by Kait Nolan
Striding toward his bedroom, Marcus stripped his T-shirt off. Where was that shirt his sister-in-law had bought him for Christmas? Hanging in the closet? And he had some trendy jeans he’d gotten for their vacation last year.
The phone vibrated against his palm.
VSHAY: Thank you.
He was meeting the girl of his dreams for dinner. Marcus typed “CU” but then deleted it. He wasn’t pretending to be on her payroll now.
He didn’t have to be the last to respond.
Chapter Eleven
Ronnie slid her icy hands over the side seams of her denim skirt. Even though Flora’s was trendy and pricey, she hadn’t wanted to overdress. The gap between her high-heeled sandals and the long hemline of her skirt added allure. She didn’t want to exude sex appeal, did she?
Passing cars reflected off the glass windows lining Telegraph Street. A deep breath before she pulled the door open fortified her for the evening to come. In the low lighting, she blinked and squinted before stepping toward the hostess.
A quick scan of the cozy waiting area sighted a handsome man with fitted jeans and a royal polo that clung to his defined chest. A couple stood off to the side, his arm looped around her waist.
So she had beaten Marcus to the restaurant. Not a surprise. It hadn’t been an hour since their conversation. In her estimation, being late was nearly as repugnant as begging a man to pose as her boyfriend.
The hostess greeted her. She opened her mouth to answer. The buff-looking man in blue stepped beside her.
“Table for two.” His deep voice prickled along her spine. Perfect. Masculine.
She glanced at him. No black-framed glasses hid the brilliant eyes or detracted from the wide cheekbones and square jaw. This was Marcus Jordan, geeky computer guy?
“Right this way, Mr. Jordan.” The hostess’s words solidified his identity.
A large, warm hand rested on Ronnie’s lower back. The heat waltzed with the tingles still resonating from the sound of his voice.
Two steps later, Marcus stumbled over the casual shoes on his feet. His cheeks reddened as he uprighted himself.
This is the guy I expected. The ice in her stomach thawed a little.
Pairs of diners occupied white cloth-covered tables scattered around the room. The hostess seated them in a tall wooden booth along the back wall, far away from the bottle-lined bar where a pair of bartenders whipped up drinks. Marcus gestured for Ronnie to be seated while the hostess placed the menus on the table.
“Enjoy your dinner,” she said, disappearing without a backward glance.
Ronnie slid onto the un-cushioned wood, tucking her denim beneath her and unslinging her leather handbag. She fingered the supple exterior while Marcus slid into the booth across from her.
Before she could thank him for agreeing to meet her, a waiter appeared beside their table. His black apron blended with the slacks he wore. The white shirt accentuated his bronzed features.
“My name is Eduardo. I’ll be serving you tonight.”
Ronnie glanced at the menu while Eduardo explained the specials.
“What will the lady have to drink?”
“Unsweetened tea,” Ronnie replied automatically. Her standard beverage when doing business.
“Salty dog for me.” The deep voice rumbled over her again. “And we’ll start with the asparagus appetizer.”
“Very good, sir. I’ll bring those drinks right out.”
Ronnie glanced up. Marcus scanned his menu. His eyebrows peeked from beneath a riot of dark curls and heavy lashes fanned across wide cheekbones. Without his hair slicked back or glasses hiding his face, he was easy on the eyes.
Her gaze flicked lower. Her heart leapt at the sight of well-defined pecs hugged by clingy royal blue fabric. Either computer geek work was more physical than she imagined or someone spent time working out.
Ronnie cleared her throat. “Thanks for meeting me.”
Blue eyes, brilliant in the flickering light from the candle on the table, stared at her. “I was surprised by your text.”
Ronnie recalled his cheeky first response. “So I gathered.”
“You shouldn’t be surprised that I agreed, though. I tried to ask you out the last time we met.”
True, and she had walked out like she had moral high ground. Heat flushed up her neck. How much groveling lay ahead?
“Have you decided what you’re having?”
Ronnie swallowed, staring at the top of his curly head when he returned his attention to the menu. Her own eyes skimmed the words. She hadn’t been here for a few months, but it was one of the places her boss liked to take the team for lunch.
Eduardo reappeared, balancing a tray on one hand. Ice clinked when he set the glass of tea in front of her. More clinking when he settled the cocktail in front of Marcus. The unsettling blue eyes fixed on her again.
“Veronica will have…” Only her mother called her Veronica, but it sounded sweet coming from his lips.
“The halibut.”
“Care to add soup or salad to that?”
“A small arugula salad with vinaigrette.”
Eduardo ducked his head slightly, collecting her menu. “Excellent choices, miss. And for you sir?”
Marcus ordered steak. His full lips barely parted when he spoke. His fingers, long and tapered, grabbed her attention when he handed his menu to the waiter.
“Your asparagus should be out in a few moments.” Eduardo nodded and turned away.
Marcus fixed his bright eyes on her again. The ice in her stomach returned and her heart tickled her throat. Now or never.
“I need a favor.”
“Handling business on an empty stomach spoils my appetite.”
He seriously wanted her to sit here stewing about this all through dinner?
“Actually, if I keep worrying over things, my dinner will be ruined.”
He sighed. “Fine. But I reserve the right of response until after I’ve finished eating.”
Ronnie glanced left at the other diners. None paid any heed. When she looked forward, Marcus studied her. His eyes burned with obvious interest. Why did he cover those gorgeous things up with glasses?
“What happened to your glasses?” Not what she wanted to say at the moment.
One corner of his mouth quirked upward. “Contacts.”
“You should wear them all the time.”
One eyebrow shot upward. Fire flamed in Ronnie’s cheeks.
“They irritate my eyes after a while.”
She stared at her hands clenching each other in her lap. Like holding ice cubes. She sipped her iced tea, noting Marcus lifted his cocktail, succulent lips demolishing the salt on the rim of the glass before the pale peach liquid flowed into his mouth.
“I need you to pose as my boyfriend tomorrow.”
The drink clumped onto the tabletop. Marcus’ jaw dropped open.
“My brother is here. We’re meeting him for lunch tomorrow. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Marcus wrapped his hands around his glass and lifted his gaze to hers. The tip of his tongue circled his lips. Clearing away the saltiness? A sudden craving for salt kept Ronnie’s attention glued to his mouth.
“So he thinks you and Michael are meeting him. I’m not posing as Michael.”
His words shocked her back to the reality of her situation. So many lies and this was where he drew the line?
Ronnie licked her lips. His eyes followed the movement. Her heart slammed into her chest.
A waiter stopped by their table, depositing a plate of asparagus spears in the center. He set a smaller plate in front of each of them before encouraging them to enjoy the appetizer. As he turned away, Marcus forked one of the spears and held it toward her. Was he being a gentleman or asserting pushy masculinity?
“Thank you.” Ronnie shoved her plate close to his hand. He dropped two of the shrimp covered, butter-glazed delicacies onto the white china. Ronnie scooted her plate closer, unrolled her silver from the napki
n, and cut into a spear while draping the white cloth over her lap.
It was perfectly tender, the sauce adding the right amount of tang to the vegetables. Both commented on the food, leaving the landmine lying untouched between them.
Between bites, Ronnie watched him slice his own asparagus spears into bite-sized lengths. Heat flushed into her face when he caught her staring as he popped a bite into his mouth.
Who was this guy anyway?
~*~
Before they finished the asparagus, Eduardo brought their entrees. Marcus relaxed against the stiff seat while the server slid the steaming plates near their appetizer. Across the table, Ronnie paused, smiling and thanking Eduardo for the food.
Tightness in his chest made swallowing the last bite of asparagus difficult. This gorgeous woman wanted to date him. Or she wanted him to pretend to be his date.
But he was done with pretense. Wasn’t he?
Marcus pulled his entrée closer. The serious conversation would have to wait.
Relishing the food monopolized their mouths. Commentary centered on the topic of the dishes they enjoyed.
Halfway through it, Marcus offered Ronnie a corner of his steak. She hesitated, nibbling the inside corner of her lip. Suddenly, the only thing he wanted to nibble was that perfect peachy pout.
She nodded. His slid the steak onto the corner of her plate. Ronnie trapped his fork with hers.
“Take a slice of halibut.”
Marcus gazed into her bright-eyed gaze. Open and honest, she wanted a fair exchange. Is that what the date offer was really about too? Or could she be interested in him?
He stabbed a white flake of fish. Her gaze followed the food all the way to his mouth. The blush darkening her cheeks when she watched him savor the firm, flavorful seafood hinted at something more than a business arrangement.
Ronnie pushed her plate away. Marcus savored the last few bites of steak. Do I really want to talk about tomorrow? A mound of French fries still needed his attention.
Ronnie blotted her lips with the napkin. His heart slammed against his chest.
“Tony doesn’t know about Virtual Match.” Her sultry voice did nothing to ease the pounding behind his ribs. “No one does. They think I met you on a flight from Amsterdam three weeks ago.” She waved her hand. “You know the story. You lived in Seattle so they couldn’t meet you.”
Marcus wiped his greasy fingers on the napkin beside his plate. “So tell your brother I couldn’t make it this weekend.”
“I already told him we would meet them.”
He arched his eyebrow. “Why?”
“I – I – don’t know.”
Marcus furrowed his brows, stared at her. What was she thinking? Did she want to spend time with him? Or was she afraid of her brother’s reaction? Ronnie squirmed like a hooked worm.
Eduardo arrived with the dessert tray. The waiter described each item. Ronnie licked her lips when Eduardo tapped the side of a triple-chocolate trifle. Marcus pointed to the salted caramel pudding and cream.
“A favorite, sir. Anything for you, miss? The trifle perhaps?”
The way Ronnie’s eyes sparkled, staring at the crystal dessert dish, her longing announced itself to everyone. Maybe she’ll look at me like that someday.
Although the tip of her tongue tapped her upper lip, Ronnie shook her head. Marcus pressed his tingling lips together.
Eduardo strode toward the kitchen, and another employee collected their used dishes. Tension filled the air between them. Ronnie stared at the center of his chest. She wanted his answer. Why pretend he could deny her anything?
“I’ll do it.”
Marcus gulped his nearly empty drink. The icy tang refreshed his mouth, and the warmth coating his throat and stomach fortified his resolve.
Ronnie’s jaw sagged before she snapped her lips together.
He swallowed. “On one condition.”
~*~
Of course, there would be conditions. Didn’t men always have to have the upper hand? Ronnie wrung the silky napkin between her hands.
“I’ll introduce you as Marcus. I’ll explain about the app and how you didn’t give me your real name at first.”
“So I’m the one who needed a virtual match?” His fingers, threaded together on the table, whitened. “I’m the big concocter of tales?”
Ronnie shook her head, leaning forward, placing her hands and the mangled napkin on the table.
“I’ll tell him all about getting Virtual Match to get Mom off my tail. He’ll laugh about that.” And he would. If only there was a way to tell the rest without appearing like a lonely loser trapped in the past. “Then we met at work, realized you were my Michael Bond and hit it off for real.”
Marcus leaned forward. His breath caressed her face with his husky whisper. “Did we hit it off for real, Veronica?”
A shiver to rival that inspired by a stiff breeze off the bay pimpled her skin. The fish in her stomach swam wildly. Marcus’ mesmerizing lips sent her mind skittering down paths it had never before travelled. Why didn’t ugly memories intrude? What was different about this man?
Marcus leaned closer until mere inches separated their noses. An aroma of French fries clogged her breathing. Looking away from his electric blue gaze proved impossible.
“I thought so, but then you saw me—” His voice cracked on the last word.
Ronnie shook her head. What was he talking about? “I was scared. It wasn’t right to feel attracted to someone after a few texts and emails.”
His mouth curved into a full smile, demanding Ronnie’s attention. He leaned closer, drawing her eyes up again to lock onto the searing heat in the blue depths of his stare.
“I wasn’t attractive so it was easy to give me the brush off. I know. It’s been happening since high school.”
Ronnie inched away, heart hammering so hard he had to hear. Her reactions had nothing to do with his clumsiness or nerdy exterior. Even in the coffee shop, she noticed his amazing eyes and strong physique.
“I don’t want a man in my life.” The whispered confession spilled out before Ronnie could stop it.
“Your dessert.”
Ronnie flinched, leaning quickly away from Marcus. His eyes stayed fixed on her face. Eduardo scooted the pudding dish to the middle of the table. The sweet smell of caramel and cream intoxicated her. Marcus paid no attention to the waiter or food.
“You don’t want an ugly man, you mean. Someone who can’t walk without tripping. Who wears thick glasses and can’t say two sentences without blushing like a schoolgirl.”
“That was two sentences.” Ronnie leaned closer, eyes scanning his handsome features. “I don’t see a blush.”
Marcus stared at her. His teeth clenched, making his jaw leap. Was he angry? Did he think she was lying?
“I’ve never had a boyfriend.” What was with all these confessions?
His jaw dropped. “You’re beyond beautiful.” He shook his head. “And I’m supposed to believe I’ll be your first boyfriend?”
The backhand compliment confused Ronnie, kept her angry retort leashed. He may as well have called her a liar. But then, hadn’t she accused him of the same? And worse? Besides, she had been lying to everyone in her family for weeks.
“I had a bad experience when I was a teenager.” Understatement. Ronnie gulped away the bile biting the back of her throat. Since when did she talk about that? “It kept me from playing the dating game.”
Her hands mangled the napkin again. Marcus dropped one of his hands atop hers. His heat melted her frozen fingers. Tingles swept through her palms, and her heart flopped in her chest.
“I’m sorry.”
Ronnie shook her head. “My brother knows, but we don’t talk about it.”
“So he’s protecting you. That’s why he wants to meet me.”
Ronnie nodded. His fingers stroked the back of her hand. Shudders convulsed through the nerve-endings in her arms.
“Why didn’t you just tell him the truth? Why i
nvolve me at all?”
Ronnie blinked. His blue eyes stared into hers. The hope in his eyes matched the pattering of her heart.
“I missed our talks.” Another whispered confession she hadn’t intended to make.
His strong fingers cupped her chin. He leaned forward, guiding her face toward his. Ronnie’s eyes rounded, then snapped shut when his face filled her vision.
She steeled herself for the nightmare of memories. Waited for another leering visage to intrude. Soft lips touched hers and their breath mingled. Still only Marcus’ handsome face remained in the quiet room of her mind. Wonder of wonders.
When his lips gently stroked hers, thoughts melted like ice cream on hot pavement. Her muscles relaxed and every thought evaporated. The caress was nothing like she imagined and yet, exceeded every hope in her heart.
Her mouth molded to his. Noses bumped until their heads turned in alternating directions. A river of sensations flowed through her face and chest. Joy. Ecstasy.
She sighed. Marcus pulled away. His finger stroked her cheek.
She leaned back. Her gaze caught the glint of light off the white china in the center of the table.
“Your dessert.” Ronnie pushed the dish toward him.
“I’ve already sampled the best and sweetest.” His husky voice rocked her stomach like an earthquake.
His mouth covered hers again. A small moan vibrated in her throat.
Who wanted a chocolate trifle when they could feast on this?
Had she really wanted a virtual boyfriend? Sometimes reality made a better match.
A Note From Sharon
If you enjoyed reading this story, consider leaving a review, then click through to Sharon’s website (http:www.sharonleehughson.com). While you’re there, sign up for her newsletter (http://sharonleehughson.com/newsletter/), and you can enjoy on of her short stories FREE. She promises not to flood your inbox with junk. What you can expect? Periodic announcements of new releases and special sales-stuff you wouldn’t want to miss.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to the amazing Kait Nolan for being inspired to take a ragtag fleet of authors and shepherdess them into this uplifting collection. I'm humbled to be part of a project with several authors I admire (and read voraciously) and thrilled to make new writerly friends along the way.A special thank you to my sister (and most ardent fan), Connie, for reading the roughest draft of this story and giving insightful commentary to make it more believable and enjoyable.
