Page 24 of Earl

“Good to hear.”

His light blue eyes wandered over her face and settled on her lips.

“Is it too much to ask if you would tell me what’s next for you?” He cleverly led her over to an isolated corner, where the noise level was not so high. “I have seen the designs highlighted on several large screens around the room. The fall designs and hints of winter wear. Why just a hint?”

She laughed softly, eyes twinkling. “I like to keep the mystery going. It hypes the anticipation to a fever pitch and have people eagerly looking forward to what is coming.”

“If the winter designs are anything like the fall, and of course the summer designs, I would say we are in for a treat.” He sipped his champagne and stared at her lips coated in strawberry. “I have been away for more than five years and now I am back. I must say that seeing you makes coming home a treat.”

Her tapered brows lifted. “Are you flirting with me?”

He chuckled. “Absolutely. You are a very beautiful woman, Cathy.”

“Thank you.” Suddenly she felt uncomfortable. She had spoken to Earl just as she was leaving, and he had reminded her of her promise to call him later. But to her confusion, she discovered that she liked Byron and felt as if she was cheating on Earl, which was really ridiculous.

“Cathy? Have I said something offend you?”

“No.” She shook her head firmly. “I am sorry, but I need to speak to Monique for a minute.”

“Wait. Is it possible for me to get your number? I was thinking we could go for coffee or have lunch?”

“Why?” She asked bluntly.

He did not take offence to her question as she expected. “Because I want to get to know you better.”

Giving him her number, she walked away, confusion heavy in her chest.

*****

“You know you are being ridiculous, right?” Justin glanced over at her as he negotiated traffic. “Going for coffee is not a crime and it’s not a proposal of marriage. The guy likes you. I have seen the way he looks at you.”

“I spent years having a dry spell and suddenly I have two men vying for my attention,” she muttered as she plucked at her cashmere jacket.

“That’s not a bad thing.”

“Isn’t it? I have confusing feelings about a man I have never met before and now this Byron is complicating things.”

“So, you do like him?”

“He is okay, I guess.” She shrugged. “I feel as if I am cheating on Earl.”

Justin hissed out an impatient breath as he stopped at the light. “Sometimes I wonder about you. You have never met the guy and here is this flesh and blood man who, I have to tell you, could not take his eyes of you the entire evening.

He cornered me and on the pretext of asking me about my career, ended up talking about you the entire time. What did you like, how does he break the ice, if you were with someone, things like that.”

She turned to look at him. “What did you tell him?”

“I told him you were free, single and disengaged.”

“You shouldn’t have.”

Easing off the brake, he merged into traffic after giving her a fulminating look.

“Why the hell not?”

“Because I happen to like Earl. We are going to meet when he gets back.”

“Where is he, by the way?”