at his face while leaning against
the counter. She tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her ear. What
now?
“ Julia, did Sara mention anything to you about a book
party tomorrow night?”
She nodded, smiling in a detached sort of way. Her pulse
picked up tempo.
“ Would you consider being my guest for the evening?”
Julia’s heart lurched hard and she felt her careful
expression falter. She’d often been asked out over the years, and
her response had always been a kindly no .
She lowered her eyes for a moment. When she raised them
to meet his, her answer surprised her.
Chapter Six
With a critical eye, Julia checked her reflection in the mirror the
following evening. She wondered if the black cocktail dress with a
matching beaded bolero jacket was too dressy for a book party.
Nibbling on her bottom lip, she plumped the curls at her shoulders.
She didn’t want to admit to herself that she was nervous about
going on a date with Marc. She knew he had asked her out of courtesy
to Brian and Sara. But that didn’t explain why there were kamikaze
butterflies loose in her stomach.
She distracted herself by filling her evening bag with the
essentials—compact face powder, lipstick, a comb, tissues, and
Extra-Strength Tylenol. She began to remember why she didn’t go out
on dates. The anxiety wasn’t worth it. Then again, no one had
stirred her to this pitch before. She’d decided a long time ago not
to get too personal with her business associates. Although she’d
often been a part of power lunches and dinners, she kept things
professional. Office romances were notorious for being disastrous,
and with her long hours of work, she really didn’t have time for
anyone else.
Julia preferred it that way. If pangs of loneliness ever crept up on
her, she’d give her dad or brother a call, although lately, even
that had failed to banish her feelings of discontent.
A knock at the cottage door sent her heart careening. Marc needed to
be at the party early and had insisted on driving Julia so they
wouldn’t need to wait for Brian and Sara.
She took a breath, straightened her shoulders, and answered the door.
Marc hoped the darkness concealed his reaction when he saw Julia in
the doorway. How was it she could look more lovely each time he saw
her? He managed a smile. “Ready?”
She nodded and took his proffered arm. They walked in silence in the
moonless night to his truck. After helping her into the passenger
seat, he went around to the other side and slid behind the wheel.
While making trivial conversation, inwardly Marc wondered what had
ever possessed him to give Julia a second thought. She was way out of
league. No doubt she’d accepted his invitation out of courtesy to
Brian and Sara. He frowned at the thought.
“So who’s giving you the party?” Julia asked.
Marc forced his expression to be more pleasant. “My editor and my
dad were good friends. And when I had the idea for the book, he
helped to get me started. But just in case any success might go to my
head, he told me he needed an excuse for a party to showcase his
wife’s new catering business, and that my book was as good a reason
as any.” Marc smiled wryly. “Believe me, I’m not complaining,
but I can guarantee I won’t know half the people there tonight.”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea. Just think of the exposure your
book will get. Besides, a party is a party.”
“That’s true. And I get the feeling you like parties.”
Julia smiled. “Absolutely. They’re an excellent place to network
and develop new business contacts. Many of my consulting
opportunities have developed at such gatherings.”
“Do you ever go just to have fun?”
“Work is fun.”
Her shot her a glance, wondering at the forced note in her voice.
Seeing her clouded expression confirmed his suspicions. The idea that
Julia might not be happy bothered him. Technically, it wasn’t his
problem, and he certainly wasn’t the solution, but it still
bothered
the counter. She tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her ear. What
now?
“ Julia, did Sara mention anything to you about a book
party tomorrow night?”
She nodded, smiling in a detached sort of way. Her pulse
picked up tempo.
“ Would you consider being my guest for the evening?”
Julia’s heart lurched hard and she felt her careful
expression falter. She’d often been asked out over the years, and
her response had always been a kindly no .
She lowered her eyes for a moment. When she raised them
to meet his, her answer surprised her.
Chapter Six
With a critical eye, Julia checked her reflection in the mirror the
following evening. She wondered if the black cocktail dress with a
matching beaded bolero jacket was too dressy for a book party.
Nibbling on her bottom lip, she plumped the curls at her shoulders.
She didn’t want to admit to herself that she was nervous about
going on a date with Marc. She knew he had asked her out of courtesy
to Brian and Sara. But that didn’t explain why there were kamikaze
butterflies loose in her stomach.
She distracted herself by filling her evening bag with the
essentials—compact face powder, lipstick, a comb, tissues, and
Extra-Strength Tylenol. She began to remember why she didn’t go out
on dates. The anxiety wasn’t worth it. Then again, no one had
stirred her to this pitch before. She’d decided a long time ago not
to get too personal with her business associates. Although she’d
often been a part of power lunches and dinners, she kept things
professional. Office romances were notorious for being disastrous,
and with her long hours of work, she really didn’t have time for
anyone else.
Julia preferred it that way. If pangs of loneliness ever crept up on
her, she’d give her dad or brother a call, although lately, even
that had failed to banish her feelings of discontent.
A knock at the cottage door sent her heart careening. Marc needed to
be at the party early and had insisted on driving Julia so they
wouldn’t need to wait for Brian and Sara.
She took a breath, straightened her shoulders, and answered the door.
Marc hoped the darkness concealed his reaction when he saw Julia in
the doorway. How was it she could look more lovely each time he saw
her? He managed a smile. “Ready?”
She nodded and took his proffered arm. They walked in silence in the
moonless night to his truck. After helping her into the passenger
seat, he went around to the other side and slid behind the wheel.
While making trivial conversation, inwardly Marc wondered what had
ever possessed him to give Julia a second thought. She was way out of
league. No doubt she’d accepted his invitation out of courtesy to
Brian and Sara. He frowned at the thought.
“So who’s giving you the party?” Julia asked.
Marc forced his expression to be more pleasant. “My editor and my
dad were good friends. And when I had the idea for the book, he
helped to get me started. But just in case any success might go to my
head, he told me he needed an excuse for a party to showcase his
wife’s new catering business, and that my book was as good a reason
as any.” Marc smiled wryly. “Believe me, I’m not complaining,
but I can guarantee I won’t know half the people there tonight.”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea. Just think of the exposure your
book will get. Besides, a party is a party.”
“That’s true. And I get the feeling you like parties.”
Julia smiled. “Absolutely. They’re an excellent place to network
and develop new business contacts. Many of my consulting
opportunities have developed at such gatherings.”
“Do you ever go just to have fun?”
“Work is fun.”
Her shot her a glance, wondering at the forced note in her voice.
Seeing her clouded expression confirmed his suspicions. The idea that
Julia might not be happy bothered him. Technically, it wasn’t his
problem, and he certainly wasn’t the solution, but it still
bothered
Similar Books
