Read Online Austensibly Ordinary by Alyssa Goodnight - Free Book Online Page A

supported his sturdy six-foot frame. “Not an easy thing to do,” I said.
    â€œNot to worry. It’s valet parked.” He smiled and looked curiously at me. “I come to a lot of these Pop-up events, but you’re a new development. First time?”
    â€œIt is,” I confirmed, turning slightly away from him to face Oli and her tray of drinks. Amusement twinkled in her eyes—after being introduced to my evening persona, she and Will had made a point of circulating past me on a very regular basis.
    â€œDinner will be served shortly. Seating is open and at your discretion.” Biting her lip, she aimed a subtle wink before moving on.
    â€œShall we?” suggested the charmer, offering his arm. What can I say—I took it.
    After seating me at an empty table under Mount Rushmore, Jake Tielman retrieved his wheelchair and managed to position himself so awkwardly as to discourage anyone from joining our little party of two. I had no doubt it was intentional, and I was very impressed.
    He flirted easily in the candlelight as we carved up our Cornish game hens under the watchful, beady eyes above. Even the vegetables were creepy, roasted haricot beans and root vegetables, looking enough like colorful finger and knuckle bones to be off-putting.
    â€œNew in town or Hitchcock devotee?”
    â€œIt’s a little more complicated than that,” I admitted. His hair was slicked back and parted with precision, clearly in character as Jimmy Stewart’s Rear Window ’do, but I got the impression he wasn’t quite so fastidious on an average day-in-the-life. We were both playing a part. Made me wonder which of us would be exposed first. And that thought led to another, which likely led to some very pink cheeks on my part.
    He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t press the issue or inquire over my sudden blush. “Which are you?” I asked.
    â€œNeither. I try to surround myself with unique and imaginative people as often as possible.”
    â€œShould I feel flattered?”
    â€œAbsolutely . . . but for a different reason entirely. I gravitate toward dangerously sexy women too. Besides, I don’t know anything about you.”
    â€œIs it possible you’re not trying hard enough?”
    He raised an eyebrow, amusement evident in the set of his lips. “Gloves are off, then; gauntlet’s down. Let’s get to it. You up for twenty questions?”
    â€œYes or no, or anything goes?”
    â€œOh, I’ll always vote anything goes.” He smiled. Great teeth, classic cheekbones, dangerous dimple. His eyes were deep, dark chocolate brown. Willy Wonka would have been jealous. The pajamas, while kitschy, didn’t have the same appeal as a well-cut suit. They could have been saved for a more private showing. Then again, maybe he didn’t have any use for pajamas. . . .
    Cat clearly doesn’t waste any time.
    â€œFine, but I expect you to answer the same questions,” I insisted, still waffling as to whether I should fabricate an entire alternate universe for myself.
    He conceded the suggestion with a slight nod and promptly posed the first question. “Single or something else?”
    â€œSingle.” That, at least, was woefully true.
    â€œSame,” he concurred, with a sly grin.
    â€œLast serious relationship?”
    I had to think a minute. “Three years ago.”
    â€œTwo,” he countered, sipping his drink.
    â€œWork?”
    Trial by fire . . . “Austin Museum of Art.” I thought it sounded sufficiently cosmopolitan and comfortably vague, and I figured “spy in training” would skew the next seventeen questions.
    â€œEntrepreneur.” Very interesting. I just might have some follow-up questions of my own.
    â€œSchool?”
    â€œBrown, BA in art history.” I was becoming fast friends with the little white lie.
    â€œUCLA, BS in physics, UT MBA.” Impressive.
    â€œPerfect. Now for the