 |
 |
|
|
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] Shane answered, offering her a cheerful grin she didn t trust one bit. Just shootin the shit about your beautiful Rochester weather. 42 Getaway She laughed. No comment. I stayed in Miami as long as I did for a reason, and it wasn t just because of my lousy taste in men. Present company excluded, she added with a warm glance at Alex. Shane cleared his throat and stood. Listen, I ve horned in on your little date for long enough. I m gonna grab another drink. Why don t you two cozy up at a table or somethin ? Natalie knew what that meant. If Shane didn t excuse himself, he d say something they d all regret. She could feel him itching to pick a fight with Alex. A perverse part of her wanted him to& just being near the both of them together, she knew which type of man her body preferred. No. Bad. Give the nice guy a chance. Shane was being good and she d be well advised to follow his example. Sure. Thanks, Shane. Natalie flashed her eyes at Alex and picked up her drink, and he followed her to a small table by the window. That was decent of him, Alex said, pulling her chair out. Surprisingly decent, yes. He pulled his own chair closer and sat, leaning close. I m glad he did, actually. I have a surprise for you. And a question. Natalie felt the room go cold and her mouth fall open. She closed it, but not quickly enough to cover her horror. Alex laughed. Don t panic it s not a ring. She put a hand to her chest, relieved beyond belief. Oh my God, you scared me. No offense. None taken. It s only been a couple weeks. Yes, exactly. Okay, breathe. She laughed, fanning herself. 43 Cara McKenna But my question or rather my surprise, since I hope you ll say yes, since it s already paid for& I was hoping& He reached for his wallet and drew out a brochure. He unfolded it and handed it to Natalie. She stared at the palm trees and aqua sea and swoopy wording, not quite understanding. Montserrat? He grinned. For a week in March, right when the snow turns from gray to brown around here. What do you think? She laughed, confusion morphing into alarm. I think that s very generous of you, but I don t know. I mean, it s not always easy to get time off from work. And my sister s baby will be here. And& And? And I didn t know we were even like, a couple or anything. I don t think I m ready to go away with you. As delightful as it all sounds. I mean, a weekend in New York City, maybe, but not a vacation in the Caribbean. She slid the brochure across the table toward him. I m sorry, but no. That s too fast for me. Alex smiled tightly. It s a trip, not a proposal. And we re in our thirties& now s the time to take chances, you know? No time to waste, right? She stared at him for a moment, realizing what he was. Alex was a particular sort of boyfriend, the kind a woman tried on to see if he d make a good husband. But Natalie didn t want a husband, not anytime soon, at least. She wondered what she was to him& probably more of the same, a potential life partner audition as the opening night for traditional adulthood edged ever closer. Natalie made a poor decision and looked to the bar, at Shane s back and ass, arms propped on the counter. He didn t seem the type to spontaneously whisk her off to the tropics for a week, but he d certainly be happy to take her home and do terrible things to her all night long. And for better or worse, that s what she wanted from a man at this point in her life. 44 Getaway She stood, chair squeaking against the floor. Rifling in her purse, she set a five on the table beside Alex s brochure in an attempt to even out the balance of the entire date. Thank you, really, for asking me. But this isn t what I m looking for. I hope I haven t wasted your time too badly, but I m not ready for what you are. It s just a trip. Natalie could feel him backpedaling and didn t give him a chance to talk her into it. And I hope it s refundable, because I really can t go. I don t want to go. Nat I should go. Sorry, again. Have a lovely weekend. He called after her as she headed for the coat rack. I ll call you tomorrow, okay? Sleep on it. She turned to shout, No, I ll call you, knowing she probably wouldn t. She grabbed her coat and Shane s and tugged at his arm. Come on, drink up. We re leaving. He aimed a beady look at Alex. He get out of line with you? No, worse. Let s go. You need me to straighten him out? She shoved his bottle into his hand. Here, drink. Drink drink drink. Shane drained his beer obediently and followed her out, tugging his jacket on. What happened? He asked me to go to the Caribbean with him. Shane laughed. That bastard. Natalie made an overblown shuddering noise and dug out her keys as they reached the truck. I seriously could only have been more terrified if he d come out with a ring. They climbed inside and she cranked the heat, not caring if it came out frigid for the first couple of minutes. 45 Cara McKenna Caribbean, Shane said. What kind of a sicko offers to take you there when you ve got all this to enjoy? She sensed him gesturing at the street scene as she turned them onto the road. It s just way too much, way too fast. Plus don t pretend you re taking his side. I saw you just dying to fuck with him when you guys were talking. I won t deny that. But I did what you said. I was good. Even excused myself and everything. Model wingman. It s not really a wingman I m looking for tonight, Shane. A pause. Oh? I don t know exactly what it is I want& but it s not a one-way ticket to Husbandville. Surgeon, though& [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |