Read Online A Santini's Heart (The Santinis Book 10) by Melissa Schroeder - Free Book Online Page B

wanted. She’d known Chet for most of her life, but there had never been any spark of attraction between them. He was her brother’s friend. Rich, and most women would say attractive. He was fair-haired with blue eyes, and he had an affinity for bathing himself in cologne. It was enough to wake up the dead.
    “Actually, next weekend is the benefit. You’re coming, right?”
    For a second, he said nothing, then recognition must have hit him. “Oh, yeah. Yes, I plan on being there.”
    “Great. Actually, that’s why I need to get going now. Meeting a friend to look at dresses, since apparently I’m not allowed to wear my boots and jeans.”
    He hesitated, and she knew he wanted to talk about something.
    “Is anything wrong that can’t wait?”
    “Just a question I had about the land.”
    That made her stop her progression towards the truck. There was something off about his tone. She turned to face him.
    “What are you talking about?”
    “You know when Adrian wanted to start the ranch, he asked for money.”
    “Yes, and if I remember correctly, you turned him down, as did a few of his other friends.” Adrian had shrugged it off, but it had pissed Tia off to no end. These were his oldest friends who always liked to talk about how their friend was a Marine. It was like they thought it made them sound more patriotic, even though none of them had ever thought of serving. However, when Adrian had asked for an investment to start the ranch, they had all turned him down. Worse, they had avoided him afterwards.
    “I always felt bad about that.”
    She really didn’t have time for this. The seconds were ticking down, and she was sure she’d have to explain herself to Mrs. Santini by the time she got there. That was not a position she wanted to be in.
    “Noted. I really don’t have time for this though.”
    “Sure. Just...” he sighed.
    Good lord, how did women find him attractive? She knew Chet’s reputation. He always had his pick of women. When they were in school, he had always dated the most popular girls, and he had often won all those silly titles like Prom King. All this time spent waiting for him to grow a set of balls, so he could ask her something, was annoying. Maybe women liked men who couldn’t make decisions? That was probably why she didn’t have many girlfriends.
    It was already getting hot, and it was unusually muggy. A bead of sweat rolled down her back while she had to wait on Mr. Wonderful to gather the courage to talk to her. She didn’t have time for this crap this morning, and especially not on one cup of coffee.
    “Yes?” she asked.
    “Hey, why don’t I take you to the benefit?”
    She blinked again. “What?”
    A look of irritation passed over his face a moment before it quickly dissolved into another smarmy smile. “The benefit. I can take you.”
    “Like a date?”
    His face flushed, and she realized she had sounded put off by the notion of going on a date with him.
    “I’m sorry. What I meant was that I’ll be there so early. We have a lot we have to do before it happens. We’re actually going to be staying at the resort where we are holding the benefit.”
    “Oh, okay.”
    “But, hey, hunt me up and we’ll have a drink together.”
    An expression of irritation dissolved into smooth acceptance. One thing about Chet was he knew how to play the game. It was why he was in real estate and why he was so good at it.
    “That sounds like a grand idea. See you then, Tia.”
    She nodded and headed to her truck. She pulled out her phone and saw the time.
    “Dammit.”
    When she opened the door and hopped up into her truck, heat surrounded her and raised her own body temperature. If she made it into Tucson without melting, it would be a miracle. At least then she would be spared the wrath of Mrs. Santini.
    After turning the air on high, she put the truck in gear and backed out of her driveway. As she went down the road, she looked in her review mirror and saw Chet watching her as