Page 10 of Beyond Question

Frowning, I look back across the lawn toward the table where Paige still sits with Rylan. She lifts her head as if feeling my gaze, and the soft smile touching her lips tightens my stomach into a knot.

“I don’t care,” I say without looking away from her.

“Trust me, friend, she’s not the one.” He chuckles softly to himself. “Ifshe would even give you the time of day, which is doubtful.”

Dick.“We’ll see about that.” After a moment, I add, “There’s just something about her.”

“Anyone with twenty years of secrets would have an air of mystery about them.”

I shrug. How bad could her secrets really be?

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Noted.” God, he’s annoying when he wants to be.

The subject of our conversation stands and begins to say her goodbyes, and my feet start carrying me toward her before my brain even registers that I’m moving.

It’s been like this all day, this attraction. A magnetism I’m powerless to ignore. I’m drawn to Paige. Strangely tuned in to her.

It’s fucking bizarre, but I don’t hate it.

What does it say about me that all Cabot’s little warning has done is pique my interest even more?

Chapter Five

Paige

As I stand to leave, I slip my phone into my purse and say my goodbyes. I’ve spent an hour lost in conversation with Rylan and her mother, distracting myself from a certain CFO whose eyes haven’t left me all afternoon. But it’s getting late, and the ride back into the city is long.

As I begin to make my way toward the house, I catch Travis striding toward me, but quickly look away. Again. The man has lingered far longer than I would have expected, and I have the sneaking suspicion I know why.

But though we’ve had fun together, I can’t entertain even theideaof him.

I’ve worked too hard to stay away from men like Travis—who come from families like his. Unlimited wealth and all it brings. Power. Influence. Connections.

As I reach the kitchen and cross to the foyer without interruption, I exhale a breath. He hasn’t followed me. But the relief is short-lived, and I sense his approach before he speaks.

“Paige,” Travis says, his voice sending a rush of warmth through my veins.

I pause, steeling myself before turning around to face him. He continues toward me, that gorgeous dimple on full display as he blinds me with a heart-stopping smile. “Don’t tell me you’re leaving without saying goodbye.” He tilts his head and his smile turns downward playfully. “I expected more from you.”

I giggle, in spite of myself, then immediately hate myself for giggling. What am I, thirteen? “I’m sorry, Travis. I didn’t mean to not say goodbye.”Lies.Saying goodbye would have given hima chance to convince me to stay and I feel oddly weak around this man. Hooking a thumb over my shoulder, I say, “My cab is nearly here and—”

“Have dinner with me.”

My stomach swoops excitedly at the prospect and I hesitate, an exuberantokay!sitting on the edge of my tongue, even though it’s the opposite of what Ishouldsay.

He glances at his watch, then looks back up at me. “It’s still early. Let’s go somewhere, you and me. Get some food, maybe figure out what else we’re good at doing together… you know, aside from kicking ass in baby shower games.”

I swallow hard as his eyes darken, leaving no room for confusion as to the meaning of his words. Ideas of what else we could be good at doing together flood my mind, crowding my thoughts with images that are not suitable for work and make heat rise in my cheeks.

And he knows it, the cocky bastard. His lips quirk up on one side as he watches me struggle through my wayward thoughts.

The headiness of his gaze sinks into my body like a heavy weight, settling between my legs.

His eyes promise all that I can imagine and more. So much more.

And God, I want that.

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