equal parts love and exasperation.
Rachel looked wistful. “That’s nice. Not the crazy part, but that you’re close.”
“You’re not close to your family?”
“I don’t have any.”
He didn’t know what to say to that and reminded himself too late that he was supposed to be charming her, not reminding her that she was alone in the world.
“Are you from around here?” he asked.
“Riverside?” She shook her head. Her hair swayed and caught the light and, for the moment, totally mesmerized him. “I moved here after I graduated from college. I wanted a nice, quiet, suburban sort of place.” She sighed. “Not very exciting.”
“Hey, I’ve lived here all my life. I can show you the best spots for viewing the submarine races.”
She grinned. “Where I grew up, we went parking over by the river. Well, not really a river. More of a gully. Part of the year, it even had water in it.”
“Parking, huh?”
She shrugged. “I had my moments.”
“And now?”
Her gaze drifted to where her friend still talked to Eddy. “Not so much.” She looked back at him. “Why’d you come over?”
He smiled. “Have you looked in the mirror lately?”
She ducked her head and blushed. Carter couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen a woman blush. He wanted to make her do it again.
“Thank you,” she said. “I spend my days with five-year-olds whose idea of being charming is to put glue in my hair. You’re a nice change.”
“You’re comparing me to a five-year-old?” he asked, pretending outrage.
“Well, a lot of guys have maturity issues.”
“I’m totally mature. Responsible, even.”
She didn’t look convinced. “Of course you are.”
Carter was…interesting, Rachel thought, then nearly laughed out loud at the wild understatement. Okay, he was gorgeous, in a California blond, male-model sort of way. Classically handsome with shaggy hair and that earring. Who had given it to him? She couldn’t stop looking at it, which told her she needed to get out more. No wait—that was already on her to-do list.
He was big, with broad shoulders and a smile that made her toes curl inside her sensible, low-heeled pumps even as she wondered if there were any interesting tattoos underneath the chambray shirt and jeans. What would it be like to be a leather-and-lace kind of woman—someone who knew what to do with a guy like Carter? As it was she was blushing, practically stammering and wishing Diane would hurry up so they could go.
Except she wasn’t ready to leave. Not just yet. Carter wasn’t the kind of guy who usually came on to her, but it was fun to play “what-if” even if only in her head.
So she took a drink of her margarita and imagined herself to be wearing a wicked red-lace bra and a matching thong under black leather and some low-cut bustier. What would that Rachel say to a man like him?
“So tell me a secret,” she said, surprising herself and, from the way his eyebrows lifted, him.
Her instinct was to take it back and say he didn’t have to, but she refused to crumble now.
He thought for a second, then shrugged. “I keep trying to give up on women. They invade every part of my life and I know I’d be better off if I could just stay away from them. I was raised to do the right thing, so once I’m involved it’s hard to get out.”
Not the answer she’d expected. “You know I’m a woman, right?” she asked, only half kidding.
He grinned. “Oh, yeah. I noticed.”
“You’re going to give up women by not avoiding them?”
He sipped his beer. “It’s a work in progress,” he admitted. “I avoid them for a few months and then I walk into somewhere safe and I’m sucker punched by someone I didn’t expect.”
Did that mean her?
“So tell me your secret,” he said.
“I dance,” she admitted without thinking, then immediately wished she could call back the words. “I mean, I used to. When I was growing up and in college. I wanted to be a dancer, but I don’t have the right body type.”
He was polite enough to keep his gaze firmly fixed on her face.
“What kind of dance?” he asked.
“Everything. Ballet, jazz, modern. I still take classes, which is silly because it’s not like I’m going to do something with it.”
“Why is it silly? Does everything have to have a purpose?”
She didn’t know how to answer. She’d never told anyone about her dancing and she wasn’t sure why she’d admitted it now. Maybe because it was easier than talking about her leather-and-lace fantasy.
Before she could answer his question, Diane’s sharp voice cut across the floor.
“You’re a jerk, Eddy. I don’t know why I ever bothered with you.”
“Hey, babe, don’t be that way.”
Eddy reached for Diane, who pushed his arm away. “I hate you. How’s that for an I sentence. Go to hell.”
Eddy threw up both hands. “I don’t need this from you. Just forget it.”
Diane glared at him. “Fine, I will. This is the end. Don’t bother coming around again. Understand.”
“Clearly. Don’t you come crawling back. I’m not interested.”
“Me, either.”
With that, Diane whirled around and marched out of the bar.
Rachel stared after her. “She said she wanted to break up with him, but I didn’t think she meant it.” She looked at the exit, wondering if her friend would be all right. “I need to go check on her.”
“Sure thing.”
Rachel stood, as did Carter. She glanced from him to the door and back.
“Thanks for the drink and the conversation,” she said, suddenly feeling awkward. “You were really nice.”
His easy smile gave her toes another miniworkout. “Words every guy longs to hear.”
“What? Oh.” She laughed. “Right. Sorry. You were especially dangerous tonight. I was terrified.”
“Better.”
He
