“But I’m not into him.”
The tension at the corners of his eyes tightened. “Doesn’t matter. You need to go.”
Confused and disheartened and a still a little drunk, she asked, “What if the tables were turned? If a client flirted with you, and she made it obvious she wanted something more than a business connection, would you go on a lunch date with her anyway?”
He hesitated. “Yes.”
She pulled away from him. “Well, congratulations. From here on out, you can go meet any woman you want and I’ll never complain. But if that’s the way it is, then there can never be anything between us. Satisfied?”
“Mindy, stop.”
“The only man I want to go on a date with is you.”
He turned toward her with a hopeful yet remorseful look in his eyes. “I appreciate that. But this is a business issue. Sometimes you have to walk a fine line to clinch the deal.”
Emotions knotted in her chest. “Then, the deal is more important than our feelings for each other?”
“No.” He expelled a breath and ran his hands through his hair. “It’s not that simple, but it is that straightforward.”
Cool collectedness iced over her former inebriated state. Suddenly, she was as sober as a heart attack. “I think I get it. You’re fine with me meeting a client and letting him take me out, flirt with me, touch me, make sexual insinuations with me, and you’re okay with it as long as you make the sale.”
His eyes hardened. “No, it’s not okay, but—”
“That’s exactly what you’re saying.” Accusation coated her tone. “It’s okay to give a complete stranger false hope. I’m supposed to lead him on and let him think I might sleep with him if he signs a contract. That’s lovely, Isaac. And here I thought you had principles. You talked about balance. If this is the balance you want, then I’m not interested.”
He grabbed her arm and spun her toward him. “Mindy—”
Anger and hurt erupted inside her. “How am I supposed to trust you enough to have a relationship with you, if every time I see you with an attractive female prospect I’m left wondering how much you’re going to flirt with her? Or how far you’ll take that innuendo until it crosses some invisible line you’ve drawn to ease your conscience?” Two tears tracked down her face, and she quickly swiped them away. “Well, I’m not a saleswoman. I’m not a girl who’s going to compromise my feelings to assuage your conscience. I won’t live in constant doubt, no matter how much I want to be with you.”
“Mindy, you’re blowing this all out of proportion—”
“I don’t think so.” She jerked out of his grasp. Her heels made hard strikes on the wood floor as she headed back to the booth.
Hell, maybe she was right.
She was tipsy, maybe even drunk, but no amount of alcohol could lessen the sting of betrayal. Even if he hadn’t committed any relationship sin, by telling her to go out with Marcus, he’d condoned it.
Once they returned to the booth, Isaac almost lunged across the table twice as he suffered watching Mindy flirt with Marcus openly. Damn it, he’d given her too perfect advice, and she’d followed it.
Their date was taking place tomorrow at noon. That’s how they left things when Isaac parted company with them and ushered Mindy out the restaurant and into their car.
Tomorrow, Marcus might take her out to a romantic place Isaac hadn’t thought of, or he’d make a pass at her because Isaac wasn’t there, or she’d accidentally entice Marcus to kiss her when she hadn’t meant to…
She was really good at making men fall for her, even when she didn’t know she was doing it. God, he’d fallen a little in love with her the moment he met her.
He helped her into bed, turned off the light and folded her in his embrace. She shoved at him and muttered something he couldn’t understand.
“I know you’re angry with me, and I’m sorry,” he murmured. At his words, she relaxed in his arms. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
A tear splashed onto his bicep.
He hugged her tighter. “Mindy, I promise I will never betray your trust. No sale is worth losing you.”
*
Startled by sunlight, Mindy shot upright in bed. She glanced to her left, the place where the entire left side of her body had been warm and welcomed.
Isaac rolled onto his side, propped his chin on his hand and faced her. Concern shadowed his features. “How are you feeling this morning?”
She didn’t want his interest or his kindness. She wanted one thing—relief from her screaming headache. “Advil?”