Savoring another bite of the fudge ice cream, she shook her head. “Nothing I can think of at the moment.”
“I don’t believe that.”
She made a face at him. “Whatever.”
He grinned. “Chicken.”
It was the second time he’d called her that. Again, she refused to react, simply dipping into the ice-cream carton again.
“Just what does it take to get a rise out of you, Counselor?”
“A great deal.” With one last, longing look at the remaining ice cream, she resolutely set her spoon aside.
“I’m afraid I’m not nearly as disciplined as you are.” He scooped out another huge spoonful.
“Somehow I’m not surprised by that,” she commented wryly.
With a chuckle, he held his spoon to her lips, giving her another tantalizing taste of the treat. “I have a great number of fantasies. Most of them, I’ve gone after.”
She nodded, thinking of those fascinating photographs he kept in his scrapbook.
He slipped another spoonful of ice cream between her lips. “I’ve always figured that life is too short to waste it daydreaming about grand adventures. I prefer to experience them.”
“And if one of those grand adventures makes your life even shorter?”
“Then I go with no regrets.”
She frowned and pushed his hand away when he would have fed her more ice cream. “Don’t you think that’s a rather selfish way to live? What about the people who care about you? Who depend on you? What about the stress and worry your reckless behavior causes them?”
He shrugged. “That’s not a problem. There’s no one who depends on me particularly. The ranch runs well enough without me, as do the other businesses in which I have holdings. Unlike your brother, I have no children to pine for me. I might be selfish, but I’ve been very careful I’m the only one who risks getting hurt.”
Blair found that hard to believe. There had to be people who cared whether Scott lived or died. He was too vibrant, too charming, too compelling. She couldn’t imagine that he lived like a monk, and she didn’t believe the women he romanced were all able to protect their hearts from him. This was a man who would be all too easy to love, even for someone who knew from the beginning that it was not a wise emotional investment.
So why was he saying these things to her now? Was this his way of warning her not to expect too much from his flirting? If so, she could have assured him his precaution hadn’t been necessary. She made a production of stifling a yawn. “As entertaining as this has been, I really should go back to bed. I have a long day ahead tomorrow.”
He capped the ice cream and rose to replace it in the freezer. “I feel a bit like Jeff. I’m not quite ready for our weekend to be over.”
She crossed her arms. “I haven’t thanked you yet for all you’ve done for Jeffrey this weekend.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “I haven’t done much. Just took him fishing.”
“You’ve done more than that. He’s had a very good time this weekend. He needed a man’s attention, and you’ve given it to him. You’ve been very kind and patient even when he was difficult. I just want you to know I appreciate it.”
Looking uncomfortable, Scott shrugged. “He’s a cool kid. I’ve enjoyed spending time with him.”
She bit her lip. It felt good to hear someone say something nice about Jeffrey for a change. To think someone had actually enjoyed being with him, whether Scott was being honest or just being nice.
“He’s very fond of you, you know,” Scott added conversationally. “He just doesn’t know how to show you.”
Her arms tightened defensively around herself. “Do you really think so? Or is he just tolerating me until his father comes back? Not that I believe that’s going to happen anytime soon, if ever.”
“No, I think Jeff really cares for you. But maybe he isn’t sure how you feel about him.”
Blair stared at him. “Of course he knows I care about him. Why else would I care whether he eats right or gets good grades or has someone to watch out for him when I’m tied up at work? Why would I work so hard trying to keep him s
afe and happy?”
“He’s a kid, Blair. He needs things spelled out. He doesn’t know how to read between the lines. As far as he knows, you do all that stuff because you think you have to.”