Stolen Kisses by Sally Falcon Read Free Book Online

expression, decided against saying what was on her mind. She was at a loss as to how to avoid going to lunch with the man. Gina’s chatter made it clear that Trevor’s behavior on both occasions was general knowledge, so Jessie couldn’t act as if the incidents had been trivial.
    “All right, lunch it is.” Her softly spoken words caught the others unaware, which gave Jessie a small sense of satisfaction. She would devise a suitable revenge for her manipulative friend later, when she had time to create something truly diabolical. “I’ll just get my purse and jacket. Where would you like to go, Trevor?”
    “How about that little café down near the Old State House?” he asked as he followed her out of the storage room.
    Jessie knew she was going to regret this, even without seeing the pleased smiles on Trevor’s and Gina’s faces as they hovered by her desk.
     
     
    “Now, see, that wasn’t so bad.” Trevor leaned back in his chair as the waiter cleared away their dishes. Lunch had gone fairly well, even if he did think so himself. Over spinach salads and shrimp bisque soup, they’d talked amicably about the upcoming election as well as other current events. “You didn’t have to be afraid of coming out with me.”
    He knew he’d said the wrong thing before the words were even out of his mouth. Helplessly he watched Jessie’s eyes flash blue fire in irritation, though she continued to sip her iced tea. His entire body tensed as she very carefully placed the glass back on the salmon-colored linen tablecloth. Damn, she was stunning when she was angry, her eyes sparkling and a flush coloring her porcelain skin.
    “Look, that’s not what—”
    “Trevor, I wasn’t afraid to come to lunch with you.” Her words were softly spoken and apparently selected with great care. He watched in fascination as she wet her lips before continuing. “I don’t think we have very much in common. Your personality doesn’t mesh, well with mine. We’re as different as night and day. That’s all.”
    That wasn’t all, or she wouldn’t be trying to control her temper. Her willowy body was perfectly stiff, posture perfect. She couldn’t keep her fingers from straightening the silverware or from making sure an errant strand of raven hair hadn’t escaped her French plait, just as she had done when they first sat down. This cool and competent lady wasn’t ruffled when he’d disrupted her business meeting or when faced with her lunkhead date’s officious manner. Yet with him she was always on guard, as if keeping a more passionate side of her nature under control. Was that what continued to captivate him?
    Damned if he wasn’t going to find out, no matter what the consequences. He’d been playing tame eunuch for two hours for nothing. Getting Jessie riled and off balance was the key.
    “So I take it your deadwood escort at the Bushes’ party is your type,” he blurted out, sitting forward to lean his forearms on the table. “I would think a stunning woman like you could do much better. What was his name? Kirby, Conrad?”
    “Tr—Trevor, who I date really isn’t important.” Her cheeks were turning a deeper shape of pink, and she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “It’s all really a matter of personal taste. I wouldn’t think of questioning you about your private life.”
    “But I find this interesting,” he said, especially that you can’t remember his name, either ,he finished silently, fighting a smug smile. Apparently something, or someone, had erased the jerk from her memory. He also noted with satisfaction that she hadn’t corrected his description of the man.
    “He—he was simply a convenient escort for the occasion,” she finally managed, her agitation over the matter out of proportion. She was as much aware of it as he was. “Does that satisfy your curiosity?”
    “Yes, ma’am,” he said simply as the waiter handed him his credit card and receipt.
    “Thank you for lunch, Trevor. I think this has