Her Accidental Boyfriend(5)

“Hey,” Drew said, poking her head inside his office. “I didn’t want to bother you when Ms. Burke was here so I took a message rather than put the call through.”

“No problem.” He waved in his part-time intern, grateful to get his mind on something else. “What is it?”

She took a deep breath and studied the notepad in her hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t catch her name. She spoke rather quickly. But she said that something had come up tomorrow night that she couldn’t get out of, so she wasn’t going to be able to make it to the party with you. She wanted me to tell you she was super, super sorry and she…”

“Yeah?”

Drew glanced up, then quickly back down. “She’ll be sleeping naked and dreaming about you.”

“Sorry about that,” Shane said, trying to suppress a laugh. He’d left an impression, at least.

“It’s okay.”

“You should take off now. Thanks for your help today.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you next week.”

Shane nodded and swiveled his chair to catch a glimpse of the descending sun out the window. Reddish orange stripes marked the sky, and relief that the day was over stretched across his shoulder blades.

It was a shame he wouldn’t have a date for tomorrow night, but now he’d be able to freely mingle and network at the hotel’s opening gala. Unless Mrs. Huston did bring her daughter, in which case he’d have no choice but to spend time with her. He’d caught a glimpse of her once—tall, easy on the eyes—but by the sounds of it, Mrs. Huston would have them married off, and he wanted no part of that.

Which meant interference wouldn’t be a bad idea.

A certain blond, green-eyed waitress popped into his head. Kagan. Ever since she’d arrived in town he’d been intrigued by her. He’d flirted, always made conversation when they ran into each other around town so he could hear her sweet, velvety voice. But she’d shrugged off his teasing and interest without a second thought. Almost as if she didn’t believe he wanted her.

Or didn’t notice.

He’d watched her at the Crown & Anchor and sure, she talked and joked around with her customers, but he’d noted no one got too close. Her natural beauty, easygoing demeanor, and sexy-as-hell smile got plenty of attention, yet she didn’t seem aware of the way she charmed everyone.

Last week they’d bumped into each other at Crem’s and the second her side brushed his it was like a speeding bullet crashed into his gut and fractured into hot bundles of nerves that bothered everything inside him. He’d stayed in a state of semi-arousal all day after that. Even when she wasn’t near, she affected him.

Okay, so it could be the sweater she’d accidentally left at the bakery that he’d grabbed to return to her, but still had sitting in the front seat of his car.

Or it could be he wanted to feel every inch of her and find those special spots that undid her.

Whatever it was, thanks to a pink sweater, he had a reason to see her now. He stood, flipped off the light switch, and caught the elevator down to the lobby.

She wouldn’t agree to go out with him.

He knew that.

She’d tell him no thank you.

He knew that too.

But he wanted her to be his date tomorrow night. Something about seeing her dressed up and out of her element yanked at his curiosity.

On the drive to her house he told himself no matter how soft and apologetic her voice might be, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. As far as he knew, she lived like a hermit and this was his chance to show her some fun.

He parked on the tree-lined street in front of her townhouse. The faint smell of the ocean mixed with the scent of red roses in full bloom along her walkway. He wondered not for the first time how she’d afforded to rent such a sophisticated place, then shook his head. Not his business.

His knock wasn’t quite as confident as he’d hoped.

And shit, was he sweating? What the hell was that about?

The door swung wide and a woman he didn’t recognize smiled in greeting. “Hello?” Her gaze slid from his face to his chest to his rolled-up shirt sleeves and continued down to his black dress shoes.

“Hey. Is Kagan here?”

“For you? Definitely. Come on in.” She motioned for him to enter. “I’m Charlotte. And you are?”

“Shane Sullivan. Nice to meet you.”

“Shane?” Kagan came into view wearing frayed jean shorts that showed off her smooth, tan, mile-long legs and a see-through, loose white shirt with barely there sleeves. Underneath, she wore a striped pink bra trimmed in black lace.

He concentrated on keeping his eyes above her shoulders.