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“Ha! I was messing with you mostly—got to keep a woman like you on your toes. I like your perfume, too. It’s actually the first thing I recognized when you came over this afternoon. I knew Ellen hadn’t been wearing that scent but explained it away in my head. I still can’t believe you did that when a phone call would have sufficed.”
“As I said earlier, I didn’t want to give you the chance to turn me down. The thought came into my head when I overheard the workers, and I just went with it.” London bit into the toasted focaccia bread placed atop a spicy tomato bisque. “I think surprising you in person was more exciting than a phone call, don’t you?”
Ace dug in to the appetizer, as well. “Exciting wouldn’t be my first word choice.”
“What would?”
“Shocking. Scary.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Yes, I do. That was pretty bold, what you did today. And a little rude.”
This comment surprised her. “Rude? How?”
“Do I really have to explain how that was an invasion of privacy?”
“I assumed you’d want your privacy invaded,” she mumbled. “Diamond was mad at me, too.” She sat back, dejected. “It’s stuff like this that got me sent away in the first place.”
“I don’t mean to make you feel bad.”
“I can leave if you want.”
“If I’d wanted that, I wouldn’t have invited you to dinner.” He studied London’s troubled expression. The pain he saw there troubled him, too.
“Where were you sent away from?”
He watched as she shook off the melancholy and donned a nonchalant air. “Let’s just say going to school in Europe wasn’t my idea.” She looked at him then offered a sincere smile. “It’s a long story. Maybe some other time.”
“Is that your subtle way of trying to ensure another date?”
“I’m the bold, rude ingrate who crashed your massage, remember? There are many words that could be used to describe me. Subtle isn’t one of them.”
The honest answer touched Ace’s heart and awakened an unexplainable desire to protect her. He quickly squashed the notion. A woman like her didn’t need a man like him. Her company was refreshing, though. He soon realized what made being with her different. He was enjoying himself, feeling relaxed and complete, and he tried to remember the last time he’d felt this way. It had been a while.
“There isn’t a woman here. Surprising for the Ace I remember. What’s up with that?”
While he’d come here to get away from work, Ace welcomed the change of subject. “Right now my woman is a new line being unveiled at fashion week.”
“Next month? In New York?” Ace nodded. “What’s the line?”
“It’s a secret.” London fixed her mouth in a pout. Sexy, luscious, but Ace didn’t budge. “You know how the industry works. It’s all about the big reveal.” He paused for a drink of water, gazed at her over the rim as he drank. “I really want to tell you, though. Maybe I will soon.”
“If not, I’ll just make sure to attend your show.”
“How many shows are you doing?”
“I don’t know yet. I hadn’t planned to do any, but…those plans have changed.”
“Because of your breakup with Max?”
“Partly. We were supposed to be filming his movie right now. But it’s also to take a break. I’ve lived overseas for years and promised my parents I’d spend time with them.”
“Coming on to me the way you have makes it seem you’ve gotten over him. But that could be an act, like your being hurt when I didn’t call you back. Are you okay?”
“Max didn’t want to let go, but I’m okay.” London finished her soup and reached for the chilled Chardonnay the waiter had poured them. She took a thoughtful sip. “And just for the record, I was hurt that you didn’t call me back. A little bit.”
“You had plenty of guys lined up behind me. Wasn’t there even a stalker for a while?”
Now it was London’s turn to be surprised. “How’d you know about that?”
