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‘The one with the cucumber?Because, let’s face it, without the cucumber, that dip would be nothing.’He grinned then.It widened into a full-blown smile and laughter followed.Warm, rich, irresistible laughter.Suddenly, effortlessly, Cally found laughter bubbling out too.
‘You’re not all you seem, Cally,’ he teased as their humour dimmed.
‘In what way?’
‘There’s a little more to you than I expected.’
‘What did you expect?’
‘As little as you expected from me, I think’.
She looked up quickly, only to be caught again by his gaze.
‘Not just a pretty face,’ he murmured.
She got back to fussing with the bowls pronto.He wasn’t talking about her.She wasn’t a pretty face at all; she was plain and ordinary.And his face wasn’t pretty either; it was beautiful.‘Never go out with a man who is better looking than you’—that was her motto.She just had to remember to stick to it.
‘You mind eating in here?The formal dining room doesn’t get the sun at this time of day and it seems a shame not to make the most of it.’She set the bowls at the stretch of bench along the window.
‘No problem.This looks great.’
He waited politely until she’d placed her own bowl and was seated alongside him.She gestured to the condiments, and the fresh chopped herbs.‘Please.’
‘Thank you.’
They dipped their spoons together and she watched as he lifted his to his mouth.She barely tasted her own soup as she was so focused on seeing his reaction.
He took a moment, then smiled.‘It’s good.’
Three
Cally felt morepleased than if she’d won the gold medal at the annual gourmet food awards.To cover it, she schooled her features back to bland and murmured, ‘I know.’
She took another mouthful before offering a polite query, all the while refusing to acknowledge the knowing smile of amusement on his face.‘What do you do, Blake?’
‘Do?’
‘Yes, as in job.’
He looked surprised.‘I’m a venture capitalist.’
‘Really?Who with?’
The surprised look broadened.‘I have my own company… Weren’t you listening to the intro the MC gave me last night?’
She shook her head.‘I was too busy eating the chocolate truffles at the time.’
‘Priorities.’Full of satire, his smile twitched.
‘Absolutely.’In contrast she spoke earnestly.‘I never intended to bid.That wasn’t why I was there.’
He didn’t reply and she wondered if he didn’t believe her or if it was just that he was too busy demolishing the soup.It didn’t take either of them long.Good.She stood to clear the bowls, hoping soon she’d be rid of him—she needed to work on her resistance.
‘Thanks very much—that was delicious.’He stood, stretched, his body towering over her.
‘It was a pleasure,’ she answered mechanically.He was too close again and the tremors inside could hardly be controlled.
‘I don’t have any more jobs for you.So thank you very much and…um…I’ll see you out.’
