Page 3 of Accidental Encounters

When I felt a brush of air, I caught the scent of something both sweet and spicy—exotic flowers with rich trees of the forest. Rhea hopped up on the seat beside me. She had changed into a cotton dress that delicately choked her neck and left her sculpted shoulders bare. It covered her almost completely, but I had the urge to search through the flowing fabric for the woman underneath.

You’re such a tease and you don’t even know it, Rhea.

“I would like a Cabernet, Milton.” Rhea arched a brow at me. “You should have let me finish upstairs.”

Oh, I’ll make sure you finish—then you’ll beg me for more. The thought popped into my head before I could stop myself.

I was here for business. Or at least I was supposed to be. If her presence happened to be pleasurable, then what was the harm of mixing the two?

Clearing my throat, I gestured to the nasty, licorice drink. “What do you want me to do with that?”

“Honestly, Karter, I really don’t care. Bottoms up or toss it out.” Rhea grabbed for her wine and took a long sip. “Now, you said you had important things to discuss with me, and I have a late night ahead of me already. What do you want?”

“I didn’t know it was you.” I leaned forward so she didn’t miss a word. “I come here because no one from the office comes here. And I have Milton use my middle name, just to be safe. This is my bar that you walked into, Pint Size, so don’t come in here accusing me of setting traps for you.”

“But you knew we were coming to town?” Rhea seemed to visibly relax under my assurances. Although she was still sitting straight, the tension had eased from around her eyes and her shoulders had settled into a comfortable stance.

“I found out on the phone. Right before we, um,” I dropped my gaze to her lips, then dragged it back to hers. “So, no…I was just some dude, chilling at the bar with my barkeep, getting a buzz and watching the game.”

A smile flickered on her lips then and she tipped her head in acknowledgement. “Alright. I believe you.”

Just those few words had my heart thundering against my ribs!

But Rhea continued, “Our families don’t like each other—it is a well-known fact, and it seems that our feud is going to be WRX Distribution’s gain.” Rhea stated the obvious and put a damper on the mood.

“Couldn’t we just sit here and enjoy a drink before the business of our lives consumes us?” I murmured, more to myself, but she must have heard it.

“No. And in fact,” Rhea swallowed the rest of her wine and set it on the table. “I shouldn’t be talking to you at all.”

Milton chose that moment to come and ask Rhea if she wanted another.

“No, thank you. I am a one-drink girl.” Her eyes cut to me and she amended, “Last night was a rare exception. And it will not happen again.”

“Xavier Fields is going to drive the price up,” I blurted out. I needed her to stay—for business…of course. “He is playing us. What are we going to do about that?”

Rhea paused in her descent from the tall bar stool. Then she burst out laughing. “Nothing, Karter, absolutely nothing.” Once she dropped to the floor and threw a fifty on the bar top, she shook her head at me. “We are doing nothing. And what I am going to do about it is frankly none of your damned business.”

Instead of leaving, she stepped into my space. Her dainty hand rested on my bicep and she added, “I cannot see you again. This is goodbye, Karter.”

Quick as thought, I captured her hand. “Look, I’m really glad I met you and that we had last night before all the shit hit the fan.” I hoped she could hear the earnestness in my voice.

Her dark eyes softened for just a moment as she added, “It was nice to meet you last night.” Rhea nodded once then pulled away. I let her go.

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