Charade (Swept Away, #1.5)(8)

He nodded. “In my office, yes.” He licked his lips. “Or you could help me get the stain out of this one before it sets.”

“How can I do that?”

“Well, if we wet it and scrub it with some soap . . .”

“There’s a Laundromat here as well?” I asked facetiously.

“No Laundromat, but there is a bathroom with faucets and water.”

“And you’d like me to come with you—so you can get the stain out?” I asked quietly, my heart beating rapidly. This was going better than I’d hoped, but I was starting to panic. Maybe it was going too well. I didn’t want him to think of me as some girl he could hook up with. This was a difficult situation. If I played too hard to get, he might not even bother with me, but if I went too far, I’d be disgusted with myself and he might yet ditch me as someone to just have a little fun with.

“Yes, I’d like to get the stain out.” He paused. “And, well, I wouldn’t mind getting to know you better.”

“I’m going to pretend I don’t know what that means, David,” I reprimanded him lightly, letting him know that while I wasn’t about to go and have a quickie in the bathroom, I was going to let him off the hook for his comment.

“Aww, I suppose I’m being a bit forward.” He grinned and brushed a hair away from my face. “I had to try. It’s not every day a beautiful girl bumps into me.”

“I’m not sure that my bumping into you was such a good thing.” I laughed, happy that he’d taken my rejection so well. My ear still tingled from his breath and the touch of his tongue, and I reached over and ran my hand down his chest delicately and deliberately, wanting to tease and let him know that he still had a chance. “I do feel bad about the stain, though.”

“I’m sure you can make it up to me.” He paused. “However you want.”

“Yes, I’m sure we can find a way.” I smiled, playing my role well. I felt someone staring at me and saw, slightly to my right, the man I had been talking to earlier. I could see from the look in his eyes that he knew this wasn’t just a chance encounter. I turned away from him quickly, my face flushed.

“Maybe you’ll let me buy you a drink.” David’s expression became serious. “Outside of this meeting.”

“Hmm.” I licked my lips slowly, pretending to think, and hoping that he could read my thoughts as my brain was jumping around in excitement.

“Or dinner,” he said hurriedly, his eyes surveying my face. “Or drinks and dinner. Or dinner and drinks at my place.”

“Your place?” I raised an eyebrow. “What are you suggesting, David?”

“Whatever you want me to be suggesting.” He grinned. “I’m yours for the taking.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“That’s the point.” His eyes pierced mine. “I want to get to know you. I want to get to know you very much.”

“Oh?” My voice was breathy and my heart stopped for a second as we gazed at each other. This was not a part of my plan. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything as I looked into his eyes. I wasn’t supposed to feel a small buzz of electricity.

“I wasn’t even going to come today, if I’m honest,” he said in a deep voice. “I hate these meetings, but I’m so glad I came now.”

“I’m glad as well.” I smiled at him weakly. Oh David, if you only knew just how glad I am that you came tonight.

“Then it’s settled.” He nodded, giving me another one of his wide boyish smiles. “We’ll go out and get to know each other better.”

“That sounds like a plan to me.”

“I bet you didn’t think you’d walk out of this meeting with a date today, did you?” He laughed and I joined in, laughing heartily.

“One can only hope,” I said sweetly. “We never know what fate has in store for us.”

“Let’s do something crazy. And no, I don’t mean let’s go and hook up in my office—though we can if you want.” The expression on my face told him what I thought about that. “Let’s sneak out and go get a drink.”

“What, and miss the meeting?”

“I promise I’ll be more interesting than the PowerPoint presentations that are coming. Also, I’ll tell you how just how great we’re doing over a drink.”

“Hmmm.” I tilted my head and thought for a minute.

“I promise you won’t regret it.” He winked at me and I laughed.

“You’re a bad boy, David, but I like that. Fine, let’s go. You’ve convinced me.”

“Yes!” He pumped his fist. “Let’s do this.” He grabbed my hand and we walked out of the room hand in hand. My heart was thudding, and I wasn’t sure if I’d come up with the most ingenious plan ever—or if I was opening myself up to something more complicated than I could have imagined.





three

“So you just met this guy, just like that?” Rosie sounded surprised and I could feel her eyes on my face. I felt ashamed of myself for lying to her, but I was determined to honor my father’s wishes.

“Yeah. Funny how life works, isn’t it?” I grabbed some chips and dipped them in the salsa before taking a sip of my strawberry margarita.