chuckle. That wasn't an answer or her destination but she did speak
the truth. “Okay, how about a compromise?”
“I'm listening.” Amusement softened the hint
of warning in her tone.
“I'll take you to the house in Malibu. Make
sure you're behind locked gates, as it were, and then I'll head out.” He held
up a finger when she opened her mouth as if to agree. Glancing at her, he
grinned. “If…you agree to have dinner with me when you're back in Los Angeles.”
“I didn't say anything about coming back to
Los Angeles.” She avoided the question. “And you live in New York.”
“Fine, agree to have dinner with me in L.A.,
New York, London—wherever.” He gritted his teeth at the slip, but forced his
hands to stay relaxed. The darkness offered him a cloak of sorts from her
all-too-observant eyes, but passing cars illuminated the interior regularly.
“You are a determined man, Jarod.” She
leaned her head back against the seat.
“That's not a no .”
He followed the highway curve to head toward Malibu.
“True. It wasn't a yes, either.” Stubborn. Sassy. Sexy. Smart.
“Agreed. So no acceptance, but no outright rejection. In business, we
call that a status quo.”
“Are you suggesting that you'll just keep
driving around until I give you an answer? Or until I give you the answer you
want?” The headlights of a passing car played over her face and revealed her
pursed lips.
“No, I'm telling you I want to go out with
you because I want to get to know you better.” Lies couched in truth worked.
Truth by itself is also useful.
She sighed, impatience in that little huff
of breath. “I can't commit to anything right now. I can tell you I'll call,
but…life is complicated.”
Complicated.
A sad, provocative word that spoke volumes
to whatever held back the playful woman he engaged on the curb in New York.
“It doesn't have to be.” He faced a fork in
the path, but trust took time.
“And most of the time, it probably wouldn't
be, but as much as I have enjoyed this and appreciated your assistance, it’s
time to say goodbye, Jarod.” Like a lock turning, she shut him out.
“Okay.” Strategic retreat and regroup time.
He took the next exit and pulled into the first hotel lot he saw. “But you need
sleep. You're exhausted.” He put the car in park and turned in the seat to face
her. “Humor me. Get a room. Get some sleep. Leave in the morning.”
She arched both brows and sat forward in her
seat, studying the hotel. It wasn't anything fancy, a mid-level hotel that
offered clean rooms, soft beds, and convenience. It was also a far cry from the
five star options she usually selected.
“Well, Louis would never look for me here.”
But a trace of uncertainty wavered under the words.
“No and we'll put it on my business
card—that way if he's looking for you to use yours, we can buy you a little
more time.” It wasn't ideal, but if he could get her to sleep, he could move
some assets around. He wanted eyes on duMonde at all
times.
“You're being a little too nice to me, Mr.
Parker.” And she pushed him away again. The quiet determination to keep him at
arm's length aggravated and enticed him.
“Nice wouldn't have an ulterior motive.” He
shut the car off and pocketed the keys as he stepped out. He let her chew on
that while he walked around and opened her door. She'd only put on a trace of
cosmetics before leaving the plane, her tousled curls curved around her face
and the pantsuit she wore did nothing to disguise her figure. But he missed the
pajamas and ponytail.
“So you admit to having one?” She
challenged, stepping out of the car, purse in hand.
“Never denied it in the
first place. Getting to know you is just a perk.” He locked the car,
leaving
the truth. “Okay, how about a compromise?”
“I'm listening.” Amusement softened the hint
of warning in her tone.
“I'll take you to the house in Malibu. Make
sure you're behind locked gates, as it were, and then I'll head out.” He held
up a finger when she opened her mouth as if to agree. Glancing at her, he
grinned. “If…you agree to have dinner with me when you're back in Los Angeles.”
“I didn't say anything about coming back to
Los Angeles.” She avoided the question. “And you live in New York.”
“Fine, agree to have dinner with me in L.A.,
New York, London—wherever.” He gritted his teeth at the slip, but forced his
hands to stay relaxed. The darkness offered him a cloak of sorts from her
all-too-observant eyes, but passing cars illuminated the interior regularly.
“You are a determined man, Jarod.” She
leaned her head back against the seat.
“That's not a no .”
He followed the highway curve to head toward Malibu.
“True. It wasn't a yes, either.” Stubborn. Sassy. Sexy. Smart.
“Agreed. So no acceptance, but no outright rejection. In business, we
call that a status quo.”
“Are you suggesting that you'll just keep
driving around until I give you an answer? Or until I give you the answer you
want?” The headlights of a passing car played over her face and revealed her
pursed lips.
“No, I'm telling you I want to go out with
you because I want to get to know you better.” Lies couched in truth worked.
Truth by itself is also useful.
She sighed, impatience in that little huff
of breath. “I can't commit to anything right now. I can tell you I'll call,
but…life is complicated.”
Complicated.
A sad, provocative word that spoke volumes
to whatever held back the playful woman he engaged on the curb in New York.
“It doesn't have to be.” He faced a fork in
the path, but trust took time.
“And most of the time, it probably wouldn't
be, but as much as I have enjoyed this and appreciated your assistance, it’s
time to say goodbye, Jarod.” Like a lock turning, she shut him out.
“Okay.” Strategic retreat and regroup time.
He took the next exit and pulled into the first hotel lot he saw. “But you need
sleep. You're exhausted.” He put the car in park and turned in the seat to face
her. “Humor me. Get a room. Get some sleep. Leave in the morning.”
She arched both brows and sat forward in her
seat, studying the hotel. It wasn't anything fancy, a mid-level hotel that
offered clean rooms, soft beds, and convenience. It was also a far cry from the
five star options she usually selected.
“Well, Louis would never look for me here.”
But a trace of uncertainty wavered under the words.
“No and we'll put it on my business
card—that way if he's looking for you to use yours, we can buy you a little
more time.” It wasn't ideal, but if he could get her to sleep, he could move
some assets around. He wanted eyes on duMonde at all
times.
“You're being a little too nice to me, Mr.
Parker.” And she pushed him away again. The quiet determination to keep him at
arm's length aggravated and enticed him.
“Nice wouldn't have an ulterior motive.” He
shut the car off and pocketed the keys as he stepped out. He let her chew on
that while he walked around and opened her door. She'd only put on a trace of
cosmetics before leaving the plane, her tousled curls curved around her face
and the pantsuit she wore did nothing to disguise her figure. But he missed the
pajamas and ponytail.
“So you admit to having one?” She
challenged, stepping out of the car, purse in hand.
“Never denied it in the
first place. Getting to know you is just a perk.” He locked the car,
leaving
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