The deep baritone of his voice, and the words he uttered, held Haley spellbound. Was she beautiful? As she'd looked in the mirror at the glimmering teal gown, she'd felt … different, more attractive. But would she go so far as to say she was beautiful? No one had ever told her she was - certainly not her grandparents - so how could she think that of herself?
She wanted to believe the light in his eyes was real, but could it all be just an act? He'd refused to take payment from her for being her teacher, but was this all a game to him? She couldn't fault him for that, but what if he were setting her up, planning to rip her apart? She might never heal, might never have the confidence in herself that she so desperately sought.
"I can see the doubt in your eyes; it's your biggest weakness. You have to have faith in yourself. You asked me to teach you how to seduce a man, but it's not an answer I can give you. The way you seduce a man is by having confidence in yourself. Remember what I told you? It doesn't matter if you are slim, athletic or curvy. It doesn't matter the color of your hair or eyes. Nothing matters except for you knowing that you are sexy. If you look into a man's eyes and let him know you are too good for him, then you own him. The most important rule is that you are what you believe you are, so be careful how you feel about yourself."
The truth was shining in his eyes as he spoke. Haley could see he wasn't playing a game with her, he wasn't lying just to make her his slave. Was it really that simple? Could she just believe she was a prize to be won, and suddenly have any man she wanted - at least if she really wanted him enough?
The waiter slipped in and took away her barely touched salad as he set down their next course, seared sea scallops with spring onion soubise. Though the smell was heavenly, she was too lost in Crew's eyes to pay attention to the food.
"We'll have more on this lesson after our meal, while we're sitting by the fire. I've had my chef prepare this especially for you, and I want you to enjoy the entire experience," Crew said and took a bite.
Finally freed from his gaze, Haley speared a scallop and slipped it inside her mouth, then purred in pleasure. It practically melted on her tongue. Crew kept the conversation more light as they finished their main course.
The last drop was drank from the exquisite bottle, the wine having helped Haley's confidence to grow, and the waiter laid out their dessert and set a new bottle down at their table. Her first bite of beignets with coffee pots de crème was almost an out-of-body experience. But, still, it was hard to enjoy the meal, no matter how good, when she was in a constant state of arousal - something very new for her inexperienced body.
"So, tell me how your sister managed to end up on a ranch," she asked between small bites. She wanted to prolong the bliss.
"I don't want to bore you during our date," he hedged.
"I promise that you won't."
"Well, don't say that I didn't warn you," he said with a chuckle. "A couple of years ago, my siblings and I were … I guess the word would be spoiled."
"You? Spoiled?" she gasped dramatically, then smiled. "I simply can't imagine."
"OK, yes, I was spoiled. This is about Brielle, not me, though," he said with his twinkling eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Sorry. I will behave," she said.
"Anyway, my father decided to teach us a lesson. We would lose our inheritance and trust funds if we didn't play by his rules. That, of course, left us little choice but to do what he asked of us, but we were all resentful, thinking there was nothing that needed changing in our lives."
"Do you still feel bitter toward your father?"
"No. About six months into this project my resentment faded, and I realized he was right. We had become spoiled brats - of no use to society at all. I will deny that if you repeat it, though," he said.
"My lips are sealed."
"Well, the task was to take a failing business and make it a success." She waited for him to go on, but he picked up his glass and took a sip of wine.
"How did you end up with the resort and your sister get landed with a ranch?"
"My father set down five folders and told us to fight among ourselves over which failing business we would take. My sister was horrified, and she refused to even look at the various operations. By the time she came around and decided a life of poverty wasn't for her, the ranch was all that was left. Let's just say that she threw a fit, and tried to bribe, cajole, and blackmail each of us to trade. No one would. So, long story short, she was stuck with the ranch."
"And how does she feel now?" Haley thought she'd get along really well with Crew's father. He sounded like a good man.