Read Online The Millionaire's Wish by Abigail Strom - Free Book Online Page B

“All right, then, what? Are you always this uptight on dates?”
    â€œYes. I’ve never…I’ve never been any good at it.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “Did it ever occur to you that they weren’t any good at it?”
    â€œWho?” she asked, feeling confused.
    â€œThe men you went out with.”
    She blinked. “I’m pretty sure the problem is me. Why do you think it was them?”
    â€œBecause you didn’t feel relaxed.”
    â€œI don’t feel relaxed now,” she reminded him. “So either you’re no good, either, or it really is me.”
    He grinned at her. “I’m very, very good. And I’m just getting started. Twenty bucks says I have you relaxed in five minutes.”
    It was her turn to raise an eyebrow. “Five minutes, huh?” She could feel herself smiling again, a smile he’d drawn out of her. “Okay, give it your best shot.”
    â€œTell me about the kids you work with.”
    That surprised her. “Really?”
    â€œYes. I’d like to know more about your foundation.” He grinned at her again. “I just wrote you a pretty big check, in case you’ve forgotten. I have a vested interest in your organization.”
    Childhood cancer didn’t really lend itself to casual conversation, which was why Allison avoided talking about her work on the rare occasions she went on a date. But Rick had asked her, and when she looked at him, all she could see in his green eyes was genuine interest.
    â€œOkay.”
    She meant to stop after a story or two. But Rick was a surprisingly good listener, asking a few questions but mostly just absorbing what she said, and encouraging her with a nod here and there to keep talking.
    They were interrupted twice, first by the sommelierto take their wine order and then by the waiter to take their dinner order. Their bottle of Burgundy arrived and the waiter filled their glasses deftly.
    It was then that Allison realized she felt…relaxed.
    â€œWhat do you know,” she said, smiling across the table.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI guess I owe you twenty bucks. Has it been five minutes yet?”
    A corner of his mouth lifted. “A little longer, I think.”
    â€œI’m still impressed.”
    He gestured toward her wineglass. “You’ll be even more impressed when you taste that.”
    She reached for the glass to oblige him, raising it to her lips. She glanced at him over the rim, and their eyes met.
    For a second she forgot what she was doing. Then she blinked, breaking the connection, and took a sip.
    Â 
    Rick had asked Allison about work because he knew it would put her at ease, and if he couldn’t put her at ease his plan wouldn’t succeed. No one would believe they were dating if Allison looked ready to jump out of her skin every time they were together.
    She’d been so different at the hospital. Comfortable with him, comfortable with herself. He remembered the warmth he’d felt when she’d put her hand on his arm.
    Of course the hospital was her domain, and she’d only touched him out of sympathy. Given the nature of her work, she probably did that a lot. Dating, on the other hand, wasn’t something she did a lot.
    But why?
    She was passionate about her work. She was intelligent, dedicated, warm-hearted and generous.
    And she was beautiful. The kind of beautiful you wanted to stare at all night because it wasn’t all on the surface. The more you looked, the more you saw—and the more you wanted to see.
    So why was she still on the market? She’d said it was her choice, and considering she could have her pick of men, he believed her. She obviously wasn’t a flirt. He’d given her openings—back at her apartment, and in the elevator, and a few minutes ago when he’d asked if she expected him to make a move on her tonight.
    She hadn’t taken the bait, and in spite of himself, he’d