Page 36 of One Bossy Date
Polite nods and the raising of glasses took place around the table. “Hear, hear!”
The conversation continued without me, and I noticed a small change in Anders’s demeanor. Suddenly, his thumb moved rhythmically across my shoulder, seemingly without thought. My eyes searched his face, straining to inconspicuously glance left. I noted the strong line of his jaw, and the muscle there jumped with annoyance, just once. Twice.
What had annoyed him? I looked at his eyes. They were glued to Brody’s back, who’d wandered off after being lightly put down by Gran.
Right.Brody was getting more and more cocky with each drink.
He was good looking with light-brown hair and a fairly nice body, though he was just a little shorter than Anders. When I’d met him years ago, I’d tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but his actions tonight were a clear confirmation as to why I’d never felt an attraction to him. Anders, on the other hand, was a different man altogether. Not only was he broader, stronger, with the most stunning eyes and the manliest squared jaw I’d ever seen, he was also intuitive, extremely intelligent, and caring. Honestly, all that applied when he was compared to anyone—not just Brody.
I began to wonder how I would keep up this scheme.
It would be quite embarrassing at the next family get-together to sit in the same spotlight and explain that things had ended between us. They wouldn’t be happy. Everybody loved him (well, except Brody), even Granny! She was the toughest critic. How could I have known that they would like himthatmuch?
When Gran was called away, I rose to my feet and moved over to one of the cozy corners I’d spotted before, eventually followed by Anders, who’d been discussing the restaurant’s history with an uncle of mine.
“Hey, you all right?” he asked, giving me my glass of wine from the table. He dropped a shoulder against the wall, closing me into the corner.
“I think so.” I nodded quickly. “I just…I’m not used to lying.”
An expression of understanding fell over his face. “Yeah, me neither. This is for the best, right? Everyone seems happy about you having someone in your life.”
“Yeah, except I don’t.” I touched my forehead in embarrassment. “That’s exactly why I planned this. If I didn’t have you here, it would be the usual conversations of pity and questions about my future plans and suggestions on how to live my life.” Trying to remain calm, I blew out a slow, ragged breath.
“Well,” his fingers reached for my chin, and he tilted my head upward, “then I’m glad to be a part of your plan.” He smiled a little. This time, it was only us. So now, that smile was for me, and somehow, it made everything easier.
For the first time, I believed he and I could be friends. I vehemently ignored my inner voice thatbeggedto keep my eyes on that casual half-smile of his, and enjoy the moment a little longer. I knew it wasn’t a good idea.
“I’d like you to meet Jenny, one of my cousins,” I said to him, to stop thinking about all the possibilities that were wreaking havoc in my head—and in my stomach, in my heart, and…in other places.
“Let’s do it.”
Jenny would never forgive me if I didn’t say hi. Her husband Sam was the reason we all knew Brody because they’d been best friends since childhood. We joined Jenny and Sam in the corner.
“Oh, hey, Jenny.” I hugged her tightly. “Anders, this is my cousin Jenny and her husband Sam. Guys, this is Anders…my boyfriend.”
Wow, that was the first time I’d actually said that.
And boy, did it feel good. In that moment, it almost felt like the truth. For a millisecond before my guilty conscience about the lie kicked in again.
“It’s so wonderful to meet you, Anders.” Jenny shook his hand before Sam did.
“It’s ahugehonor, ahugehonor,” Sam said, shaking his hand vigorously.
“Glad I could meet you, as well,” Anders said politely.
“Can I just say, you two looksogood together. Don’t they, babe? Like the model couple you’d see on a life insurance pamphlet.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at Jenny’s comparison.
“They do. However,” Sam nodded in Anders’s direction, “Anders over here could never be on a pamphlet. He’s one of the biggest construction names in New York. Windham Construction.”
“Oh?” It was evident that Jenny genuinely did not know. I remembered that Sam was in real estate, so he must know most of the construction companies’ names.
“Yeah.” Sam smiled at Anders in a respectful way. “I’m glad I got the chance to meet you tonight. I sold off a lot of the office space for the Bilton high-rise that your company built.”
Seeming happy to have someone to talk business with, Anders asked Sam about his work. Jenny and I peeled off to the side, whispering like teenage girls.
“Girl, what? He must be abillionaire.”