honest.” Richard studied the beauty before him. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head indicating she wasn’t.
He wrapped his hands around her bare wrists gently. “I don’t have allergies. None food related.” He already felt heat transferring between them and cascading over his flesh. He glanced at the two bags of nuts sitting on the counter of the island. “Are those salted or candied pecans?”
Toni met his gaze. “I am serving the salad with raspberry vinaigrette, so candied of course—unless you don’t like raspberry vinaigrette.”
“I do actually, but use the almonds on the salad.” He flashed the beauty before him a grin and swiped the bag of pecans, reluctantly letting her go. “Because God knows I’m having them with my beer. Andrew said it was in the fridge?” He opened the bag and reached in for some of the pecans.
She smiled and nodded. “Top shelf. Other than Andrew, you’re the only beer drinker I now officially know.”
“I drink scotch and bourbon too.”
“I’ll make a mental note. It’s so weird that we are being forced into this and we don’t know anything about each other.” She started cutting vegetables again and Richard had to admit she was right.
He stepped over to the fridge. Richard withdrew a beer and glanced at her. Her hair was in a clip and off her face, giving him a great view of her pretty features and long lashes. Relief washed over him. They were actually getting along. However, hearing her blatant admission of her attraction to him had kicked his libido completely out of whack. “I wish we’d met under different circumstances.”
“Me too.” The defeat in her voice wasn’t hard to miss. He shut the fridge door and stepped over to the island where Toni worked. Richard studied the woman who had captivated him in mere days. “Can I tell you a secret?”
She lifted her gaze and nodded. “Sure.”
He couldn’t control his smile. “I’m attracted to you too.”
The smile she offered—he knew it was just for him and it stole his breath. “I think we’re going to be okay. As far as the mutual attraction. We both know we can’t give into it.”
“Not if we want an annulment,” she offered, confirming they were still on the same wavelength. “We’re both smart—most of the time—professionals. This should be easy, now that we’re getting along, right?”
Or make things twice as difficult.
She debated and a thoughtful expression covered her pretty face. ”Please don’t tell me we have to associate with Hank too much.”
Interesting. “He holds the same position as me.”
Sadness filled her dark gaze. “I see.”
No. This feels completely wrong.
She opened a drawer, pulled out a bottle opener and passed it to him.
“Thank you.”
She nodded and resumed cutting.
He sipped from his beer and remembered the incident in the office and how Hank had reacted to her. “You don’t like him?”
She sighed and a gamut of emotions crossed her face. “No.”
He digested this and studied her. “Why?” For some reason her answer mattered.
She glanced down at the cutting board as he reached into the bag of candied pecans. Toni thought a moment and then looked up into his eyes. “He weirds me out. I also know he’s a partner and, as soon as we return from our wedding, I’m starting work on your office. I have no choice; I’ll have to see him every day.”
Richard took her words to heart. Something deep inside startled him. He’d known Hank almost half his life—yet—one introduction and Toni didn’t like him. He also knew, from their earlier encounter, that Hank made her uncomfortable. “I’m sorry.”
Toni shook her head. “Don’t be, I’ll be fine.”
Before him stood a beautiful woman who he’d overheard tell her best friend she was more than a little attracted to him. She didn’t know Hank any more than she knew the man in the moon. Yet, she didn’t like him. “Toni, if anyone ever makes you feel uncomfortable at the
She shook her head indicating she wasn’t.
He wrapped his hands around her bare wrists gently. “I don’t have allergies. None food related.” He already felt heat transferring between them and cascading over his flesh. He glanced at the two bags of nuts sitting on the counter of the island. “Are those salted or candied pecans?”
Toni met his gaze. “I am serving the salad with raspberry vinaigrette, so candied of course—unless you don’t like raspberry vinaigrette.”
“I do actually, but use the almonds on the salad.” He flashed the beauty before him a grin and swiped the bag of pecans, reluctantly letting her go. “Because God knows I’m having them with my beer. Andrew said it was in the fridge?” He opened the bag and reached in for some of the pecans.
She smiled and nodded. “Top shelf. Other than Andrew, you’re the only beer drinker I now officially know.”
“I drink scotch and bourbon too.”
“I’ll make a mental note. It’s so weird that we are being forced into this and we don’t know anything about each other.” She started cutting vegetables again and Richard had to admit she was right.
He stepped over to the fridge. Richard withdrew a beer and glanced at her. Her hair was in a clip and off her face, giving him a great view of her pretty features and long lashes. Relief washed over him. They were actually getting along. However, hearing her blatant admission of her attraction to him had kicked his libido completely out of whack. “I wish we’d met under different circumstances.”
“Me too.” The defeat in her voice wasn’t hard to miss. He shut the fridge door and stepped over to the island where Toni worked. Richard studied the woman who had captivated him in mere days. “Can I tell you a secret?”
She lifted her gaze and nodded. “Sure.”
He couldn’t control his smile. “I’m attracted to you too.”
The smile she offered—he knew it was just for him and it stole his breath. “I think we’re going to be okay. As far as the mutual attraction. We both know we can’t give into it.”
“Not if we want an annulment,” she offered, confirming they were still on the same wavelength. “We’re both smart—most of the time—professionals. This should be easy, now that we’re getting along, right?”
Or make things twice as difficult.
She debated and a thoughtful expression covered her pretty face. ”Please don’t tell me we have to associate with Hank too much.”
Interesting. “He holds the same position as me.”
Sadness filled her dark gaze. “I see.”
No. This feels completely wrong.
She opened a drawer, pulled out a bottle opener and passed it to him.
“Thank you.”
She nodded and resumed cutting.
He sipped from his beer and remembered the incident in the office and how Hank had reacted to her. “You don’t like him?”
She sighed and a gamut of emotions crossed her face. “No.”
He digested this and studied her. “Why?” For some reason her answer mattered.
She glanced down at the cutting board as he reached into the bag of candied pecans. Toni thought a moment and then looked up into his eyes. “He weirds me out. I also know he’s a partner and, as soon as we return from our wedding, I’m starting work on your office. I have no choice; I’ll have to see him every day.”
Richard took her words to heart. Something deep inside startled him. He’d known Hank almost half his life—yet—one introduction and Toni didn’t like him. He also knew, from their earlier encounter, that Hank made her uncomfortable. “I’m sorry.”
Toni shook her head. “Don’t be, I’ll be fine.”
Before him stood a beautiful woman who he’d overheard tell her best friend she was more than a little attracted to him. She didn’t know Hank any more than she knew the man in the moon. Yet, she didn’t like him. “Toni, if anyone ever makes you feel uncomfortable at the
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