“Yes.” Concern for Allison had given her some bad moments at three A.M. But so had the man who was studying her now. Then there had been her convention duties at the hotel, a glitch in a shipment at the shop, and a headachy session of sentence diagramming in the homework division. “I’m sorry—”

The words slid down her throat as his mouth cruised over hers again. “You made me think of fairy tales when I walked in here. Beauty sleeping.”

“That’s Sleeping Beauty.”

“I know.” His lips curved. “I didn’t have a close acquaintance with fairy tales, but I think I caught the Disney version somewhere. Let’s see if I’ve got it right.”

When he would have kissed her again, she sprang to her feet. “I’m awake.” Too awake, she thought as her heart hummed in her throat. Too alive. Too needy.

“I guess that’s the best we can do, for the moment. I was in the kitchen charming Mrs. Williamson out of her cookies. I actually came by to see you, but I’m weak.”

“No one can hold fast against her cookies.” Well aware that she must look rumpled, she tried to smooth her hair.

“Don’t. I like it mussed. You never seem to be mussed.”

“You ought to catch me after convincing the girls it really is bedtime now.” But she made herself stop fussing. “Kayla said that Judy Prentice was coming by this evening.”

“She did, with her husband and her daughter. Who, by the way, is quite a horsewoman. They bought a good mare. I think they’ll work out well together.”

Pleased for him, she said, “Oh, that’s wonderful, Michael. Congratulations.”

He plucked a creamy white hibiscus from the bush beside the lounge and handed it to her. “I came by to thank you.”

Absurdly touched, violently nervous, she stared at the blossom. “I didn’t do anything but mention your name, but you’re welcome. Judy knows a lot of the horse set. I’m sure she’ll pass your name along.”

“I’m counting on it. I’d like to take you to dinner.”

She shifted away a full inch. “What?”

“I’m flush,” he said, patting his pocket. “And I owe you.”

“No, you don’t. It was just—”

“I’d like to take you to dinner, Laura. I’d like to take you, period, but I think we’ll have to do this along more conventional lines. You’ve been avoiding me.”

“No, I haven’t. Really.” Or hardly at all. “I’ve been busy.”

He imagined her social calendar was full enough. Committees, ladies’ luncheons, the jobs she’d taken to fill her time. “I wouldn’t imagine a Templeton would scare off so easy.”

It was exactly the right switch to pull. “It isn’t a matter of scaring off. I have a great deal to do.”