Page 21 of Mistaken Impression

I turn away, aware that my apology didn’t come out quite right – again – but before I’ve taken two steps, I feel his hand on my shoulder, spinning me around. I look up into his face, wondering how anyone can have eyes the color of sapphires, as he leans in close enough for me to feel his breath on my cheek.

“What is it with you? Can’t you even say ‘sorry’ without being obnoxious?”

“Obnoxious?”Seriously? God, he’s sensitive.

“Okay… maybe obnoxious is too strong a word, but you’ve apologized to me twice now, and both times you’ve seasoned your words with a further insult.”

“That wasn’t an insult.”

“What was it then?” he says, shaking his head. “Unless I’m much mistaken, you just accused me of sulking.”

“And? If you haven’t been sulking, what have you been doing in there for the last twenty minutes?” I nod toward the kitchen behind him.

He pauses for a second. “Thinking.”

“Okay… I’ll rephrase my sentence then, shall I? If you’d rather stay here to think, that’s fine by me. Happy now?”

“You forgot to reiterate that you can manage by yourself.”

“It looks like I’m gonna have to,” I mumble under my breath, pulling free of him and striding to the door.

I hadn’t even realized until just then that he still had a hold of my shoulder, or how close we were standing… so close that I could feel the heat from his body leaching into mine. I hadn’t realized his lips were only an inch or two from my own, but as I open the door and step outside into the hall, I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He might have been angry, and so might I, but there’s no denying, he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.

I shake my head.Stop being so superficial, Ella, and get on with what you’re supposed to be doing. It’s not like you have all day.

I step across the hall, just as the door behind me opens and I turn to see Blake coming out. Although I half expect him to ignore me and wander off down the hall, he doesn’t. He steps up behind me, making it clear he intends coming with me to see Ruby.

“I thought you were staying behind to think.” I can’t help my sarcasm. It’s brought on by nerves, I think… although I can’t be entirely sure. I’ve never been in a situation like this before.

“I changed my mind.”

“So you’re interested now?”

He tilts his head and studies me for a moment before he says, “I think I’ve always been interested.”

I decide against replying, in case I say the wrong thing… which seems quite likely at the moment, and turn around again, facing Ruby’s door. I knock, and this time, I wait until I hear her call out, “Come in.”

As I go to open the door, Blake surprises me, stepping up beside me and turning the handle. He gives the door a push, and I turn my head, looking up into his eyes again.

“After you,” he says, nodding toward Ruby’s office.

“Thank you.” It’s not the first time he’s behaved like a gentleman, and I want to apologize again for my ungracious behavior. I don’t, because I’m almost certain I’ll get it wrong, but I resolve to try harder not to let my nerves get the better of me with him.

He follows me into the room, closing the door behind him, and we step up to Ruby’s desk.

“Please… sit down,” she says, as she looks up from her computer screen.

Blake waits for me to sit, then copies me and they both stare at me, waiting.

“I—I’ve come up with a couple of ideas… for the show.” For heaven’s sake. I need to stop stumbling over my words. I sit up a little straighter, hoping that giving the appearance of having a backbone will help.

“That’s good.” Ruby gives me an encouraging smile, but I know she’s waiting for more.

“The problem is, how to cook a roast dinner and get all the components ready on time.” She nods her head. “The easiest solution to that is to roast all the vegetables together, so you’re only worrying about two dishes instead of several.”

“Two dishes?” Blake sounds confused, and I turn to face him.

“Yes. The lamb and the vegetables.”

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