The Duke's Bride: Book 5 (The Clearbrooks)
Page 29
Heat flew to her cheeks. So, he remembered her too. She did live in town, so perhaps he had seen her.
Yet why in the world would he expect her to know him? She didn’t have a lot of time to socialize with her busy schedule - but what an ego!
Clearbrook Valley wasn’t the biggest place in Colorado, but she guessed that with such a small community, many people knew everyone’s business. But not her. She didn’t have time to do much but go to work, go to school, and take care of her mother. The lady wasn’t an invalid by any means, and her mother was rather independent, but recovering from cancer had taken a toll on her. And staying off the dating scene was just fine with Hannah.
Even though it seemed obvious that she and this man Tanner had seen each other from afar, he was still a stranger. And though a helpful stranger, she didn’t want to give him her phone number. There were too many crazies out there.
He leaned in further and cleared his throat. “Thought I could give you a call sometime and we could go out to dinner.”
Dinner? In your dreams, buddy.
So, there was a price to be paid, just not in money. Though there was a slight vulnerability in his voice that was there for only a second or two, she wasn’t about to let that sway her.
But what if she said no? Would he get mad?
Despite his handsome looks, her past had taught her well. Maybe he wasn’t crazy, but she would never make the mistake of falling for a man like him again. Good looking, sure of himself, and acting like he owned the world. No, he was Nick all over again.
She forced the corners of her mouth to curl upwards. His silver gaze was trance-like, and she almost gave in to his request.
“So, you want my phone number to ask me out on a date?”
That irresistible dimple almost made her forget where and who she was.
“That’s usually how it goes. I know it seems a bit crazy, but I’d like to give you a call some time. It seems fate was with me tonight.”
Crazy? He got that right. The nerve of the man, asking her for a date in the middle of the night.
And fate? She knew all about that.
At twenty-eight, she had known enough men like Mr. Limo to last a lifetime. Why couldn’t they be nice, just for the heck of it, and not ask for anything in return?
She dropped her gaze and searched through her purse for a pen and paper. “And this has nothing to do with paying you back?” She wanted to make sure she understood his intentions.
“Hannah, Hannah, Hannah.” Despite the unorthodox situation, the way he said her name sent goosebumps down her arm. This man was more dangerous than she had first thought.
“I already told you, I’m not going to ask you for anything, but your phone number.”
Hannah pulled out her three-inch day planner and threw it onto her lap. It was loaded with more receipts, grocery lists, and medical bills. Finally, she found what she was looking for, a small flyer from her landlord with all the information she needed for emergency and non-emergency information. She found a hotel pen in her cup holder and wrote down a phone number on another scrap of paper, handing it to him.
“To tell you the truth,” she said, batting her eyelids. “I thought I remembered your face from somewhere too, but I just can’t place where.”
He took the paper and touched her fingers at the same time. “Hannah...I like that name.”
She gave him a sweet smile and watched him leave, sighing as his long legs swaggered back to the limousine. He may have been a Good Samaritan, and her mother’s dream may have been somewhat true, but no dream was perfect.
Hannah really did appreciate his help. But someone should let this man know that not all women were going to fall at his feet because he gave a finger to help. It was common decency to do the right thing. Too bad he was so full of himself because he did seem like a kind man, however skewed his intentions. And though she might run into him in such a small town, she wouldn’t worry. He would probably forget about her and move on to the next woman.
She felt bad about doing what she did, but he hadn’t given her much choice. Of course she could always have said no. But then where would she be?
Frowning, she realized she was probably the tenth in a long line of Hannahs. Her phone number was unlisted, but if he wanted it, he could obviously get it. This man could probably get anything he wanted. Anything but her.
With a small sense of regret she wondered how long it would take for him to figure out that the phone number he had in his pocket was the direct line to the Clearbrook Valley Police Department.
Available Now
Almost Midnight
Also by Teresa McCarthy
Teresa McCarthy at Amazon.com (updated list)
The Clearbrooks (Historical Romance series)
#1 The Rejected Suitor
#2 The Wagered Bride
#3 The Convenient Bride
#4 The Mischievous Bride
#5 The Duke’s Bride
Colorado Clearbrooks (contemporary romance series)
#1 Almost Midnight
#2 Almost Sundown
#3 Almost Daybreak
Standalone (Historical Romances)
Once Upon A Diamond
To Marry A Marquess
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