CHAPTER THREE
“How’s the coffee?” he asked smiling at her.
“Uh, good. Could you not do that?” she asked.
“Do what?” he frowned.
“Smile at me. It makes me feel like you know something I don’t know and that I’m about to be the dinner in the lions’ den.” River laughed, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I smile at you because I like you, Priscilla. You’re beautiful, smart, like incredibly smart, and you’re a great agent.”
“I don’t understand,” she said frowning at him. “You accepted dinner with Celine.”
“I did because I thought it was truly a farewell dinner. Celine’s nice and I can see how some men might like what she, uh, offers,” he smirked.
“Oh, you’ve seen that,” said Priscilla.
“It’s hard not to see it,” he said taking a sip of his coffee. “We’re trained to see all of it, remember?”
“I remember,” she said nodding. “It’s just that most men never get past her body to see that she’s just using them. I mean, don’t get me wrong. Celine is a good friend and I enjoy spending time with her, for the most part, but she’s not used to not getting her way with men.”
“Which is why I invited you along,” he said with a sly grin.
Priscilla tilted her head staring at him.
“I knew what she was doing and I knew that she wouldn’t have any alternative but to allow you to come if I mentioned it.
You see, women like Celine like the conquest. They like to believe they pulled one over on the man so that when the relationship ends, it was all their idea, not the man’s. ”
“Wow, you really are good at reading people,” she whispered. “I’m not like that.”
“I know,” said River. “It’s why I invited you. I wanted to ask you to dinner weeks ago but knew that you were all business. I respect that.”
“I don’t mean to sit here in disbelief,” she said staring at the blonde god, “but men rarely take a second look at me when Celine is around.”
“Then those men are stupid. I come in every day and see that mass of black hair piled on your head and it makes me smile.”
“I have a lot of unruly curls,” she frowned.
“I think they’re adorable. You always look over your computer screen at me and I see those huge brown eyes and long thick lashes batting away. It’s like you’re sending me a morse code. Help me, your eyes are saying,” he laughed. Priscilla couldn’t help but laugh as well.
“Now you’re just being silly,” she said.
“Only a little. But I’m also being sincere. I have to go back to Coronado for a few days then I’m headed to my family’s home in Louisiana. Could I interest you in a little getaway?”
“To your family’s home?” she squealed.
“Yes,” he laughed. “Is that so strange?”
“It is when we barely know one another. We haven’t even had a date yet,” she said lowering her voice.
“This is a date. Our first,” he smiled, “and I think it’s going splendidly.
You could come with me to Coronado, spend the night in our family home there.
Separate bedrooms, I swear. We can enjoy the beaches, have some fabulous food, and then head to my family for a few days.
I know you have a ton of vacation time. I looked it up. ”
“You hacked into the human resources files?” she asked.
“Hacked is a harsh word. I happened to stumble into them,” he grinned.
“River that’s a federal offense,” she whispered.
“Are you going to turn me in?” he asked smiling at her. She looked like she might say yes, then she laughed, shaking her head.
“No. Of course, not. I just don’t think I’ve ever had a man pursue me like this. You know that if Celine sees this, us as being attracted to one another, she’s going to be livid.”
“First, you said attracted to one another which means you’re attracted to me. I was beginning to worry.”
“You’re crazy,” she laughed. “Yes, I’m attracted to you but I thought you were only interested in Celine.”
“No. Not even a little,” he said sincerely. “Second, I think we’re all adults and can have a pleasant farewell meal together. We’re driving together, so we have no choice but to leave together.”
“Are you sure, River?”
“Positive.”
“Alright. We’d better get going or we’ll be late and that’s not something that makes her happy no matter who it is.”
Priscilla directed River toward Celine’s townhome, turning down tree-lined streets, snow covering the lawns as children played in the yards making snowmen. Traffic was going to make them slightly late but Celine would have to get over it.
“This is a nice area,” he frowned. “A place here costs a pretty penny, especially a federal style home.”
“I know. Celine said she inherited the place from an uncle. It’s beautiful though. Full of gorgeous antiques and all this historical stuff.”
River just nodded, not sure what to make of this. He knew the woman, Celine, had been entertaining gentlemen in her spare time. Everyone knew. But this was something different. A federal employee would have a hard time making ends meet in this neighborhood.
“Here we are,” said Priscilla. She started to get out of the car and River held her hand.
“Priscilla, I’m glad you came with me. Truly. I know this feels sudden to you but I’ve been thinking about this since the moment we started working together.” She smiled at him, looking for any signs of insincerity.
“Me too. Truly.”