Page 25 of Winter Vows

“Willetta’s not the first person to suggest it.”

“You shouldn’t listen to gossip.”

“Is it all lies?” she persisted.

Uncomfortable with the fact that the better part of it was actually pure fact, Hardy tried to think of an evasion. Then he recalled what had happened with her ex-fiancé. Maybe this was the answer. Maybe if she lumped him in with Jack the jerk, she’d keep him at arm’s length. That would take the decision out of his hands. It was the perfect solution to the attraction that was beginning to drive him just a little crazy. He was beginning to think he wouldn’t even make it through this evening without succumbing to temptation.

But for some reason, he didn’t want Trish to think of him that way. It was important that she not classify him as a jerk.

“You’re avoiding the question,” she pointed out when his silence dragged on.

“I date a lot,” he conceded finally. “But I’m not like your ex-fiancé. I don’t have long-term relationships, and I don’t cheat. I just enjoy playing the field.”

“An interesting distinction.”

“Look, I think what he did to you was lousy. He’d made a commitment. He should have honored it.”

“So you think it’s okay to play the field, as you put it, as long as everything’s out in the open.”

“Exactly. That way nobody has any illusions and nobody gets hurt.”

“Bull,” she declared.

He stopped and stared at her, shocked by her curt dismissal of his philosophy. “What?”

“You heard me. That’s just a cop-out and you know it. I suppose you end every date by promising to call, because it’s expected, and then never bothering to do it.”

“I never do that,” he retorted indignantly. “I never make promises of any kind that I don’t intend to keep. Never.”

“If you say so.”

Hardy didn’t like the disdain he heard in her voice. “Just how am I supposed to prove to you that I’m telling the truth?”

“Why should it matter to me one way or the other?”

“Maybe it doesn’t, but it matters to me.”

“Why?”

“Because...” His words faltered. “Just because.”

“Just because you can’t bear to have one single woman think you’re anything other than a sexy, charming hunk?”

“No, of course not,” he said, jerking open the door of the restaurant and standing back to allow her to precede him. The entire conversation was ruining his appetite. Not even the aroma of garlic and spices was enough to overcome the sudden churning of his stomach.

“Come on, admit it, Hardy. You like being the playboy of this part of the western world.”

“I never said I didn’t like that,” he grumbled. “You just don’t want to be labeled as a bad guy.”

“Right.”

“Well, I say if the shoe fits...” She allowed her words to trail off as she sashayed on ahead and settled into a booth.

Hardy followed and slid in across from her. “You’re a very annoying woman.”

“So I’ve been told.” She grinned at him. “And I am way out of your league.”

He blinked and stared. “Excuse me? When did this turn personal? Have you heard me ask you out on a date?”

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