wouldn’t be there, that she’d changed her mind. Instead she simply nodded and stalked away, ignoring the sound of male laughter that trailed after her.
CHAPTER SIX
“T HIS WAS NOT my best idea,” Isabel said as she walked next to Ford. She wasn’t sure which was more difficult to deal with—the feel of his fingers laced with hers, or the fact that they were in the middle of the End of Summer Festival, surrounded by pretty much everyone they knew. It was only a matter of time until someone noticed the handholding and commented on it. Worse, she couldn’t help liking the warmth of his light touch, the way their shoulders brushed occasionally. Being around Ford made her feel good—it just wasn’t enough to counteract the compelling need to vomit.
“What was your best idea?” he asked.
“What?”
“You said this wasn’t your best idea. What was?”
She turned and stared at him. He wore jeans and a T-shirt and had on mirrored sunglasses. He looked good. Better than good—he looked fit and sexy and dangerous.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, staring at tiny images of herself reflected in the lenses.
For her faux-relationship debut she’d gone with a blue summer dress. Simple, but with great lines, and the color matched her eyes. She’d thought about curling her hair, but that had seemed as if she was trying too hard. They were going to be walking, so she’d picked cute, flat sandals that matched the skinny belt she’d added.
“Relax,” he said with a smile. “You need to look like you’re having fun or everyone will assume I’m lousy in bed.”
She came to a stop by a booth selling lavender everything. Lotion, lip balm, infused honey. Normally she would have explored, but how could she shop with that comment hanging between them?
“What does you being good or not good in bed have to do with anything?” she asked, careful to keep her voice low.
He removed his sunglasses. She saw amusement in his eyes. “This is a new relationship. You should be riding on the high that is the thrill of being with me.”
“Seriously? This is our public debut as a couple, so according to the world, we haven’t been together very long. Why would I have slept with you so quickly? Are you saying I’m easy?”
“No,” he said and lightly brushed her lower lip with his thumb. “I’m irresistible.”
She was torn between rolling her eyes and acknowledging the faint humming that had started inside her. It was more sensation than sound. As if she were anticipating something wonderful.
“You have an inflated sense of self,” she told him.
“Sometimes.”
There were hundreds of people milling around them, live music in the park and shrieks from kids on the rides at the end of the street. Lots of noise that seemed to fade into the background as she stared into Ford’s dark eyes.
“You’re really annoying,” she said, but there wasn’t a lot of energy in her voice.
He leaned so close his lips lightly brushed her ear. “It’s not even my best quality.”
She shivered slightly and not because it was cold. What was his best quality? she wondered. And would knowing about it make things better or worse between them?
Before she could decide, Ford slipped on his glasses again and led her toward the area with all the food stands.
“Let’s get some sugar into you,” he said. “You’ll feel better.”
“Are you being sexist? Are you saying women like sugar?”
“You’re defensive this morning.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m nervous. What am I supposed to say when your mother walks up and asks about our relationship?”
“I’m keeping an eye out for her and will do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“Using your million-dollar SEAL training to avoid your mother? The navy would be so proud.”
He bought her a lemonade. Isabel hated to admit it, but sipping the drink did make her feel better. She could do this. She’d practically been a pretend
CHAPTER SIX
“T HIS WAS NOT my best idea,” Isabel said as she walked next to Ford. She wasn’t sure which was more difficult to deal with—the feel of his fingers laced with hers, or the fact that they were in the middle of the End of Summer Festival, surrounded by pretty much everyone they knew. It was only a matter of time until someone noticed the handholding and commented on it. Worse, she couldn’t help liking the warmth of his light touch, the way their shoulders brushed occasionally. Being around Ford made her feel good—it just wasn’t enough to counteract the compelling need to vomit.
“What was your best idea?” he asked.
“What?”
“You said this wasn’t your best idea. What was?”
She turned and stared at him. He wore jeans and a T-shirt and had on mirrored sunglasses. He looked good. Better than good—he looked fit and sexy and dangerous.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, staring at tiny images of herself reflected in the lenses.
For her faux-relationship debut she’d gone with a blue summer dress. Simple, but with great lines, and the color matched her eyes. She’d thought about curling her hair, but that had seemed as if she was trying too hard. They were going to be walking, so she’d picked cute, flat sandals that matched the skinny belt she’d added.
“Relax,” he said with a smile. “You need to look like you’re having fun or everyone will assume I’m lousy in bed.”
She came to a stop by a booth selling lavender everything. Lotion, lip balm, infused honey. Normally she would have explored, but how could she shop with that comment hanging between them?
“What does you being good or not good in bed have to do with anything?” she asked, careful to keep her voice low.
He removed his sunglasses. She saw amusement in his eyes. “This is a new relationship. You should be riding on the high that is the thrill of being with me.”
“Seriously? This is our public debut as a couple, so according to the world, we haven’t been together very long. Why would I have slept with you so quickly? Are you saying I’m easy?”
“No,” he said and lightly brushed her lower lip with his thumb. “I’m irresistible.”
She was torn between rolling her eyes and acknowledging the faint humming that had started inside her. It was more sensation than sound. As if she were anticipating something wonderful.
“You have an inflated sense of self,” she told him.
“Sometimes.”
There were hundreds of people milling around them, live music in the park and shrieks from kids on the rides at the end of the street. Lots of noise that seemed to fade into the background as she stared into Ford’s dark eyes.
“You’re really annoying,” she said, but there wasn’t a lot of energy in her voice.
He leaned so close his lips lightly brushed her ear. “It’s not even my best quality.”
She shivered slightly and not because it was cold. What was his best quality? she wondered. And would knowing about it make things better or worse between them?
Before she could decide, Ford slipped on his glasses again and led her toward the area with all the food stands.
“Let’s get some sugar into you,” he said. “You’ll feel better.”
“Are you being sexist? Are you saying women like sugar?”
“You’re defensive this morning.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m nervous. What am I supposed to say when your mother walks up and asks about our relationship?”
“I’m keeping an eye out for her and will do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“Using your million-dollar SEAL training to avoid your mother? The navy would be so proud.”
He bought her a lemonade. Isabel hated to admit it, but sipping the drink did make her feel better. She could do this. She’d practically been a pretend
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