Page 28 of Courting Catherine
Maybe there was static electricity in the air, he thought. That would explain the jolt he’d felt when he’d touched her. “Not exactly. It doesn’t matter, the kids were entertaining.”
She studied his face as she handed him a mug. “I think you mean it.”
“I do. Maybe I haven’t been around children enough to become jaded. Those two are quite a pair.”
“Suzanna’s a terrific mother.” Comfortable, she leaned back against the counter as she sipped. “She used to practice on me. So, how’s the car running?”
“Better than it has in months.” He toasted her with the mug. “I’m afraid I didn’t notice anything was off until after you’d worked on it. I don’t really know anything about engines.”
“That’s all right. I don’t know how to plot a corporate takeover.”
“I was sorry you weren’t there when I came around to pick it up. Hank said you’d gone to dinner. I guess you had a good time—you didn’t get in until late.”
“I always have a good time with Finney.” She turned around to raid the cookie jar, then offered him one as he tried to ignore the little nip of jealousy.
“An old friend?”
“I guess you could say so.” C.C. took a deep breath and prepared to launch into the speech she had practiced all day. “I’d like to straighten out the business you brought up yesterday.”
“It isn’t necessary. I got the picture.”
“I could have explained things without being so hard on you.”
He tilted his head, studying her thoughtfully. “You could have?”
“I like to think so.” Determined to wipe the slate clean, she set the coffee aside. “I was embarrassed, and being embarrassed makes me angry. This whole situation is difficult.”
He could still hear, very clearly, the unhappiness in her voice as she had spoken with Suzanna the night before. “I think I’m beginning to understand that.”
Her eyes came back to his, and she sighed. “Well, in any case, I can’t help but resent the fact that you want to buy The Towers, or that we might have to let you—but that’s a separate thing from Aunt Coco’s maneuvers. I think I realized, after I stopped being mad, that you were just as embarrassed as I was. You were just so damned polite.”
“It’s a bad habit of mine.”
“You’re telling me.” She waved half a cookie at him. “If you hadn’t brought up the kiss—”
“I understand that was an error in judgment, but since I’d already apologized for it, I thought we could deal with it reasonably.”
“I didn’t want an apology,” C.C. muttered. “Then or now.”
“I see.”
“No, you don’t. You certainly don’t. What I meant was that an apology was unnecessary. I may be inexperienced by your standards, and I may not be sophisticated like the women you’re used to dealing with, but I’m not foolish enough to start weaving daydreams out of one stupid kiss.” She was getting angry again and was determined not to. After one deep, cleansing breath, she tried again. “I’d simply like to put that, and our conversation yesterday behind us, completely and totally. If it turns out that we will have business dealings, it would be wiser all around if we can be civilized.”
“I like you this way.”
“What way?”
“When you’re not taking potshots at me.”
She finished off her cookie and grinned. “Don’t get used to it. All Calhouns have hideous tempers.”
“So I’ve been warned. Truce?”
“I suppose. Want another cookie?”
He was staring again, she noted, and her own eyes widened when he reached out to brush his fingertips down her hair. “What are you doing?”
“Your hair’s wet.” He stroked it again, fascinated. “It smells like wet flowers.”
