Page 50 of Rules Of Engagement: St. Louis
I finished knotting my tie and reached for my phone, scrolling to her number before I could talk myself out of it. The phone rang twice when her voice filled the space.
“Christian.”
Just my name, but the allure in her voice sent heat covering my entire body. Like she was tasting it, rolling it around on her tongue before letting it go.
“Hey, beautiful. You got a minute?”
“For you? I sure do.”
The words came so easily from her, and I wondered if she realized how they sounded like a promise instead of politeness.
“I’ve got an event coming up. Three weeks from Saturday. It’s a gala—black tie, the whole nine yards. I could use some company.”
Silence. Long enough for me to start questioning whether I’d overstepped, whether asking her to accompany me in public violated our arrangement.
“Christian...”
Her tone had shifted, and I knew what was coming before she said it.
“I’m not available that Saturday.”
I frowned. “Are you sure? It’s the twenty-eighth. Our Saturday.”
“I know what Saturday it is. And I’m sorry, but I have other commitments.”
“Right. Of course. I’ll make other arrangements then.”
“Are we good?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t we be?”
“I’m just making sure.”
“Yes, we are, but I do have another proposition for you.”
“I’m all ears.”
“This Friday and Saturday, come with me, to Tuscany.”
“Tuscany?”
“Just say yes.”
Deep laughter crooned from her, and the sound made my heart race.
“You are so slick, you know that?”
“Is that what I am?”
Her laughter deepened and my excitement ignited.
“You know I promised to accompany you, what, a year ago?”
“Yes. And I know you’re a woman of your word.”
She sucked in a breath. “Yes…” she drawled. “I am a woman of my word.”
“So does that mean you’ll go?”
