Read Online A Promise to Cherish by Lavyrle Spencer - Free Book Online Page B

travel, you’ll travel. We’re bidding jobs in about eight states right now. Sometimes there’ll be late nights if we’re up against a deadline. Other times there’ll be night flights in order to get connections to the right city. I pay my estimators well, but they earn every cent of it.”
    She was still too stunned to take it all in. “I don’t even know where your offices are.”
    “On the other side of the creek, near Rainbow and Johnson Drive. I’ll take you over later to see them, if you like.”
    Again she was astonished. The area he’d named was well known as one of the most prestigious in the city. It was generally referred to as the Plaza Area, named after the lush Country Club Plaza Shopping Center nearby. She was still pondering this when Sam Brown pulled a tie from the pocket of his blue linen sport coat, though she was so lost in thought she scarcely realized what he was doing. Without the aid of a mirror, he raised his collar, lay the tie underneath, buttoned his collar button, and began applying a Windsor knot to the tie by feel. Though her eyes were fixed on his hands, she was thinking instead of the pair of widewale corduroy armchairs she wanted so badly, thinking of the drapes she could pay off in no time, thinking of not having to give up the townhouse.
    The ever-attentive Walter appeared as if out of nowhere. “Will there be anything more, Mr. Brown?”
    “Ms. Walker and I will go into dinner now, Walter. Thank you.”
    “Of course, sir. I’ll bring your drinks for you.”
    Lee finally slipped out of her reverie to realize that Sam Brown was slipping a hand under her elbow and urging her to her feet. They followed at Walter’s heels. “House rules,” Sam whispered conspiratorially. “Men have to wear ties in the dining room.”
    Lee made a feeble attempt to pull away from his commanding grasp. This is all too perfect. It’s going too fast!
    “I’m not dressed—”
    “You’re dressed just fine.” His eyes swept her from hair to her waist, and up again.
    She felt obligated to resist one more time. “But . . . but I haven’t even said I’d work for you, much less won a bid yet. And you invited me for a drink, not dinner.”
    He only grinned down at her cheek, squeezed the soft, bare skin of her inner elbow, and teased, “Let a man try to impress a lady when he’s trying his damndest, okay, Cherokee?”
    That word, perhaps more than any other, brought her back down to earth. Cherokee. But it was too late now. They’d reached the dining room doorway, which opened off the lounge. She felt helpless as she was propelled along beside him. His thumb was rough on her bare skin as they paused just inside, and he was again greeted by name. “Evening, Mr. Brown . . . ma’am. Your table is all ready.” The man escorted them to a linen-covered table in front of a wide window that curved in a semicircle around half of the dining room. Lee looked onto a view of the swimming pool, ice rink, and tennis courts below. In the distance a line of tall trees indicated the meandering route of Brush Creek as it flowed eastward. The sun was slanting across the green lawn, from which Lee had difficulty pulling her eyes.
    A nudge on the back of her knees reminded her that Sam Brown was solicitously waiting to push in her chair.
    “Oh . . . thank you.” She settled herself, subjected to the tantalizing scent that wafted about him as he sat down across from her. He had no more than hit the chair when yet another solicitous employee of the Carriage Club was immediately at hand to state, “The evening special is shrimp marinated in wine sauce, seasoned with tarragon and served with herb butter. And how are you this evening, Mr. Brown?” Menus were opened crisply and placed first in Lee’s hands, then Sam’s.
    He raised his dark brows, and a smile lifted his lips. “Hungry as a bear, Edward, and how are you?”
    Edward leaned back and laughed softly. “I’m fine, sir. Leaving on my vacation tomorrow