my line of work, it’s steel-toed work boots all day, so I dress up whenever I get a chance. I was in planning meetings today, so I thought I’d take advantage of the reprieve and dress like a girl for a change.” I’d also hoped to see Chase and wanted to look my best.
“Believe me,” he said, his eyes discreetly perusing my low-cut blue dress, “you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met. It wouldn’t matter what you were wearing—men would take notice.”
I was surprised by his bold comment. So far, he’d been the perfect gentleman. Of course, that might have had something to do with our chaperones. I was suddenly very grateful for their presence. “I’m flattered, but—”
“You’re not interested, I know.” When I didn’t confirm or deny his statement, he asked, “You’re still hoping to land Chase?”
I didn’t appreciate his phrasing, but I understood his annoyance. No man liked to be rejected. Twice. “To be honest, I’m not sure where things stand between us right now.”
He leaned in, resting his arm on the back of my chair. “Ah, good, then I still have a chance.”
“Did I say that?” I didn’t believe in giving men false hope, and this one didn’t have a hope in hell of landing me.
“Then you wouldn’t be interested even if Chase wasn’t a factor?” He leaned back, flattening his hand against his chest. “I’m hurt. What is it? Not rich enough, handsome enough, or successful enough? I didn’t go to the right school? Don’t have the right friends?”
I set my teeth, reminding myself he was Dustin and Kara’s friend so he must have some redeeming qualities. “I don’t care about any of that.”
He laughed bitterly. “Right, that’s why you’ve set your sights on the guy who owns the largest commercial development company in the state—because you don’t give a damn about status.”
I stood, tossing my napkin on the table. “I have to go.” In deference to my sister, I refused to be rude, but I wouldn’t sit there while some stranger called my character into question simply because I’d rejected him.
“Wait.” He grabbed my wrist. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just disappointed. I’d hoped this evening would turn out differently. At least let me see you home.”
“Thanks, I’d rather catch a cab.”
Chapter Eight
Chase
I was sitting on the front porch, waiting for Catia’s date to bring her home. I wasn’t proud of it, especially since it was the end of October and I couldn’t claim to be enjoying the balmy evening.
I’d been standing at the kitchen window, washing vegetables, when I saw the slick black sedan pull into her driveway a few hours earlier. I clenched my teeth as I watched him help her into the car, his hand resting on the small of her back. I wanted to go over there and lay him out for putting his hands on her, but with my daughters just a few feet away, I had to pretend it wasn’t killing me to see her go out with someone else.
Even though she’d told me about the date, claiming it was innocent, I hadn’t been able to get it off my mind all day. Especially after our last conversation, when she’d claimed I was right to want to put on the brakes. What an idiot I had been for suggesting that! If I’d ever wanted to take anything back, it was those few words.
If I could have hit rewind and had that night in the hotel room back, I would have made love to her until she didn’t even have the desire to utter another man’s name, let alone agree to be his dinner companion.
I finally felt I could breathe when I saw a cab pull into her drive and she jumped out. “Date didn’t go well?” I asked, loud enough for her to hear.
She turned. “Chase? Is that you?”
Since I had the porch light on, I suspected she could see my face. “I sure could use a little company. How ‘bout you?”
She walked over slowly, seeming hesitant as she curled a dark wrap around her shoulders to ward off the chill.
“Believe me,” he said, his eyes discreetly perusing my low-cut blue dress, “you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met. It wouldn’t matter what you were wearing—men would take notice.”
I was surprised by his bold comment. So far, he’d been the perfect gentleman. Of course, that might have had something to do with our chaperones. I was suddenly very grateful for their presence. “I’m flattered, but—”
“You’re not interested, I know.” When I didn’t confirm or deny his statement, he asked, “You’re still hoping to land Chase?”
I didn’t appreciate his phrasing, but I understood his annoyance. No man liked to be rejected. Twice. “To be honest, I’m not sure where things stand between us right now.”
He leaned in, resting his arm on the back of my chair. “Ah, good, then I still have a chance.”
“Did I say that?” I didn’t believe in giving men false hope, and this one didn’t have a hope in hell of landing me.
“Then you wouldn’t be interested even if Chase wasn’t a factor?” He leaned back, flattening his hand against his chest. “I’m hurt. What is it? Not rich enough, handsome enough, or successful enough? I didn’t go to the right school? Don’t have the right friends?”
I set my teeth, reminding myself he was Dustin and Kara’s friend so he must have some redeeming qualities. “I don’t care about any of that.”
He laughed bitterly. “Right, that’s why you’ve set your sights on the guy who owns the largest commercial development company in the state—because you don’t give a damn about status.”
I stood, tossing my napkin on the table. “I have to go.” In deference to my sister, I refused to be rude, but I wouldn’t sit there while some stranger called my character into question simply because I’d rejected him.
“Wait.” He grabbed my wrist. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just disappointed. I’d hoped this evening would turn out differently. At least let me see you home.”
“Thanks, I’d rather catch a cab.”
Chapter Eight
Chase
I was sitting on the front porch, waiting for Catia’s date to bring her home. I wasn’t proud of it, especially since it was the end of October and I couldn’t claim to be enjoying the balmy evening.
I’d been standing at the kitchen window, washing vegetables, when I saw the slick black sedan pull into her driveway a few hours earlier. I clenched my teeth as I watched him help her into the car, his hand resting on the small of her back. I wanted to go over there and lay him out for putting his hands on her, but with my daughters just a few feet away, I had to pretend it wasn’t killing me to see her go out with someone else.
Even though she’d told me about the date, claiming it was innocent, I hadn’t been able to get it off my mind all day. Especially after our last conversation, when she’d claimed I was right to want to put on the brakes. What an idiot I had been for suggesting that! If I’d ever wanted to take anything back, it was those few words.
If I could have hit rewind and had that night in the hotel room back, I would have made love to her until she didn’t even have the desire to utter another man’s name, let alone agree to be his dinner companion.
I finally felt I could breathe when I saw a cab pull into her drive and she jumped out. “Date didn’t go well?” I asked, loud enough for her to hear.
She turned. “Chase? Is that you?”
Since I had the porch light on, I suspected she could see my face. “I sure could use a little company. How ‘bout you?”
She walked over slowly, seeming hesitant as she curled a dark wrap around her shoulders to ward off the chill.
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