Read Online Liars' Games (Project Chameleon Book 1) by Susan Finlay - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Susan Finlay
Ads: Link
I known.”
“Not a problem,” Steve said. “I figured you were busy.”
“I’m always in some meeting,” Claire said. “Never a moment to spare.”
“I hear you. Same with me. When I stopped by the other day, I was on my way to a meeting. Couldn’t have stayed more than a few minutes anyway.”
Steve fell silent and Claire waited. He cleared his throat but still didn’t speak. Was there a problem? she wondered.
“Hey,” he said finally, “the other reason I’m calling is to ask you out to dinner tomorrow night. As a casual get-acquainted meeting.”
Alarm bells went off in her head.
“I normally do those over lunch. Unfortunately, as I said, my days have been crazy busy. I eat on the run most days.”
She looked at the half-eaten sandwich on her desk. Until now, she had no idea how demanding public educators’ jobs were. Apparently, it wasn’t only Midland, judging from what Steve had just said. Life working at University hadn’t always been easy, but it was a country club by comparison.
“Are you still there?” he asked , sounding concerned.
“Oh, sorry. I —uh, well . . . .”
“We could meet Saturday night instead if that works better for you.”
She’d gone to lunch with Frank without any qualms. So why the hesitation with Steve? Of course the moment she asked herself that question she already knew the answer: Frank was married and had two children. He’d even talked about them during lunch. Frank was safe.
He’d also mentioned that Steve was divorced and childless.
And she was attracted to Steve.
Apparently, she waited too long to answer, because he said, “If you’re uncomfortable with that, we could maybe meet at my office for an early morning coffee. I’m afraid it would have to be really early, though.”
She shook her head, then felt ridiculous since he couldn’t see her. Then, going against her better judgment, she found herself saying, “I guess dinner would be al l right. Friday night.”
“ Good. I’ll pick you up at your home around six-thirty.”
“ Uh, well, I’d rather meet you at the restaurant if you don’t mind.”
“Okay. Guess we have to decide where. How about the Applebee’s restaurant near Central Administration? Do you know the place?”
“Sure. I mean, I haven’t eaten there, but I’ve driven past it.”
After she hung up the phone, she took a deep breath and blew it out. What was she thinking? She knew she shouldn’t have agreed.
She’d worked for some men whom she wouldn’t have dared go out to dinner with no matter what you called it. Covering her face with her hands, she tried to work out her reasoning. Frank had told her that he and Steve were best friends, and instinct told her Frank was a decent guy. Didn’t that mean she could assume Steve was, too?
Resigned, deciding the damage was already done, she put shopping for something to wear on her list. Must make time this afternoon to go to the mall.
After school on Friday, Claire ordered a pizza for Marcus and Nanny Kate, who had agreed to stay late and watch Marcus while Claire went out.
While they ate, Claire brushed her hair, dressed in the new form-fitting black dress with a low-cut neckline and dozens of sparkles she’d bought for this occasion. Assessing herself in the mirror, she bit her lip. The dress that had seemed right when she’d tried it on in the store—she’d always been told you can’t go wrong with black—now seemed too sexy. She went back to her wardrobe and pushed clothes around, desperately searching for something else. Unfortunately, other than her business suits and everyday clothes, this was it. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she sighed and put on her shoes. She grabbed her handbag from a chair and swept into the living room, plopped down on the sofa, and flipped through the TV channels to watch the news while Marcus and Kate finished pizza in the kitchen, talking and laughing. At six o’clock, she went into the kitchen and told Kate,
“Not a problem,” Steve said. “I figured you were busy.”
“I’m always in some meeting,” Claire said. “Never a moment to spare.”
“I hear you. Same with me. When I stopped by the other day, I was on my way to a meeting. Couldn’t have stayed more than a few minutes anyway.”
Steve fell silent and Claire waited. He cleared his throat but still didn’t speak. Was there a problem? she wondered.
“Hey,” he said finally, “the other reason I’m calling is to ask you out to dinner tomorrow night. As a casual get-acquainted meeting.”
Alarm bells went off in her head.
“I normally do those over lunch. Unfortunately, as I said, my days have been crazy busy. I eat on the run most days.”
She looked at the half-eaten sandwich on her desk. Until now, she had no idea how demanding public educators’ jobs were. Apparently, it wasn’t only Midland, judging from what Steve had just said. Life working at University hadn’t always been easy, but it was a country club by comparison.
“Are you still there?” he asked , sounding concerned.
“Oh, sorry. I —uh, well . . . .”
“We could meet Saturday night instead if that works better for you.”
She’d gone to lunch with Frank without any qualms. So why the hesitation with Steve? Of course the moment she asked herself that question she already knew the answer: Frank was married and had two children. He’d even talked about them during lunch. Frank was safe.
He’d also mentioned that Steve was divorced and childless.
And she was attracted to Steve.
Apparently, she waited too long to answer, because he said, “If you’re uncomfortable with that, we could maybe meet at my office for an early morning coffee. I’m afraid it would have to be really early, though.”
She shook her head, then felt ridiculous since he couldn’t see her. Then, going against her better judgment, she found herself saying, “I guess dinner would be al l right. Friday night.”
“ Good. I’ll pick you up at your home around six-thirty.”
“ Uh, well, I’d rather meet you at the restaurant if you don’t mind.”
“Okay. Guess we have to decide where. How about the Applebee’s restaurant near Central Administration? Do you know the place?”
“Sure. I mean, I haven’t eaten there, but I’ve driven past it.”
After she hung up the phone, she took a deep breath and blew it out. What was she thinking? She knew she shouldn’t have agreed.
She’d worked for some men whom she wouldn’t have dared go out to dinner with no matter what you called it. Covering her face with her hands, she tried to work out her reasoning. Frank had told her that he and Steve were best friends, and instinct told her Frank was a decent guy. Didn’t that mean she could assume Steve was, too?
Resigned, deciding the damage was already done, she put shopping for something to wear on her list. Must make time this afternoon to go to the mall.
After school on Friday, Claire ordered a pizza for Marcus and Nanny Kate, who had agreed to stay late and watch Marcus while Claire went out.
While they ate, Claire brushed her hair, dressed in the new form-fitting black dress with a low-cut neckline and dozens of sparkles she’d bought for this occasion. Assessing herself in the mirror, she bit her lip. The dress that had seemed right when she’d tried it on in the store—she’d always been told you can’t go wrong with black—now seemed too sexy. She went back to her wardrobe and pushed clothes around, desperately searching for something else. Unfortunately, other than her business suits and everyday clothes, this was it. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she sighed and put on her shoes. She grabbed her handbag from a chair and swept into the living room, plopped down on the sofa, and flipped through the TV channels to watch the news while Marcus and Kate finished pizza in the kitchen, talking and laughing. At six o’clock, she went into the kitchen and told Kate,
Similar Books
