Did he think she was some pampered socialite who demanded nothing but the best?
“Edward, if you knew me at all you’d know I’m not a snob and would happily eat anywhere as long as the food was good.”
Their strained discussion was derailed by the arrival of their appetizers. She leaned forward and took a deep breath. God it smelled delicious.
Picking up her fork, she speared a juicy looking scallop. Taste exploded on her tongue and she couldn’t hold back the small moan of delight that slipped past her lips.
She concentrated on her food with little trouble. Talking to the man across from her held no appeal at all.
They ate in silence, the tension surrounding them thick enough to slice with the butter knife on her bread plate.
As dates went, this evening was a stark reminder of why she’d removed herself from the dating scene.
There was a good chance she would be giving Morgan the signal before the night was over.
ChapterThree
Brent flicked through the channels once more. Nothing had changed in the last few minutes. He turned his wrist to look at his watch.
He’d spoken to Morgan over half an hour ago and knew Vee’s date wasn’t going well.
The knowledge didn’t bring a smile to his face like it should. Knowing Smithe hadn’t won her over did give him pleasure, but he ached for her having to endure a meal with a man she didn’t like.
And his friend had been quite certain of her animosity towards her dinner companion.
He closed his eyes and let the quiet of his apartment engulf him. The entrance to the main house was open, so he could hear her when she came in, not that he expected her yet.
He’d be ready though.
They wouldn’t go another night without her hearing his apology, and this time he’d tie her to a chair and gag her to keep her still long enough to hear what he had to say.
It wouldn’t guarantee she would be receptive to any future advances, but it would finally close the door to a past neither of them seemed able to leave behind.
A gentle breeze blew through the open windows and warm, salt-tinged air filled his nose.
He loved living this close to the water, loved the smell of summer mixed with the scent of the sea.
His apartment was large, three bedrooms—one set up as a home office—a large combined dining-living area, and, of course, a kitchen bigger than boasted by most suburban houses.
When Wade had offered to convert this section of his house for him to live in, he hadn’t needed to think twice. Although, recently, he was beginning to wonder if perhaps he’d outstayed his welcome.
It wasn’t like him to question his life, to doubt the choices he’d made. But Vee was the one situation he could never get right.
He blew out a stream of air.
The woman had him tied in knots so fucking tight he couldn’t think straight.
He’d tried to move on, tried to connect with other women, but every time he did he found himself comparing them to Vee, and he couldn’t sustain a relationship for longer than a few weeks.
It was a wonder he’d gotten laid at all in the last ten years.
His phone rang, snapping his head up and his eyes open.
Vaulting over the couch, he dashed across the room to where he’d left his iPhone on the kitchen counter. Snatching it up he didn’t bother looking to see who it was.
“Hello?”
“She just left.”
