But Griffin knew not one man there was concentrating on the diamond necklace around April's neck, compliments of Tiffany's. Like him, they were concentrating on the soft curves of a body dressed in an outfit that would bring even the strongest man to his knees.

He'd always thought April was a beautiful woman. Unfortunately, she'd had to leave Hattersville and earn the t.i.tle of one of the foremost supermodels for others to see what he'd known all along. And tonight that short black dress she wore was exposing her beauty for all to see. Her legs, long and shapely, seemed destined to go on forever.

"Hey, man, she's the reason I'm here tonight," he heard one man whisper to another behind him. "I've had a thing for her ever since she did that Sports Ill.u.s.trated Sports Ill.u.s.trated cover. Miss Hot April and I won't just be sharing a drink later," the man continued to whisper rather loudly. "But I'm going to try my best to talk her into something else." cover. Miss Hot April and I won't just be sharing a drink later," the man continued to whisper rather loudly. "But I'm going to try my best to talk her into something else."

Griffin frowned as he listened to the conversation. He had news for the man if he thought for one minute that he would be the one April would be sharing a drink with. Now that the applause, whistles and catcalls had died down, the MC was talking, asking for everyone's attention. "All right, guys, we have April North, and just take a look at this necklace April is wearing...."

Griffin rolled his eyes. Did the woman really expect any man, including him, especially him, to divert his attention from April's legs to check out her jewelry? Evidently she did, since she went on to describe the jewelry in great detail. He was sure the necklace was nice but he was of the mind that April's legs were nicer.

Even from where he was sitting, halfway back in the auditorium, the bright lights captured her in a way no magazine ad ever could. And he swore he could pick up her scent.

"We have ten thousand. Do I hear fifteen?"

He blinked, realizing the bidding had begun when the man behind him shouted out a bid. It was apparent he was determined to be the recipient of both the necklace and April. Griffin shrugged. It was all for charity and he'd always had a compet.i.tive nature.

It seemed two others had joined the bidding fray, just as determined to share that drink with April. He leaned back comfortably in his seat, deciding to keep his mouth shut for now. He didn't intend to open it until it mattered.

Instead of glancing around to see who the men were, April just stood tall, graceful and poised, while looking over the crowd with a radiant smile on her face. That smile alone would guarantee an arousal out of every man there.

"We have a bid of twenty-five thousand. Do I hear thirty?"

"Fifty!"

A hush fell over the auditorium at the bid from the man behind Griffin.

"We have a bid of fifty thousand! That's wonderful and, remember, it's all for charity. Can we get fifty-five?"

The room remained quiet and Griffin didn't have to turn around to know the man behind him probably had a silly grin on his face.

"Going once, going twice-"

"One hundred thousand dollars," Griffin called out. He didn't have to look around to know people were staring at him as if he'd gone mad, and no doubt the man behind him was fuming. April, he noticed, was still standing there. Curiosity hadn't even made her look over in his direction.

"My goodness," the MC said after the shock wore off. "We have a bid for one hundred thousand dollars for the necklace Ms. North is wearing. Can we get one hundred and five?"

When the room remained quiet the MC then said, "Oh, well. Going once, going twice. Sold to the man in the dark gray suit."

April glanced around the reception, certain the man she was looking for was around someplace. He was to approach her with the ticket for his winnings, which she carried in her hand, gift-boxed and ready to deliver. A part of her couldn't wait to meet the person willing to part with a hundred thousand dollars for a ten-thousand-dollar necklace.

She glanced at her watch. She would share the drink with him as agreed and then she would leave. Tomorrow she would fly to Ohio for a few days before heading back out west. She had checked in with Nana today as she did every Sat.u.r.day and she'd sounded fine, but there was no way she could be this close to Hattersville and not see for herself.

"Would you like a drink, miss?"

She almost told the server yes, but then remembered she was to have her drink with the man who'd won the bid on her jewelry. The event, hosted by Oprah, was to benefit several charities, the purchase of her necklace going to breast cancer awareness.

"No, thank you."

She glanced at her watch again, thinking that surely the man hadn't changed his mind and not taken care of the bill. It was for charity, after all, although he had raised a few eyebrows with the amount of his bid. She was certain he was here; she would just have to look for a man wearing a dark gray suit.

Several people came up, complimenting her on her career and her recent spread in Vogue. Vogue. Although Oprah had made an appearance earlier, she hadn't been seen lately, but this room had an ambience of elegance that only Oprah could exude. She'd overheard earlier that the room had been specially decorated for tonight's affair. She glanced around, admiring the room's high ceiling, crown moldings and rich mahogany windowsills. At that moment she couldn't help but admire the woman's success. Although Oprah had made an appearance earlier, she hadn't been seen lately, but this room had an ambience of elegance that only Oprah could exude. She'd overheard earlier that the room had been specially decorated for tonight's affair. She glanced around, admiring the room's high ceiling, crown moldings and rich mahogany windowsills. At that moment she couldn't help but admire the woman's success.

She glanced down at the gift-wrapped box she carried, wondering where the man was, when she felt a presence by her side. She glanced up, expecting to see another server, and her breath immediately got caught in her throat. She was staring up into the eyes of the man who just last night had headlined her naughtiest dream. And now he stood in front of her, with the most mesmerizing smile on his lips that reached the s.e.xiest pair of eyes she'd ever seen.

"Griffin! Hi." The words flowed from her lips in a throaty surprise. "What are you doing here?"

She realized the stupidity of her question the moment she'd asked it. He was in his element here. He'd been born to this type of extravagance. She hadn't.

A smile touched what she'd always thought was a pair of sensual lips. "I heard about the event and thought I'd attend and do my part for charity," he said, sipping the wine he had in his hand.

She felt her heart beating fast and furious in her chest and hoped she didn't melt in a puddle right at his feet. She couldn't believe he was actually here. She tried forcing her heart to calm down. But d.a.m.n, he looked good in his white shirt and a dark gray suit.

A dark gray suit...

She shook her head, trying to get her senses in check. There was no way Griffin was the man who'd purchased the necklace she'd worn. No way. He gave her another smile that sent everything within her spinning out of control. And then he said, "I think you have something for me."

She swallowed, felt her heart do a triple flip in her chest. "I do?"

"Yes, and you also owe me a drink." He glanced around and then turned back to her. "But I'd prefer if we share it someplace else."

She fought saying that he could take her to the ends of the earth and she would go, she was just that into him, and had always been. How many years had she gone to bed and dreamed of him, had married others because she'd known he would always be out of her reach?

Had he just suggested they blow this place and go and have a drink somewhere else? Just the two of them? She drew in a deep breath. Could that be considered a date? The thought of her and Griffin sharing a date was way too much. Every part of her responded to the possibility, even her nipples, pressing hard against her dress. They were feeling sensitive, achy, in need of a man's lips and tongue. But not any man's.

"So what do you say, April North?"

Okay, girl, keep your cool. Don't appear too eager and, whatever you do, please keep the drool from falling. He must never know how you feel about him. How you've always felt about him. Besides, he's still out of your reach. He's running for mayor one day. The high-society dames will all have cows if you're ever first lady of Hattersville.

"I a.s.sume you're the person who made the bid," she said as calmly as she could, trying to sound like she didn't care one way or the other.

"Yes," he said, handing her the winning ticket that showed he'd taken care of the bill. "I believe I'm supposed to present this to you."

She took it and glanced at it for a second before handing him the gift-wrapped box. "And I believe this is yours."

"Thanks." He looked up at her. "So are you ready to leave here with me and have that drink? I know a cafe that's only a short cab ride from here."

Knowing how she felt about him, she would be crazy to do it. But then again, knowing how she felt about him, she would be crazy not to do it. Chances were this would never happen again-her partic.i.p.ating in an auction and wearing a necklace that he wanted at whatever cost it took him to get it. She wiped the thought from her mind that he would probably give the jewelry to the woman she'd seen him with in New York.

She would dwell on that another day and time.

"Well, what do you say?" he asked, interrupting her thoughts. "Will you share a drink with me elsewhere?"

"Yes."

"Then by all means, let's go." Taking her hand, he led her to the door.

Heat flowed through Griffin's belly at the feel of April's hand in his. Leaving the party was an idea that had popped into his head once he'd seen her mingling at the reception, a number of the men gushing in her wake. For some reason he wanted to have her all to himself. And for her to agree had nearly overwhelmed him.

He kept a firm hold on her hand while hailing a cab, and once one had pulled up at the curb and they'd slid onto the backseat, he turned to her and his body almost melted when she gave him a smile. And then he felt it and wondered if she'd felt it, as well. The air they were sharing seemed charged, pulsating with full s.e.xual awareness. As if captured by a hold he couldn't break, he stared at her, barely breathing while thinking she had to be the most beautiful woman to walk this earth.

It was only when she broke eye contact to glance out the window that he slowly exhaled a deep breath. He didn't have to wonder what that was all about. He knew. It had been that way that day in New York. He had felt the heated s.e.xual chemistry, a mind-blowing awareness from across the room even while he'd been with another woman. Now the question was what did a man do about such a woman.

"Have you been to this cafe before?"

"Yes," he said. "The food is delicious. I thought that in addition to drinks we can also try out a few of their signature dishes."

A low, throaty chuckle erupted from her throat. "Good, I'm starving."

He was starving, too, he thought to himself. But what his body craved, food could not a.s.suage.

The cab driver interrupted his naughty thoughts. "DeLonn's Cafe, sir."

Griffin glanced out the window. "This is the place." He handed the driver more than enough to pay for the short ride. "Keep the change."

The man's face lit up in a huge smile. "Thanks. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening."

Griffin hoped so, too. "Thanks." When he made a move to open the door, it was then that he realized he was still holding April's hand.

"Would you like something else, April? What about dessert?"

April glanced up and felt the heat of Griffin's gaze connect with hers. When he'd suggested they leave the reception and go somewhere to share their drink, she hadn't a clue where he was taking her and, if truth be known, hadn't really cared. But when she'd walked into DeLonn's she was taken aback. From the outside it looked like a little hole-in-the-wall, but the inside was another matter. Beautifully furnished, the soul food restaurant had various pictures posted of celebrities who'd eaten food prepared by Gramma DeLonn.

April was surprised she'd never heard of the place before. After biting into Gramma DeLonn's fried chicken, there was no doubt in her mind that she would come back.

"No, I'm full, thank you. But because of you I'm going to have to be on the treadmill for two hours in the morning instead of one."

He chuckled. "So that's one of your activities to stay in shape."

"Yes. I also go swimming every chance I get. You probably don't remember but I was on Hattersville High's swim team back in the day."

"I remember."

She was surprised that he did. "You do?"

"Yes. You made the team in your freshman year. I was a senior."

Oh, yes, she remembered those days when he would walk the halls of the high school and all the girls' panties would get wet. He was hot then and he was still hot now.

"So are you going to tell me how you found out about this place?" Despite the good food, she figured this was not the type of establishment a Hayes would frequent. But she could tell from the way he was familiar with the owner and servers that he'd been here often.

He leaned back in his chair and she watched the movement of his shoulders beneath his jacket when he did so. She was suddenly entrenched in memories of the time she and Erica had come upon him jogging shirtless in the park a few years back when she'd come home for a visit. He had stood there and held a conversation with them for a good twenty minutes, and it had taken all her willpower not to stare at his muscular shoulders and the way his chest hair tapered off toward the waistband of his running shorts.

"Sure, I'll tell you," he said, smiling. "I attended college with Jabar DeLonn, who is Gramma DeLonn's grandson. In fact we were roommates all four years and remain the best of friends today."

"You attended Ohio State, right?"

"Of course."

She rolled her eyes. "That means you're a true-blue Buck-eye."

"Is there any other kind? Unlike you, I was loyal to my state. I bet you couldn't wait to get to California."

If you only knew, April thought. April thought.

"I couldn't wait to see the Pacific Ocean." She smiled, knowing that hadn't been the only reason.

"You stayed away four years and then some."

She wondered how he knew just how long she'd stayed away. He must have seen the questioning look in her gaze and said, "I returned to Hattersville after college to find it was almost like a ghost town. Everyone I'd grown up with or knew had either left town for good or was doing their own thing. Now I'm glad a number of them got tired of the big city life and are moving back. I talked to Stacie Childress recently. She plans to move back."

She'd heard that. Although Stacie's ancestors hadn't been among the town's founding fathers, because her parents were loaded she had been included in the high-society niche. The one thing April remembered was that Stacie had the hots for Griffin.

April understood that Stacie was a divorcee. She couldn't help but wonder if perhaps Stacie had heard about Erica's marriage plans and figured that meant Griffin was finally free. Was Stacie moving back to Hattersville to try her luck once again? If that was the reason, her timing couldn't have been more perfect. As mayor he would need a wife or fiancee who would be refined and sophisticated.

"I think it's wonderful that Stacie is moving back," she said.

"Do you?"

"Yes. Don't you?"

He shrugged those ma.s.sive shoulders again. "No reason not to be. At least I figure I'll have her vote."

She didn't say anything for a moment and then decided to ask, "You didn't go to Erica's engagement party. Do you plan to attend the wedding?"

He took a sip of his coffee, then smiled at her. "I haven't decided yet. Erica is a good friend and I think she would expect me to be there. But then I don't want my mother or hers sitting on the edge of their seats thinking I'm going to do something ridiculous like stop the wedding. Knowing them, they'd really expect me to."

Yes, she could imagine that they would. "Did it ever bother you that they tried putting you and Erica together at every twist and turn?"

"Of course it did, but luckily Erica and I formed an alliance to beat them at their own game. Once we knew we could only be friends, we just gave up trying to convince them of that and decided to let them figure it out for themselves."

April shook her head. "I doubt they've figured it out, even now with Erica getting married in a few months. I don't know about your mom, but I think Mrs. Sanders is obsessed with the idea."

"And you know why, don't you?"

"No. Is there a reason?"

Griffin smiled. "She thinks there is. Ever since Hattersville was founded, a Delbert has tried marrying a Hayes and something always happens before the wedding takes place. Some family members say there was a curse placed to keep the families apart."