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He could tell she’d been wondering whether he was reneging on his promise even before the ink had dried on their contract. Was he trying to entice her back into his bed?
Yes—no. No. He corrected the response that had jumped unbidden into his head. Fortunately, he hadn’t spoken aloud.
Nevertheless, Pia seemed ready to argue. “I don’t think a show would be—”
“—the ticket?” he finished. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got two seats in the front orchestra.” He winked. “I worked the family connection.”
“You know what I mean!”
“Hardly. And that seems to be a recurring problem of mine.”
Pia looked as if she wanted to continue to protest.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night. I’ll come by at seven.” He glanced down at the cat. “I hope Mr. Darcy won’t mind spending the evening at home alone.”
“Why?” she jabbed, but lightly. “Is he an uncomfortable reminder that the role left to you might be that of villain?”
He felt the side of his mouth tease upward. “How did you guess?”
Pia raised her eyebr
ows, but the look she gave him was open and unguarded.
“I’m not too concerned.”
“Oh?”
He glanced down at Mr. Darcy again. “I feel confident that only one of us can waltz.”
“Oh.”
Pia looked startled and then, for a moment, dreamy—as if the idea of a waltz had called to the romantic in her.
Mr. Darcy just continued to stare at them unblinkingly, and Hawk realized that now was as good a time as any for him to leave, before he gave in to too much temptation.
He let the side of his mouth quirk up again. “Since I appear to have exhausted my options for acceptable salutations and social niceties, I’m afraid my goodbye will have to be rather dull.”
“How reassuring,” Pia answered, recovering.
He touched his finger to the tip of her pert nose in humorous salute of her impertinence.
And then, unable to stop himself, he let his finger wander down and smooth over her pink and inviting lips.
They both quieted.
“Tomorrow night,” he repeated.
He turned away before he was tempted to touch her lips with his, and then let himself out the way he’d come in.
As he pulled shut the apartment door behind him, Hawk refused to let himself think about why he found it hard to leave Pia.
It was a vexing situation that could only mean no good for his best of intentions.
Five
Pia found herself staring at her apartment door after Hawk had left. Flooded with conflicting emotions, she hugged herself and sat down on her couch.
She touched her fingers to her lips, in imitation of Hawk’s action moments ago. She could swear he’d wanted to kiss her. The last time he’d kissed her had been on the night that they’d first met.…
