their promises to Taryn. He wanted to make sure he kept his.
She raised her chin, as if challenging him. He studied her mouth, the perfect shape, the lower lip slightly fuller than the top. He wanted to know how they would fit together when they kissed. How she would taste. He wanted to feel the steady pressure of need building until he had no choice but to guide them toward the inevitable end.
But not tonight.
He stepped to the side and picked up her jacket, then helped her into it. “It’s late. Let me walk you to your car.”
CHAPTER FOUR
NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. NOTHING!
The next morning Taryn was still doing her best to grasp that reality. She couldn’t decide if Angel deserved extra kudos for leaving her standing there by her car without even a good-night kiss or if she should attack him with one of her high heels the next time she saw him. Yes, he’d told her he was good at waiting, but she hadn’t expected him to be that good, damn him.
After a restless night, she was forced to use the heavy-duty concealer on the dark circles under her eyes, and it was all his fault. She’d tried to come up with all the things she should have said to him, along with imagining ignoring him when he tried to approach her later. Only she didn’t want to ignore him, and even if she did, acting that way gave him too much power. She didn’t want him thinking he got to her, although he did. Dating guys who were afraid of her was much, much simpler. Although she had to admit despite the lack of sleep, this was way more fun.
She dressed and drove to the office, where her exotic orchid was waiting for her on her desk. She checked the moisture level of the soil, as per the instructions, then turned on her computer and prepared to meet her day. While she waited for her computer to boot up, she checked her voice mail on her work phone. Nothing. And she’d already checked her cell that morning. Twice. The man hadn’t called. He hadn’t kissed her and now he wasn’t phoning. She and Angel were going to have to have a serious conversation about the rules. He was supposed to try and she was supposed to say no. Everybody knew that. His ass-backward plan was really starting to get on her nerves.
Which was probably his strategy all along.
* * *
“I DON’T WANT to,” Larissa said, a distinct whine in her voice.
“Do I look as if I care?” Taryn asked as she parked in front of Jo’s Bar. One of the advantages of Fool’s Gold during the workweek was that nearly everyone walked everywhere. So there was always convenient parking.
In theory the restaurant was only about a quarter mile from the Score offices, but in her shoes, it might as well be fifty. Four-inch heels looked amazing but they were a bitch to walk in.
Today she was wearing black-lacquered Gucci pumps with three skinny straps across the top of her foot. Technically they had a five-inch heel, but there was a one-inch platform. They were elegant and simple, not to mention the perfect complement to her Roberto Cavalli reptile-print silk blazer. Underneath she had on a plain sheath dress.
Taryn loved clothes—probably because, until she was thirty, she’d never been able to afford anything that wasn’t secondhand. Now she was making up for lost time. And she didn’t care if everyone dressed casually in town. She didn’t and people would have to get used to that.
Larissa continued to sit in the car. “I’m scared,” she admitted. “What if no one likes me?”
Taryn angled toward her friend. “You know you’re being silly,” she said gently. “Everyone is going to love you. You’re sweet and funny and a loyal friend. What’s not to like?”
Instead of relaxing, Larissa glared at her. “You’re being nice. What’s wrong? Am I dying and don’t know it?”
Taryn sighed. “You’re not dying. I’m being supportive. I can be supportive.”
“I know. It’s not you. I really like this place and I want to fit in.”
“You fit in way more than me, and I’ve made friends.”
Larissa brightened at the thought. “You’re right. I’m much nicer than you, too. Okay, let’s go.”
Taryn collected her Prada bag. “Just give me a second to bask in the warmth of your friendship,” she muttered, then climbed out of her car.
When they were both on the sidewalk, Larissa glanced down at her jeans. She’d put a navy blazer over her pink T-shirt. Her blond hair was pulled back in its usual ponytail. “Am I dressed okay? You always look really nice.”
“No one dresses up in this town except for me,” Taryn assured her. “And the mayor, who is in her sixties. Besides, we’re having lunch in a bar.”
“I see. What’s up with that? You don’t like bars.”
“That’s because it took me two years to break the boys of the habit of having staff meetings in bars.” Taryn gave Larissa a little push toward the door. “You’ll see. This is different.”
Taryn had resisted the first time she was invited to lunch at Jo’s Bar. She hadn’t understood why the women in town wouldn’t want to go to a nice café or tea shop. But once she’d gone into the place, she understood the appeal.
She and Larissa walked into the open space and came to a stop while Larissa looked around. Taryn was already familiar with the mauve walls, flattering light and muted TVs turned to the Style network and HGTV.
There were tables along with booths, a list of specials on a chalkboard and quiet music playing in the background.
Larissa grinned. “Nice. Where do the guys hang out?”
“They have a room in the back. I’ve heard that at night this is more of a couples place, but during the day, the ladies rule.”
She spotted Dellina, Isabel and Noelle sitting at a round table. “Over there,” Taryn said, leading the way.
“Are they smiling?”
Taryn rolled her eyes. “You’re a freak, you know that.”
“Yeah, that’s hardly news.”
“Hi, all,” Taryn said as she approached the table. “This is my friend Larissa. She works for Score. She’s Jack’s personal assistant and the boys’ masseuse. While she’s a wonderful person, don’t agree to help her with any projects. Larissa was born to rescue the world. Seriously, if you let her, she’ll talk you into helping her save some endangered leaf or raid an elementary school to help with a hamster rescue.”
“I would never rescue hamsters from schoolkids,” Larissa told her. “I trust them to care for their pets.”
“So you say now.” Taryn pointed to the table. “Dellina is an event planner. Noelle owns The Christmas Attic, an adorable store on Fourth Street. Everything Christmas, of course, but also seasonal gifty things. Shop there for your mother. Trust me, she’ll love whatever you buy from Noelle. Isabel owns Paper Moon. It used to be a bridal gown shop. Now she also sells yummy clothes and I’m spending way too much money there.”
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