An Indecent Proposal(10)

He had manly hands. Capable but groomed, and I realized in his line of work manicures were probably mandatory. Embarrassed, I pulled back, because, let’s be honest, I couldn’t remember the last time I had a mani-pedi, but he held on tight, not yet willing to let me go.

“Hi, Laurie.”

God, even his voice was perfect.

All deep and sensual, and way too sexy.

He sounded like he had just stepped out of my soft rock iTunes collection. It was the kind of voice that urged a woman to dream of places far away from her office. Places that might end up with him being in my bed. And what woman with her panties in the right place wouldn’t be attracted to that? Besides, I was a sucker for long, dark lashes, broad shoulders, and bedroom eyes. I looked away, mortified, because I thought my experience with the male species had taught me to look beyond physical attributes and into a place called “personality.” And, judging by the way he looked, all self-assured and arrogant, Chase couldn’t possibly have much going on for him in the personality department.

“I think this is all a mistake,” I said.

I didn’t know why I was so angry all of a sudden, but I yanked my hand away a bit too harshly and threw Jude my most venomous look.

“Gotta go. Good luck, you two,” Jude said, and before I could protest, she was out the door.

The traitor!

She was the one who had brought this on me. So, obviously, she shouldn’t be the one running. Besides, the guy could still be a creep. Or a killer. Or both.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly as I turned to Chase, almost struck speechless again. But only almost, because I thought I had found the perfect recipe for dealing with those blue eyes and the strange expression in them. I’d either ask him to leave, or I’d deal with him like a professional adult. Seeing that he was already here, I decided to give him a chance.

One opportunity to prove himself. If he blew it, that was it.

“Mr.…” I trailed off, waiting for him to fill in the blanks.

“Just Chase.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest and regarded me coolly. “Is that what you’re wearing?” He raised a brow and pointed at my jacket, the slightest hint of amusement on his lips.

I frowned, perplexed by his sudden straightforwardness.

Jerk with a capital “J.”

“Actually, this is just camouflage for my real outfit,” I said coolly. “You know, the one I’m hiding underneath it.” I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Seriously, why were people ganging up against my outfit? Was it really that bad? I raised my chin defiantly and narrowed my eyes on him, challenging him. “Why? You don’t like it?”

“I do. I’m just used to women wearing”—he paused, and his mouth twitched at the corners—“let’s just say, other kinds of clothes whenever they have a date with me.”

I bet.

“This isn’t a date. It’s a job interview,” I muttered, and grabbed my handbag, heading out the door in the hope that he’d follow. He chuckled behind me, and I called over my shoulder, “I’m interviewing you,” just in case his mighty ego might have misinterpreted the situation.

With guys like him, you never knew.

Actually, with guys like him, you needed to spell out that they weren’t the only male specimens in the world. “Just so you know, I have a date after this meeting”—I made sure to emphasize the word—“so we’d better hurry.”

“Great. Let’s get this over with.” In spite of his choice of words, he actually sounded excited.

I clamped my mouth shut and let him take the lead.

Chase’s car was parked outside, and, to my surprise, it was the sort of sleek sports thingy you’d usually see on television, racing or involved in a road accident.

“Here you go.” He opened the door, and I stopped to stare. For a low-paid actor, he seemed to be able to afford an expensive car. Even the doors didn’t open sideways, but upward, which was unnatural. But kind of cool. The thought managed to irritate me even more.

Chase held the door open, and I slumped into the black leather seat, marveling at how smooth and cool it felt against my skin. I followed him from the corner of my eyes as he rounded the car and slipped into the driver’s seat. Then I asked casually, “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.” The engine roared to life. The noise was so loud I slumped deeper into my seat before one of the neighbors could see me and think I had joined a gang.





Chapter 2





Take a leap of faith, Laurie.

Following Jude’s words, I breathed in and out to calm my nerves. Upon my request, Chase had opened the window, and now I was literally swallowing whole chunks of the cold air as it wafted in, in the hope that the wind would infuse some sense of reality into me. It had been such a long time since I’d last gone out with a man that I had forgotten how to make small talk, let alone lead a meaningful conversation. Luckily, Chase knew how to fill the uncomfortable silence that had been looming over my head like a curse ever since our meeting.