Chapter 20
TWENTY
X anthe murmured a thank you and stepped inside the cozy, familiar interior. Built in the late nineteenth-century, it had the ambiance of a charming old British pub done up in a Victorian gothic core, heavy on the skeletons.
They got a corner booth near the back of the restaurant, the soft brown leather worn and scratched from use. She recognized a few locals, saw the surprise and curiosity on their faces. Well, she was just as surprised as they were, to be here with him. And by her own choice.
They each ordered a glass of white wine. She’d never been out with a man who drank white wine, but he seemed to know a lot more about the different varieties than she did.
Actually, she’d never been out with anyone as sophisticated as he was. It was a novel experience.
After looking at the menu, he leaned back against the tufted leather backrest, his posture both confident and at ease.
The way his shirt stretched across his muscular chest and shoulders was hella distracting.
“Okay, I know it’s killing you. Let’s talk about the development for a few minutes to get it out of the way, but then it’s off the table for the rest of lunch. ”
“All right, since you brought it up.” She wasted no time in launching into her top ten questions, phrasing them plainly while still being polite.
To her surprise, he didn’t dodge any of them, calmly and patiently answering each one. He insisted there was no firm time estimate yet on when the research station would be torn down. And by extension, when she would lose her home as well.
“That’s not my area on this project. I was brought in as a numbers and finance guy,” he said.
“Is that what you studied at college?”
“No. Computers. I did finance courses later on my own, plus some economics, business, and stats.”
Oh, damn, he was proficient with stats too. Why was the thought of him using various functions on Excel so freaking hot?
Their food came, ending that part of the conversation. Maybe it was the company, but her seafood salad tasted especially good today. “Did you order the prawn linguini instead of a burger for my benefit?” she asked.
He grinned. “This might surprise you, but I happen to like seafood. Although I’m most definitely not a pescatarian.” He took a sip of his wine, his hazel eyes glinting with a hint of mischief and more than a hint of heat.
Her internal temperature rose a few degrees.
She was conflicted about the attraction simmering between them. He’d cost her so much. It was hard for her to reconcile that cutthroat side of him with the man sitting across from her now.
“This is going a whole lot better than the last time we met here,” he said with the hint of a grin.
“I agree.” She’d wanted to dislike him on principle. Made her mind up to from day one, but he was making it impossible to continue. She was actually enjoying his company. He was interesting. He aroused her curiosity.
And the rest of her as a result.
Engaging her mind was the most delicious form of foreplay she could think of. “By the way. I’m not in the habit of explaining myself to people, but I feel I owe you an explanation for how I reacted to you that day.”
“You don’t need to explain.”
“I want to.”
“Okay.” He gave her his full attention, that intent hazel stare never leaving her face.
Her pulse kicked up a notch. “My stepdad died of pancreatic cancer the week before that.” She twisted the napkin in her fingers.
“We were really close. It was hard to lose him that way, to watch him suffer the way he did. I found out about the land sale and development proposal the day after I got back to the island, and came straight down to confront your group when I heard you were here.”
He winced. “I’m sorry. That’s really shitty about your dad,” he said quietly, his expression and tone sincere.
“Yeah, it was. Anyway, that’s why I was so angry. I’m not normally quite that much of a bitch when I’m mad.”
A spark of humor lit his eyes. “No?”
She smiled a little at his doubt. “No. I was extra bitchy that day.”
Just as they were finishing their last few bites, he stopped and dug his phone out of his pocket. Glanced at the screen. “It’s the call I’ve been expecting. Excuse me for a minute.”
“Sure,” she murmured, watching him slide out of the booth and answer as he walked away, eyeing the breadth of his shoulders and the fit of his pants.
That was twice now he’d left the table to take a call, whether because he was private or whatever he was talking about was something secret. Another business deal maybe?
She finished her salad and the last of her wine, deciding she was glad she’d accepted his invitation. Contrary to her assumptions, it seemed he wasn’t just a narcissistic capitalist asshole after all.
When he returned to the table a few minutes later, she knew instantly from his expression that something was off. And that it was urgent. “I regret having to cut this short, but I need to go.”
“Of course,” she said quickly, setting her napkin down as she stood and grabbed her coat.
He helped her into it, but she sensed the change in him. A sort of distance that told her he was all up in his head as he led her outside and put her in his car.
“Everything okay?” she finally asked when he pulled onto the street.
“Yes.”
He didn’t offer anything more, but she could tell that whatever was going on wasn’t good. “Can I help?”
He glanced over at her. Seemed a bit surprised by her offer. “No. But thanks. Everything’s fine.”
She would bet money that it wasn’t but didn’t say anything. It wasn’t any of her business.
They didn’t talk on the drive back to his place.
He quickly backed into his spot in front of the walkway, shut off the engine and paused, turning slightly to look at her.
“I really enjoyed spending time with you. I’ve got meetings on the mainland tomorrow, but I should be back by early evening at the latest. Will you have dinner with me after?
I promise not to bail partway through—or take any calls. ”
She saw something in his eyes. A hint of something vulnerable and authentic that hit the unguarded spot deep inside her heart. “Okay, I will.”
He smiled a little. “Good. Thank you.” He escorted her to her car. Held her door while she got in, then stared down at her with such intensity that for a moment she was sure he was going to lean down and kiss her.
She was even more surprised to realize she wouldn’t have stopped him.
“Drive safely. See you tomorrow,” he said instead, then shut her door and hurried for his house.