Finding Forever(32)

“That was quick of him, don’t you think?”

“Are you angry about something?” Whitney wasn’t going to stand there and play games.

“No. Why would I be?” he asked with a shrug.

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

He was wearing his standard mask, and she couldn’t read him very well at the moment. She didn’t understand any of this. They’d only shared a couple of kisses — okay, plus a little more — and he’d expressed his desire to bed her, like a typical plutocrat who didn’t respect women of a lower social class. But he now seemed to be acting … jealous. That made no sense at all.

“I thought you’d told me that any relationship here would be pointless,” he said after a brief pause.

“I’m not planning to enter a relationship. I just met a man at the grocery store, and he has offered to take me to the theater. I thought it would be fun — maybe expand my horizons, as someone like you might say. But I don’t know why I’m explaining myself to you.”

“You’re in my home.”

“I am not. I’m in your father’s home. But what would that matter anyway?”

“It doesn’t.”

He turned and strode away, leaving her more confused than ever. What on earth was going on?

She decided to blow off any thoughts of Liam and his weird behavior, and she went inside her room. She needed to focus on getting ready, and she refused to suffer from any sense of guilt about going out. The children were taken care of and she hadn’t been on a date in so long that she might well have forgotten how to speak to a man.

The problem was that she didn’t have anything fancy enough for an evening at the theater, and she felt a little self-conscious as she got dressed. The only item that worked, or seemed to work, was her classic little black dress. She didn’t like wearing it — it was too short, in her humble opinion. But her sister, years older and much wiser, had insisted she buy it, and she’d caved in.

After a long and relaxing bath, Whitney got dressed and headed down the staircase just as the butler let Sam in the front door. She didn’t want to keep her date waiting, especially because Liam was in such a mood. She hoped Liam had gone home and Sam wouldn’t have to see him again.

“You’re a vision, Whitney.” Sam said as she reached him. “Truly a vision.”

He lifted her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles. Odd. Why didn’t the gesture send butterflies to her stomach? Nerves, probably — what else could it be? When a man as sexy as Sam kissed her hand, the least her traitorous body could do was experience a few ripples of pleasure.

“Thank you, Sam. You look very handsome.”

And he did with his short brown hair, and twinkling green eyes. She should feel more attraction. He took her arm and led her outside, where a limo was waiting. What was it with all these limousines?

“Your carriage awaits, my lady,” he said with a flourish. The driver opened the door and she climbed inside, delighted to find champagne and strawberries. He poured her a glass of the bubbly, and they had a pleasant ride to the Big Apple.

The show was amazing, and dinner was excellent. His company not so excellent. He was a CFO for a dot-com business, and he lost her within less than a minute as he began talking about his day-to-day activities. How could such a good-looking, confident man be so dang boring? And she’d studied math!

By the time she was in the limo again, she was aching to get back to Frederick’s mansion. She’d tried to muster up some physical attraction toward Sam, but she couldn’t. Liam Felton was an out-and-out bastard, but maybe he’d ruined her. Maybe all other men would pale in comparison from now on. How sick was that? If only she could afford a shrink …

“Thank you for the wonderful evening,” Sam said as he walked her to the door. “May I call on you again?”

Whitney could see he wanted to kiss her, and yet she was holding her purse determinedly between them. And yet, before she was able to utter a word, he clasped her in his arms and brought his lips to hers.

She stood there stiffly for a moment. He tried to get a response from her, but none was forthcoming, and he finally pulled back. After an awkward silence for a few moments, she finally spoke.

“I’m sorry, Sam. I had a lovely evening with you, but I’m terribly tired.” She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to close the door on any possibility of another date. But she was leaving soon anyway, so what did it all matter?

“I understand, Whitney. You know, there’s a Christmas concert tomorrow in the area. Will you do me the honor of accompanying me?”