Well, if it scared Seth off, so much the better. She turned on the shower and tried to make record time . . . but she had to shave, and she had to wash her hair. Which meant she had to blow-dry her hair. And then she had to put on her makeup, because she didn’t want to look like a total slob on her one and only date with Seth Owens.
When she finished in the bathroom and still had to get dressed, she cracked open the bathroom door. She couldn’t see Seth from this far down the hallway, so she called out, “Are you still here?”
“I am.”
The amusement in his voice was clear. “Are you still good to wait?”
“Yep,” he said. “Take your time.”
She frowned, wondering if he was the first man on earth to say that to a woman. He wasn’t doing a good job at annoying her. Maybe that could be what annoyed her—that he wasn’t annoying.
“I just need to get dressed,” she called out, “then I’ll be ready.”
“No problem.”
Gwen dashed across the hallway to her bedroom and shut the door. It might be kind of juvenile to not want him to see her in a towel, but he was still her boss; that fact hadn’t changed, even though they’d kissed last night.
Safely in her room, she turned to her closet. Seth was dressed casually, so she’d follow suit. She sifted through her nicer blouses, then decided to settle for a V-neck white T-shirt and a pair of newer jeans that she hadn’t worn much. Mostly because they felt too dressy for the homeless shelter. Once she was dressed, she paused in front of her dresser and debated whether to spritz on her usual body spray. It would be strong at first, and Seth would certainly smell it. She decided not to.
And now it was time to face her date.
Gwen paused by her bedroom door for a moment, going over in her mind why this would be the one and only date with Seth. Once she had her justifications firmly in mind, she grabbed her phone and opened the door.
She walked down the hall, and sure enough, there was Seth sitting on her couch, scrolling through his phone. He might look out of place on her cheap plaid furniture, but he definitely made it look better.
He looked up when she came into the living room and stood. “Ready?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I hope this is okay, since it looks like you’re dressed down too.”
His gaze scanned her, and when his hazel eyes met hers again, he said, “You look great.”
She gave him a half-smile. “Sorry I slept in.”
“I’m glad you could sleep after a night like last night,” he said.
She wasn’t sure she wanted to know exactly what he referred to. Was it the barbeque in general or . . . them . . . kissing? “I enjoy my sleep, I guess.” She wouldn’t confess that she’d been awake for hours, and only after her alarm went off did she crash.
“So, what are you in the mood to eat?” Seth asked.
This made Gwen hesitate. “You want me to suggest the restaurant? Not with your eclectic tastes, I won’t.”
Seth grinned. “You tell me what you’re in the mood for, and I’ll suggest the place.”
“Ah,” she said. “That’s more like it.” She paused. “Pizza.”
He didn’t even blink. “Okay.”
She laughed. “I’m kidding. I just wanted to see your reaction. I promise I won’t make you take me to some hole-in-the-wall pizza joint.”
“Actually . . .” Seth took a few steps toward her, closing the distance.
His nearness meant that Gwen could smell his aftershave.
“Sometimes hole-in-the-wall pizza joints are better than an upscale restaurant,” he said in a low voice. He grasped her hand and linked their fingers.
Gwen’s heart thudded at the warm, solid feel of his hand. Never mind the return of flutters in her stomach. “I’m assuming you know of just the place?”
He smiled and leaned down. With his other hand, he touched one of her silver dangling earrings.
His nearness made her think that it would be so easy to let him kiss her, to kiss him back, and to maybe skip lunch altogether. But her wits were strong. “Remember what I said last night?” She felt his gaze on her mouth as she spoke.
“I remember.” But he didn’t draw away. Instead, he inhaled. “You smell good.”
Gwen tilted her head to look into his eyes. “You’re standing really close to me.”
“Does it bother you?” One side of his mouth lifted.
“It doesn’t bother me on principle,” she said. “Since I did promise you one date. But I’m starving.”
He chuckled and squeezed her hand. “Okay, point taken.”
Gwen tugged away from him, and he released his grasp. She walked to the door and opened it. She guessed she had to be the strict one, and that was fine with her. Seth had flattered her, and he could be quite charming, but she still stood her ground about his lifestyle versus hers. She wasn’t interested in being part of his world. If she was interested, she wouldn’t be estranged from her own parents.
She locked her apartment door, then walked with Seth to his car. “Are you sure you don’t want to take an inaugural ride in Marge?”
Seth smiled. “Can I take a rain check on that? This pizza joint is a little way outside of Pine Valley.”
“Ouch,” she said. “I hope Marge didn’t overhear that.”
He laughed and opened the passenger door, holding it for her. Which meant she had to pass by him, closely, to slide into the seat. He shut the door, and as he walked around the car she had a moment to herself. The clean scent of the car reminded her of Seth, and there was hardly anything in the car except for a compass attached to the middle console. She’d noticed it before and wondered why he had what looked to be a cheap, plastic compass when the car had a built-in navigation system.
Seth opened his door and slid into the driver’s seat. “Sorry, the car’s hot.” He started the car, and the AC blasted through the vents.
“Oh, so you’re one of those guys who has to have the AC on full blast and turn everything to ice,” she said.
He didn’t miss a beat as he reversed out of the parking place. “And you’re one of those girls who says she’s freezing when it’s ninety degrees outside?”
Gwen laughed. “Yep. I would have worn a sweater if I’d know about your habits.”
He glanced over at her before pulling out of the parking lot. “I’ve got a jacket in the trunk. Maybe some emergency hot chocolate too.”
“You do not!”
“Yeah, you’re right,” he said with a chuckle. “No hot chocolate, but there really is a jacket. Do you want me to pull over?”
“How about we do this,” Gwen said, turning down the AC. “Much better.”
Seth shook his head, and Gwen decided that she liked his fancy car a lot better when he was driving it. When she’d taken it to the homeless shelter, she’d been a nervous mess about getting into an accident.
With the temperature more pleasant, Gwen settled back into her seat for the drive. They reached the main highway, and she said, “I meant to ask you why you have a compass in your car. Is it for an emergency?”
Seth glanced down at the compass on the console, then looked over at her. “It’s from Paris.”
“A souvenir?” she prompted.
“Something like that,” he said. “Probably more a reminder to keep to my own course.”
Gwen raised her brows. “Does that refer to your culinary skills?”
He didn’t smile like she expected him to. Instead, in a somber tone, he said, “For the most part it represents the fact that I can make my own way in life. I’ve been born to privilege, which you’ve pointed out plenty of times. But although I’m grateful for all the opportunities in my life, I still need to make it my own.”
Gwen watched his profile. “Do you think your parents will ever accept that?”
He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. They know who I am, and it’s their choice whether to accept my choices.”
“So . . . me giving you a hard time probably is
n’t all that helpful.” Gwen felt the smallest bit of guilt. Not too much, though. She had her own reasons for her choices.
“I think if you hadn’t grown up a privileged kid, too, I might take it personally.” Seth glanced at her. “I’m pretty sure I can handle your heat.”
Speaking of heat . . . sitting in the car with Seth, on their way on their first—and only—date, was making Gwen feel plenty warm. She leaned forward and turned the AC up a notch. Seth didn’t comment on this.
Instead he said, “So, what’s your sad tale with your parents?” His voice was light enough that Gwen knew he was giving her an out.
And she took it. “Oh, no you don’t. First-date conversation is all about favorite colors, favorite foods, number of siblings, funny high school stories, clarification on past divorces . . . not about family drama.”
“That’s your plan, huh?” Seth said with a laugh.
“It’s a good plan.”
“Um-hm.” He turned on the radio and pushed seek a couple of times until he landed on a station he liked.
The music wasn’t very loud, but it still sent a loud message to Gwen. “Are you kidding?”
“What?” Seth said in a way too-innocent voice.
“We’re already at the listen-to-the-radio-because-we-ran-out-of-topics stage?”
Seth tried and failed to hold back a smile. “I already know all those things about you. Or can at least make an educated guess.”
“Just because you’re my boss and have my pitiful résumé somewhere on your computer doesn’t mean you know me.”
Seth said nothing as he pulled off the highway exit and steered the car onto a side street that looked like it housed a row of small business factories. Nestled between two gray buildings was a shop with the red letters Valentina’s Pizza over the top of the door.
“We’re here?” Gwen said in surprise. The drive was shorter than she’d thought it would be. “Marge could have totally made this drive.”
Seth parked, but instead of shutting off the engine and getting out of the car, he said, “Your favorite meal is seafood fettuccini, your favorite color is blue like your eyes, you’re an only child, you hated high school so I’m assuming there aren’t many funny stories, and you’ve never been married.”
Gwen opened her mouth, then shut it. “My favorite color is red.”
Seth’s hazel eyes held hers.
“Okay, you’re right, it’s blue,” she said. “But how did you know that? Did you track down my kindergarten teacher and ask her?”
“I’m just observant,” he said. “It’s hard to miss that you wear something blue every day. So, I assumed it’s your go-to color. Even on Valentine’s Day, you had blue-and-pink-striped nails.”
Gwen stared at him. “What are you, a stalker?”
He cracked a smile. “I call it observant. Part of my job is to know my employees.”
“What’s Alicia’s favorite color?” she asked.
“I have no idea.” He raised his hands. “Okay, you busted me. I’m just observant about you.”
As Seth walked Gwen into the pizza parlor, she asked, “How did you find this place?”
“My dad invested in a company a couple of doors down,” he said. “I came with him on an inspection, and we ended up here to eat.” He pulled the door open so that Gwen could go inside first. Immediately the aroma of hot bread and spicy meat surrounded them.
“Wow, smells good,” Gwen said.
He couldn’t agree more.
“My Seth!” Valentina herself came around the red-and-white counter, her arms outstretched for a greeting. “What a wonderful surprise!”
Seth stepped into the woman’s embrace, and she proceeded to kiss him on each cheek, before drawing back to inspect him. “You’re more handsome every day.” Valentina looked over at Gwen. “Who’s this?”
“Valentina, this is Gwen.”
Valentina pursed her very red lips. “Welcome, Gwen.” She turned back to Seth. “Where is your father, love?”
“He’s not with me.”
Valentina narrowed her eyes. “You’re on a date with this woman?”
“I am.” Seth grasped Gwen’s hand, hoping she wouldn’t protest. She didn’t. “Are you still open for lunch?”
Valentina didn’t miss Seth’s action, and her nostrils flared. Seth wanted to laugh, but he didn’t. Valentina was at least fifteen years older than he, and she’d always been flirtatious with his father, which his father was pretty much oblivious to, since his only thoughts were of the next pending investor deal.
“The booth in the corner is clean,” Valentina said in a prim voice, waving in that direction. “I’ll get your drinks while you look over the menu.”
Valentina sashayed away, and Seth released Gwen’s hand.
“Sorry about that,” he said, leading the way to their booth.
“What was that all about?” Gwen said in a quiet voice after they sat down.
“I’m not sure.” Seth rested his elbows on the table. “She’s never acted like this before.”
Gwen raised a brow. “Have you ever brought a woman here?”
“No.” He picked up a menu. “But what should that matter?”
“I think she’s marking her territory,” Gwen said, reaching across the table and patting his arm. “Are you into her type?”
“An older woman?”
Gwen shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. Gorgeous. Italian. Experienced.” She lowered her voice. “She’s kind of possessive of you.”
Seth sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s usually flirtatious toward my dad.”
Gwen was watching him closely, her blue eyes narrowed. “She’s charming your dad to get to you.”
“No.”
“Yes,” Gwen said, smiling. “The oldest trick in the book.”
Seth dropped his head and closed his eyes for a second. “I love eating here.” He opened his eyes to meet Gwen’s gaze. “I’m going to have to tell my dad this place is off limits now.”
“I’m sure she’s harmless.”
Something clattered in the kitchen. Not like Valentina had dropped something, but had thrown something. Gwen’s eyes widened.
Seth was feeling a bit panicked himself. “The food is amazing,” he said, “but maybe we should go.”
Gwen bit her lip, then said, “How about you come over here?” She patted the space next to her on the booth seat. “Cozy couples sit on the same side of the bench. When she comes out with the drinks, it will look better if we establish ourselves right from the beginning. We can, you know, hold hands, and . . . cuddle.” The smirk on her face was a challenge.
Seth shouldn’t have hesitated, but he did. Gwen might be able to fake her affection, but his would be genuine. Another clatter came from the kitchen, and Valentina called out, “I’ll be there soon, love.”
Seth scrambled over to Gwen’s side of the booth, and she laughed when he scooted in next to her.
“Arm?” she prompted.
He set his arm across the back of the seat, and she grasped the hand near her shoulder and pulled him in closer.
Then she leaned against him. Under any other circumstances, his heart would be going wild, but right now it was more filled with dread about what Valentina would do to their order.
“Relax,” Gwen whispered, placing her other hand on his thigh.
He nearly jumped. “Uh, that’s not going to help me relax.”
Gwen tilted her head and looked at him. “I can move over a little.”
“No,” Seth said, his voice sounding hoarse. He grasped her hand and linked their fingers, keeping her at his side.
“Here are your drinks, dears,” Valentina said, in a tone that bordered on too sweet.
“Thank you,” Seth answered.
Valentina set down huge water glasses with ice and lime. “And something special for you,” she continued, producing a bottle of red liquid. “Grenadine.” She poured a dash into Seth’s glass but pointedly ignored Gwen’s. “Are
you ready to order, love?”
“I’ll have the sausage—”
“Your usual, of course!” Valentina cut him off and beamed at him. “Right away, love. I wouldn’t want you to go hungry.”
Seth watched as she was about to turn away, not taking Gwen’s order. “Valentina,” he said.
She turned and cocked her hip. “Hmm?”
“Gwen would like to order.”
Valentina’s dark eyes slid over to Gwen. “All right. What will it be?”
Gwen set her menu down, then turned to Seth, and said in a Valentina-sweet voice, “I’ll have what you’re having.” She ran her hand over his chest. “I’m sure I’ll love it.”
Seth wanted to laugh at her antics, but mostly he wanted to kiss her again. Even with Valentina scowling in the background.
“Fine.” Valentina sashayed away.
Gwen didn’t move her hand from his chest. “That was kind of fun.”
Surely she could feel the thump of his heart. “It was,” he agreed. “You almost had me convinced, too.”
The blue of her eyes seemed to darken, and for a moment Seth wondered if she felt what he was feeling. Then she moved her hand and reached for her ice water.
Seth reached for his, too. The cold water was much needed. He kept his arm around the back of the booth in preparation for Valentina’s next appearance, and Gwen didn’t seem to mind.
After Gwen took a long drink, she said, “Okay, do you want to know what my real problem with you is?”
Seth blinked. “Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?”
Her lips twitched. “Funny.” Gwen took another sip of her ice water, then turned to him, so they were still quite cozy in the booth. “You live in a different world than everyone else. It’s like you’re purposely oblivious, although I’m not sure you even know it. Valentina is the perfect example. Sure, you’ve come here with your dad, but her interest in you didn’t just start twenty minutes ago. She’s more than obvious about it too, yet you act as if you’re blindsided.”
“So, I’m dense,” he said. “Is that what you want me to admit?”
“You’re not dense,” Gwen said. “You’re actually quite brilliant, but I think you try to act dense for some reason.”
Waiting for You_Pine Valley Page 9