try with me?”
He watched as her emotions played across her face.
“You want me to try to let you trust me? You hurt me, Judd—both on a professional level and on a personal one. After we made love down in Nelson and here, in your office—” Her voice hitched and she paused and swallowed before continuing. “Did you honestly think I was so promiscuous as to go from one man’s bed to another, and back again?”
“Since we’re being honest, I have to admit that it made me furious to think that you could do that.”
“But I’m not like that!” Her voice rose in obvious frustration.
“I know that, Anna. I’m learning all the time.”
“Fine. Okay, I will try with you. But on one condition.”
“What’s that?” he asked, knowing the answer before she even verbalized it and hating that, in this at least, he could read her so well.
“I’m not sleeping with you. Not straightaway. We can get to know each other the way normal couples do.”
“We’ve missed a few steps, that’s true.”
“And I want your word of honor that you won’t try to persuade me otherwise. I’m helpless against you. There, I admit it. Show me that I can trust you. Don’t use that knowledge against me.”
Every particle in his body rebelled against the idea, but he found himself nodding in agreement.
“Agreed,” he managed, even though his jaw felt tight and his throat barely allowed the single word past it. “A date tonight, then. That’d be a good start. I’ll meet you downstairs in the lobby at the house at seven.”
What the lady wanted, the lady was definitely going to get. And while it would be a living torment every second until she capitulated to him, he knew that very soon, she’d be his again. And once she was, no matter what his plans for Charles Wilson, he knew she’d stay by his side.
Anna waited in the lobby at the house and paced the black-and-white-tiled entrance nervously. This was going to be their third date in the three days since last Thursday, when they’d agreed to take things slowly and learn to get to know one another. So far it had been an exercise in pure torture. Judd had been nothing but a complete gentleman. It was driving her crazy.
Today he’d apparently planned a picnic and told her to dress accordingly. Without any idea of what one wore to a picnic these days, she’d opted for a pair of flat navy leather shoes with a peep toe and clear-colored beads embroidered on top, and teamed them up with a pair of three-quarter-length jeans with the cuffs rolled up and a fine-knit pale pink sweater.
Charles came through the lobby.
“Heading out again?” he asked.
“A picnic today, apparently.”
He chuckled. “Have to hand it to the boy. He’s not only picked up the business quickly but he hasn’t wasted time with you, either. I knew sending you to get him would be a good idea.”
A frisson of discomfort spread through her at his words. Had he meant all along for her and Judd to become close? She didn’t like the sensation of being manipulated, not even by Charles, who had probably had the greater hand in guiding her life than anyone she knew—even herself. Before she could respond, Judd came down the stairs.
Dressed in jeans and a silver-gray long-sleeved turtleneck, he looked good enough to eat. Anna blinked and turned her head away. She shouldn’t be thinking about him along those lines. He’d adhered to her dictates about their dating to the letter. It was contrary of her to wish now that he hadn’t.
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