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“Something like that,” I murmur softly. “Why didn’t you say anything yesterday, when you realized it was me?”
The gorgeous man cocks his head to a side. “Well, for one thing, I was surprised to see you there. It seemed like too much of a crazy twist of fate. Besides, I didn’t want your boss to exploit our relationship to her benefit.”
I nod, appreciating his logic. “Melody can be… intense. But she’s really good at what she does!” I add quickly because I don’t want to come off as a disgruntled subordinate.
But he just laughs. “Don’t worry, anything you say tonight is just between two old friends,” Carlton reassures me. “And all I’ll say about the meeting was that I was impressed with the presentation and very pleased to see you after so long.”
I blush, Carlton’s words making me heat in my core.
No, no! I scold myself internally. Don’t fall for his charm! You’re supposed to make him fall for you, not the other way around.
I sit up a little straighter, attempting to reel in my many conflicting emotions. “It was a good surprise to see you, too,” I murmur with a soft smile.
I’m not a good flirt, and I’ve never been great at making guys swoon. But something about Carlton puts me at ease immediately, and the air between us is comfortable, even if it’s charged with electricity at the same time. I don’t know if it’s because of our long history or my determination to break his heart, but I find myself wanting to know more about this man.
Once our drinks arrive, we clink glasses.
“Here’s to reconnecting after all these years,” I say simply.
“Cheers to that,” Carlton takes a pull of his whiskey. “That’s smooth,” he says appreciatively. I laugh and shake my head. “What, you’re not a whiskey girl?”
“My palate is still being refined,” I sass back.
“You don’t know what you’re missing.” Carlton takes another sip then turns in the seat so that he’s facing me straight. Those blue eyes see into my soul, and a hot shudder goes through my core.
“All those years ago, you vanished, Ramona. Why is that?” I swallow, and smile lightly.
“Not exactly vanished,” I correct him. “My dad ended up getting a job in Pleasanton. My parents didn’t give me any warning. They told me one night at dinner and the next thing I knew, we were leaving Portnoy stat. Their reasoning was so I could start the school year off with all the other kids.”
To my surprise, Carlton looks slightly confused by this information. “But you never said goodbye.” For a moment, I almost think I detect a hint of longing, but I chalk it up to the sentimental conversation.
“Well, we were kids, and I didn’t think you cared all that much,” I say with as much feigned calmness as I can muster. Inside my chest, my heart is pounding.
“Goodbye would have been nice,” Carlton speaks, his tone intense. “And the right thing to do.”
Again, I feel like I’m going to faint, but then giggle, trying to keep the mood light. “Well, you’re in luck. I’m still basically that scrawny ten year old you bossed around all the time, so we can be friends again.”
I take a long sip of my wine, savoring its liquid courage, but he doesn’t call me out on my bravado.
“No, Ramona. I beg to differ because you’ve changed,” Carlton’s eyes sweep over my body once more, “quite a lot.”
I blush at his obvious appreciation. “I still love to ride my bike,” I continue, choosing to ignore his attempt at turning this serious. “And I still haven’t seen the Cove. Do you remember that place? I always wondered what you guys did there, since you never let me come along.”
At that, Carlton’s handsome face turns dark. He looks away, expressionless, and then turns back to me.
“I think that was the last day you and I saw each other in person,” he remarks. “The boys and I had gone out to the Cove and you wanted to come with us, right?” His frown deepens. “Then, I never saw you after that.”
“Yep, that’s the day,” I respond, secretly thrilled that Carlton remembers it all so vividly.
The man looks pensive, as if sifting through his memories. Finally, he speaks again.
“That was a good group of guys, considering we were a bunch of angsty thirteen year olds. We got into all sorts of trouble.” He looks at me intensely. “There wasn’t much room in our crew for an annoying little girl who was years younger than us. You understand that, right?”
I catch my mouth before it drops open in astonishment. Are we repeating what happened all those years ago? He’s still telling me that ‘I don’t belong’ and that ‘This is no place for little girls.’ What the hell? Suddenly, I’m even more determined to carry out my plan, come hell or high water.
