Full Bloom

down in Dallas. Morrell wants that job. It wouldn't surprise me if he's got plans to keep tabs on Ravenscroft's position through you."
    "Now you're really clutching at straws," Emily scoffed. "Damon knows I have almost no idea what Ravenscroft International does on a day-to-day basis. I wouldn't be of much use to him as an industrial spy, even if I wanted to help him land that Dallas job. Stop trying to create monsters where there aren't any. I'm no longer a silly little fool who can be kept in line by dire warnings or heavy-handed guilt trips."
    "I keep forgetting your assertiveness training," Jacob said dryly. "Did you graduate with honors?"
    "Let's just say I learned a lot."
    "I'll bet your instructor didn't teach you anything about handling a man like Morrell."
    "I suppose it hasn't occurred to you or my family that I might enjoy having a casual association with a man like Damon? That I might not be planning on marrying him?"
    "He's planning on marrying you. That's the problem. You heard the tape. Better to end it fast, Emily. The man's a user and he'll use you. He's out of your league."
    "Obviously your opinion of my ability to take care of myself isn't any higher than it was the last time we met, in spite of what you said earlier." Emily held open the door. "Good night, Jacob."
    He did not move for a moment, just stood there studying her as if trying to come to some internal conclusions. Emily was seriously beginning to wonder what she would do if he did not leave when he finally broke the impasse and walked toward the door.
    "You have turned into one stubborn little cat, Emily Ravenscroft," he observed with a fleeting expression that might have been humor. With Jacob Stone it wasn't always easy to tell.
    "The word is 'assertive.' I keep telling you, I've had classes in the subject. I started taking them two years ago when I finally pulled myself up by the bootstraps and decided I was tired of letting my family run my life."
    "What are you doing with your life these days?" Jacob asked with a thoughtful frown. "Your mother said something about working in a florist's shop."
    "Which is one step above being a scullery maid in her estimation." Emily smiled breezily. "A total waste of a fine liberal arts education and good social background, according to her. But you know what?"
    "What?" He looked wary of the answer.
    "I love it. I own that shop, and soon, with or without the financial backing of my family, I'm going to open another branch. Who knows? Maybe Damon Morrell will offer to make me the loan I was planning to ask my father for. I can always use my connection to Ravenscroft International as collateral."
    Halfway toward the door, Jacob swung around in astonishment. There was a thunderous look on his stark face. "You little cat, you wouldn't dare! Your whole family would hit the roof."
    "An interesting thought," she said sweetly. She gave him a firm push that, surprisingly enough, got him over the threshold. "For the last time, good night, Jacob." This time she succeeded in closing the door and locking it behind him.
    Outside in the empty hall, Jacob stood glaring at the paneled door. The fluffy little kitten had turned into a tigress with very sharp claws. Amazing how a woman could change in two years. Obviously her family was badly underestimating her.
    But somehow, Jacob Stone was finding Emily more interesting than ever.
    His chief victory for the evening, he decided as he stepped into the elevator, was a minor one, but under the circumstances he would take what he could get.
    She had kissed him with all the passion she had shown two years ago and more. She still wanted him.
    Jacob savored that simple fact as he walked out into the damp night.

    Emily had stopped seething by the time she opened Emily's Garden early the next morning, but she was still aware of a lingering residue of humiliation and dismay. She did not plan to admit it to her family or to Jacob, but the unfortunate truth was that Damon Morrell had completely fooled her. She had never once guessed that he was interested in her because of her relationship to Ravenscroft International.
    The only thing she could say in her favor was that she had never planned on marrying the man. As far as Emily was concerned, he was a pleasant companion and an interesting and amusing date. That was all. Not one of her family or Jacob had bothered to inquire as to how serious she actually was about Damon, of course. With typical Ravenscroft-Stone arrogance, they