yet very provocative look.  Tim certainly recognized that her make up was designed to be natural, yet smoky and alluring.  She had a natural glow that defied his imagination.  She looked like a fashion model, walking toward him with her sexy stride.

    
He laughed to himself as she walked toward him, her knee-length swing coat over her shoulder.  She was good.  Very good.  The shocking jolt of desire and excitement he felt when she’d come around the end of her car had reverberated through his soul. 

    
She looked almost naked – and it had certainly taken his mind and imagination into that sphere, and on from where the garments led him.

    
The lash of the imagination was deadly!  He couldn’t seem to stop seeing the vision of her walking toward him with nothing on but that filmy, lovely shirt.  His blood was rocketing through his veins, and it was only with the greatest effort that he was able to control his expression, and appear nonchalant as she came close.

    
She was lovelier than ever.  Enough to make a male’s mouth water, as a matter of fact.  Yet, she looked shy and uncertain as she crossed the street to join Tim.

    
He was shaken inside to his core by the reaction she’d aroused in him.  Yet, she seemed to have no clue regarding her effect on him.  Perhaps he hid it well.

    
He grinned at her and put an arm across her shoulders as they entered the restaurant.  “So, how was your day?” he asked as he opened the door for her.

     “
Oh, fine, I guess.”  she said lightly.  She would never admit that she'd been bored to tears.

    
They were both a bit uncomfortable as they waited to be seated.  Everything was different, and neither of them denied it. 

    
Tasha slid into the booth they were shown to, pretending not to be alarmed when Tim joined her on the same side.  He sighed and reminded himself that there was nothing revealing about the clothing she was wearing.  It was just an illusion that cleverly planted devastating images in a man’s mind.  It took a bit of discipline to clear them, just the same.

    
He met her eyes, and smiled.  “You changed your mind.”  he said lightly.  He was surprised and curious, yet a bit distant, Tasha thought.

     “
Yes.  I had nothing to do, and … it is your last night.  As I was coming to the conference anyway, I thought it would be nice to … to see you, and buy you dinner.”

    
Tim raised a teasing eyebrow.  “Buy me dinner?”  he echoed warily. 

     “
Is there a problem with that?”  Tasha asked innocently.  Tim’s eye was caught by the long earrings made of strands of needle thin sterling silver beads that caught the light most effectively.

    
He shrugged.  “I have never in my life allowed a lady to buy me dinner.”  he informed her dryly.

     “
Why is that?”

    
He gave her a long, contemplative look.  “I just don't let women get that close, I suppose.”  he admitted, watching to see her reaction.  “To let down the banner of chivalry and all that.” he qualified.

     
She grinned. “Tired?  You look as though you got a bit of sun and wind today.”

    
He nodded agreement.  “I’m sure I did.”  he agreed.  “I’m glad you called.”

     “
Are you?” she asked.

     “
I am.”

    
She ventured a look at him and found him watching her carefully.  She smiled, and blushed. 

    
Timothy was undecided.  Did she know how seductive she appeared at first glance, or had she just tried to coordinate her colors for a pleasing appearance?  Was she really feeling shy of him, or was it all an act?  Was she really turning her heart toward him tonight, or was this just a ploy to bring him to his knees?   

    
He sighed, and rubbed a hand over his forehead as he tackled the second problem:  that of taking her to the conference.  The last thing that Tim wanted or needed, was to take her among his peers and thousands of Christians from around the world – and have all of them see her and suffer the same shock at first sighting that he had suffered. 

    
His concern was first, for her personally – and secondarily for his own reputation.  As a single man in ministry, he had to watch his step.  He knew that talk was already flying about the lady and his quite obvious interest in her.  Speculation was high and Tim was fielding many questions daily about his very attractive companion.  People like Pattie Danniels were simply drooling, watching the drama unfold.

     “
What’s wrong?”  Tasha asked woodenly.

    
Tim looked at her with mingled confusion and admiration.  He shook his head.  “You just amaze me.”   he admitted.

     “
I do?  Why?”

    
He smiled.  “You always find a way to turn me inside out.  You have quite a knack for being seductive and totally disarming.  Or didn’t you know?”

    
Tasha paled, and then pink spots appeared in her cheeks.  As Tim continued to watch her steadily, the pink spots became a very deep blush.  She looked away.  “I don’t know what you mean.”  she  answered tightly.  “I’ve done nothing.”

    
He chuckled.  “Your taste in clothes is a big part of it.” he hinted.

    
She shot him a furtive look.  “I wondered if the shirt was inappropriate.  I did bring another along.”  she advised.  “Even though the camisole makes it pretty chaste, I know that the outer shirt is see-through, and might not be acceptable.  I just bought it though, and I love it so much I thought I’d just see what you thought.  I’ll change now, if you like.  I know how people are about ministers, and I don’t want to cause you any embarrassment.”

    
He watched her with interest.  She went on talking, and he was fascinated.  She was nervous, but he could almost swear that she had no idea of the effect of her outfit, from a distance.  One might not see it at all, he supposed, in the close view of a dressing room mirror.

    
He grinned at her.  “I think it’s stunning, actually.   But if you wouldn’t mind, it might be best if you changed before we go to the Cedars.”

    
Her blush deepened, and Tim was almost sure she hadn’t meant to create the illusion and its results on him.

     “
I hope that doesn’t hurt your feelings.”  he asked carefully.

    
She looked at him immediately.  “No.  Of course not.   I know how it is.”

    
He chuckled, and caressed the nape of her neck.  “Promise me you’ll wear that again some time, at home.  After we’re married.”

    
She gave him a shocked and mortified look.  “You don’t even think it’s decent to wear outside the house?  Why?”

     “
Are you sure you want to know?”  he asked warily.

     “
Absolutely.”

    
He was almost embarrassed.  “When you came around the car, I saw the shirt.  That’s all.” he said.  He looked up into her eyes.  “The jeans and camisole are remarkably close to your skin color.  It looks great, but from a distance, it … well, it gives a man a bit of a shock.” he ended with a chuckle.

    
Comprehension dawned slowly, and Tasha’s eyes widened to accompany the horrified expression on her face.  Her hand went to her throat, and her eyes slid closed.  Tim watched with amusement.

     “
Oh, no.”  she gasped in embarrassment. 

     “
A gentleman recovers, love, but I’d really rather not have anyone else’s imagination going where mine went.”

    
Tasha went incredibly pale, and her hands began to shake.  Tears appeared in her eyes and she covered her face with hands that shook uncontrollably.  Tim decided that if she was acting, she deserved an Oscar.

     “
Hey.”  he soothed, drawing her in with his arm and squeezing her shoulders.  “Come on, now.  There’s nothing indecent about it.  It’s just the way it looks from afar.  You had no way to know, did you?”

     “
I didn’t.  Oh, Tim.  What you must think of me.” she whispered.  She still had her hands over her face.

    
He just laughed.  “Cut it out.”  he groused.  “You know you make me crazy.  And I know you didn’t mean it, this time.  As if last night wasn’t enough to put your virtue in danger.”  he teased.  “Don’t beat yourself up about it.”

    
She looked up at him gratefully, and he saw the honesty and horror in her eyes.  “I can’t believe how nice you are to me.” she mumbled.

    
He laughed and tickled her ear with a finger.  “Marry me and we’ll forget it.”  he challenged lightly.

    
She looked upset, and off balance.  Tim took advantage of it, and moved in.  He kissed her until he felt the limits of decency prevented more.  Their booth was very private, hidden by large palms from the rest of the patrons. 

    
He drank in her sweetness and knew that if he’d been deceived, it didn’t matter.  He loved her.  He wanted her.  Nothing else mattered.  Except, perhaps, getting her into something less provocative before the conference.

    
Tim went to the car for her, and returned with a lovely chiffon blouse in a deep, berry color that was softer than anything he had ever put his hand to.  He suspected, correctly, that it would prove very difficult to keep his hands off Tasha while she was wearing it.