Dan had been middle class his whole life, so while he didn’t really know what it was like to be poor, he’d never been rich before, either. As a lawman, however, he’d dealt with people on both sides of that particular fence and they each had their problems. For example, when it came to people she viewed as entitled, Jazz had a prickly stick up her butt.
What was that all about?
His mental profiling of her kicked into gear. She might have gotten to where she was in life all on her own, but she believed he’d had it easy. He couldn’t say for certain what her obstacles were. He did know that his path wasn’t without them.
“I can’t even date anymore without wondering whether my sparkling good humor, movie-star looks, or the money is the true attraction,” he sighed. “It’s a curse.”
A bit more of her reserve chipped away. “I didn’t realize you’d only recently inherited your wealth.”
“That’s because I reek of money.” He nodded sagely. “I dine in Grand’s finest restaurant and wear the latest in Custer County Sheriff’s attire. Not to mention, I interview as if I’ve done it my whole life.”
She wanted to laugh. He could tell.
“Do you realize you have several hundred guests roaming around and not one of the ranch’s owners are at the party?” she asked.
“Dallas will entertain them.”
He loved Grand and its people, but being the highlight of their day had worn really thin. He needed a break. Winning Jazz over would do. Man, he longed to kiss her. Her pretty, cheerleader face, less than two feet from his, was tempting. She looked so damned sweet in a dress…
He was attracted to her in a way he hadn’t been to any woman in a very long time. It was more than sexual, although there was plenty of that. She was different. Unique. Something no amount of money would ever be able to buy. The prickly reserve that hid a great sense of humor made the package complete. She’d choose a man on her own terms. What a lucky bastard he’d be, too.
Dan intended to be that lucky bastard.
“Dallas is hiding in the garage,” she said.
He massaged his eyes with a thumb and forefinger. So much for luck. Since he’d planned this open house over Ryan’s objections so he could get to know Jazz outside of the base, he supposed this served him right.
“Good help is so hard to find.”
The corners of Jazz’s mouth flickered. “He asked me to save you, so that’s got to be good for at least one billion dollars.”
If she only knew.
“About that small matter that requires my attention…” he said, shifting a few inches closer.
Her eyes told him she was onto his game, and she edged a few inches away. “Forget it. It can wait.”
“Ha-ha. Very funny.”
It kind of was—and the joke was on him. He knew how to tempt a woman like Jazz, though. Give her reason to think she might be playing with fire and she’d be all-in. He brushed the bobbed fringe of blond bangs aside with the tips of his fingers, just to gauge her reaction.
A faint intake of breath. A deepening of the blue of her eyes and a slight dip of the long lashes. But overall, it appeared she’d decided that any fire developing between them wasn’t yet out of control and she was safe enough standing her ground.
He’d see about that.
He’d never been one to rush things, however. There was a lot to be said for romancing a woman and she was worth the extra effort. He might have gotten a little rusty the past few months, but he was sure it would come back.
“Since we’ve already violated your personal rule about not becoming involved with a coworker—and because I looked it up and there’s no law against it—why not have dinner with me?”
“Wehaven’t violated anything,” she replied. “Because we’re not involved. Saying something doesn’t make it true. Besides, do you really believe I should reward you for bad behavior?”
“Maybe you’re the one who’ll be getting the reward.” He gifted her with a grin designed to let her know what that reward was going to be, too.
Then he sat back to enjoy her response.
“I’m sure there are any number of women who’d look forward to it.” The implication, of course, being that she wasn’t one of them. “Tell you what,” she relented. “I’ll stay for your barbecue, which means we’d be having dinner together here, and you can use the time to mitigate the damage you’ve done to my professional reputation here in Grand.”
He didn’t dare celebrate yet. “Does mitigation mean I have to confess to Adriana Gallant that I jumped the gun about us?”