Read Online Getting It Right This Time by Rachel Brimble - Free Book Online
Authors: Rachel Brimble
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am.”
He opened his hands, letting his menu slap to the table. “Fine.” He leaned back in his chair.
“So why don’t you tell me what happens next?”
She couldn’t restrain her smugness at taking control and slowly smiled. “We order our food and then I’ll start the chosen topic of conversation. Okay?”
He lifted his eyebrows and stuck out his bottom lip. He appraised her for a second or two before casually lifting his shoulders. “Okay.”
Rachel Brimble
33
With her heart beating a triumphant tattoo in her chest, she tipped her head toward his abandoned menu. “Shall we order?”
Finally, he dragged his eyes from hers and picked up his menu.
“Have you eaten here before?” she asked.
“Yes. Would you slap me if I was alpha-male enough to suggest ordering for both of us?”
She smiled and closed her menu. “No, that’s fine. Food I can trust you with.”
His mouth curved into a slow grin and then he gave a toe-curling wink before raising his hand for the waiter. “That’s a start, I suppose.”
The meal was fabulous. Although, he was less than subtle with his choice of oysters to start, followed by salmon with béarnaise sauce and blanched asparagus, their conversation of purposely orchestrated small talk about Mark’s burgeoning career and Kate’s new one filled the first courses.
Kate fought with how to raise the subject of Jessica…and how to shield herself from the smoke that would undoubtedly erupt from Mark’s rapidly retreating heels.
Drawing in a breath, she prepared for launch when his mobile phone rang inside the pocket of his discarded jacket.
“Damn. Sorry.” He pulled out the phone and looked at the display. Kate didn’t miss the clenching of his jaw or the way his color darkened. When he looked up, his smile was back in place. “I’ll be right back,” he said, before leaving the table.
Staring after him, Kate wondered if she should beat a hasty retreat while he was gone. Picking up her wine, she swallowed back her nerves. No, she would do this and she would do it tonight.
Already her mind was far too preoccupied with Mark. It annoyed her that she wanted to know who had called to put such a look on his face. Putting down her glass before she was tempted to drain it, Kate leaned down and picked up her bag.
She checked her phone for any missed calls from Lucy but as she suspected there were none.
Dropping it back inside, she took out her compact and checked her reflection. Her face was flushed and her eyes sparkled. She looked like a woman on the brink of desire. She snapped it shut. Not good.
Putting her bag on the floor, she shifted further into her seat and straightened her spine. As soon as Mark returned she would tell him about Jessica. No more delaying, no more small talk.
She jumped when his hand dropped onto her shoulder. She turned. His face was etched with anger.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, unconsciously raising her hand to her throat. “You look as though you could throttle someone.”
“I could.” He reached across and whipped his jacket from the back of his chair. “We have to go. I’m sorry.”
“What?”
He took her hand. “There’s a problem with one of my clients. She’s at my office in a state close to hysteria. I can’t just leave her there.”
34
Getting It Right This Time
“Fine, then go.” She moved to pull her hand from his.
His grip tightened. “You’re coming with me. We’ve said nothing important tonight. I want to talk to you and before the night is over, I will. Now grab your coat, we’re leaving.”
“Mark…” She clenched her teeth as she felt the curious gazes of other patrons turn in their direction. “I am not leaving with you.”
He stared at her. His eyes roaming over her face, lingering at her mouth. Kate’s stomach turned over with excitement or anger, she wasn’t sure. “Yes, you are,” he said quietly.
And then he tossed a few twenty pound notes on the table, and with his hand still
He opened his hands, letting his menu slap to the table. “Fine.” He leaned back in his chair.
“So why don’t you tell me what happens next?”
She couldn’t restrain her smugness at taking control and slowly smiled. “We order our food and then I’ll start the chosen topic of conversation. Okay?”
He lifted his eyebrows and stuck out his bottom lip. He appraised her for a second or two before casually lifting his shoulders. “Okay.”
Rachel Brimble
33
With her heart beating a triumphant tattoo in her chest, she tipped her head toward his abandoned menu. “Shall we order?”
Finally, he dragged his eyes from hers and picked up his menu.
“Have you eaten here before?” she asked.
“Yes. Would you slap me if I was alpha-male enough to suggest ordering for both of us?”
She smiled and closed her menu. “No, that’s fine. Food I can trust you with.”
His mouth curved into a slow grin and then he gave a toe-curling wink before raising his hand for the waiter. “That’s a start, I suppose.”
The meal was fabulous. Although, he was less than subtle with his choice of oysters to start, followed by salmon with béarnaise sauce and blanched asparagus, their conversation of purposely orchestrated small talk about Mark’s burgeoning career and Kate’s new one filled the first courses.
Kate fought with how to raise the subject of Jessica…and how to shield herself from the smoke that would undoubtedly erupt from Mark’s rapidly retreating heels.
Drawing in a breath, she prepared for launch when his mobile phone rang inside the pocket of his discarded jacket.
“Damn. Sorry.” He pulled out the phone and looked at the display. Kate didn’t miss the clenching of his jaw or the way his color darkened. When he looked up, his smile was back in place. “I’ll be right back,” he said, before leaving the table.
Staring after him, Kate wondered if she should beat a hasty retreat while he was gone. Picking up her wine, she swallowed back her nerves. No, she would do this and she would do it tonight.
Already her mind was far too preoccupied with Mark. It annoyed her that she wanted to know who had called to put such a look on his face. Putting down her glass before she was tempted to drain it, Kate leaned down and picked up her bag.
She checked her phone for any missed calls from Lucy but as she suspected there were none.
Dropping it back inside, she took out her compact and checked her reflection. Her face was flushed and her eyes sparkled. She looked like a woman on the brink of desire. She snapped it shut. Not good.
Putting her bag on the floor, she shifted further into her seat and straightened her spine. As soon as Mark returned she would tell him about Jessica. No more delaying, no more small talk.
She jumped when his hand dropped onto her shoulder. She turned. His face was etched with anger.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, unconsciously raising her hand to her throat. “You look as though you could throttle someone.”
“I could.” He reached across and whipped his jacket from the back of his chair. “We have to go. I’m sorry.”
“What?”
He took her hand. “There’s a problem with one of my clients. She’s at my office in a state close to hysteria. I can’t just leave her there.”
34
Getting It Right This Time
“Fine, then go.” She moved to pull her hand from his.
His grip tightened. “You’re coming with me. We’ve said nothing important tonight. I want to talk to you and before the night is over, I will. Now grab your coat, we’re leaving.”
“Mark…” She clenched her teeth as she felt the curious gazes of other patrons turn in their direction. “I am not leaving with you.”
He stared at her. His eyes roaming over her face, lingering at her mouth. Kate’s stomach turned over with excitement or anger, she wasn’t sure. “Yes, you are,” he said quietly.
And then he tossed a few twenty pound notes on the table, and with his hand still
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