by Laura Ann
The smile that tugged at Andrew’s lips was pure heaven. “Promise not to sucker punch me? I’m not really looking for two black eyes.”
Val huffed. “I told you it was an acci—” She hadn’t finished her sentence before Andrew swooped in, this time being much less careful. In fact, he nearly knocked her off her swing in his enthusiasm, but Val loved it.
They laughed a little as their swings bounced, taking them apart, only to reach out and bring themselves back together.
“Okay, okay,” Val held him back after they had bumped foreheads for the second time. “You seriously are going to end up with another bruise if we don’t stop.”
Andrew grinned. “We should probably get back anyway. Grams and Luke have to have finished forever ago.”
Val glanced at her watch. “Holy cow! I’m supposed to be watching your grandmother, not wasting the afternoon kissing you!” She jumped out of her seat, then jerked to a stop. “Crud.” She spun. “Sorry. That came out wrong.” She sighed and walked back, holding out her hand. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
Andrew raised an eyebrow and eyed her hand. “Does that mean you wouldn’t be opposed to going to dinner with me sometime soon?”
Val gave him a small grin and wiggled her fingers. “I’d love to go to dinner with you, but first you have to get me back to your office. I have a job to do.”
Andrew took her hand and stood upright. He readjusted their grip so he was in the lead and started walking her out of the park. “You know...it just occurred to me that we’re lucky it was a weekday and kids are still in school. Otherwise, we might have been kicked out of the park.”
Val laughed, and the mood instantly lightened. “On a side note, if I agree to this date, am I going to hear more about you? You keep skipping the subject.”
Andrew glanced over and smirked. “Only if I get to ask questions and get answers as well. You’ve told me a little, but not nearly enough.”
“Done.”
“Great! Tomorrow?”
“You want to go on a date on a Thursday night?” Val asked, her eyebrows high.
He shrugged, then tugged her quickly across the street. “Why not? Is there something wrong with Thursday?”
“No, it just seems like an odd night for a date. Aren’t those usually on the weekend?” Val raised her voice a touch so he could hear her through the crowd they were navigating.
“I eat dinner every night of the week.” Andrew glanced backward. “How about you?”
“Same.”
“Then I’d say Thursday is perfect.”
Once more, Val couldn’t stop the goofy smile that spread across her face. Instead of speaking any more, she simply followed in his footsteps like a whipped puppy dog, not the least bit upset at how she must look.
“Whew. We made it.” Andrew pulled her forward and put his hand on her elbow as they reached his office door.
Val squinted upward before they walked inside. “She planned this, you know.”
Andrew pulled open the glass door and ushered her inside. “I have no doubt. She’s been trying to get me hitched for years.”
Val’s heart rate tripled at his casual words. Hitched? Holy cow, we only just now kissed! “Uh...”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Andrew waved a hand in the air. “Forget I said that.” He chuckled as he pushed the elevator button. “Seems you’re not the only one who says things that sound wrong.” He winked at her. “All I meant was that Grams has been trying to set me up for a long time.”
They walked in the elevator and Andrew wrapped an arm around her waist, tugging her in close.
“I’m glad it finally worked,” he whispered in her ear.
Val worked hard to hold in the shiver at his touch and the breath of his words on her ear, but she wasn’t sure how well she succeeded. Her tongue felt like cotton and she knew if she tried to speak, she would only make a fool of herself, so she held still and enjoyed his touch.
Just before the doors to the elevator opened, Andrew stepped back and let go. The feeling of loss was immediate, but when he started straightening his cuff and collar, Val knew it was time to put on the professional persona once more.
“Well,” Grams huffed when they finally walked back into Andrew’s office. “It would appear you two took a tour of the city!” Her words were scolding, but the happiness in her eyes was anything but.
“Afraid not, Grams. Just a little stroll around the block.” Andrew walked behind his desk, all confidence and calm while Val still felt as if her stomach was full of butterflies.
She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at Lola’s crestfallen expression. “Are you ready to go home?” Val asked, praying her face looked innocent.
Lola narrowed her eyes and glanced from Andrew to Val and back. “Hmph.” She stormed toward the door. “Yes, dear. I’m ready. I have a funny feeling that we’ll be doing a lot more charity projects in the near future.”
Val bit her lips to keep from laughing at Lola’s muttered complaints about idiots and slowpokes as she followed her employer out the door. Val glanced one last time over her shoulder and nearly stumbled at the look of want on Andrew’s face. She worked to keep her twitching lips in place, but gave him a small wave before shutting the door behind her.
“Come, Valentina. We have work to do,” Lola directed, waiting impatiently in front of the elevator.
“Yes, ma’am,” Val said, stepping up behind the older woman. She felt her phone buzz in her pocket and knew immediately that it was Andrew. The desire to see what he had sent was nearly overwhelming, but she didn’t want to let Lola in on the development yet. Something about this relationship felt too different, too...special, and for a little while, Val wanted him all to herself. Besides, Lola wasn’t the only one who knew how to scheme.
CHAPTER 11
Andrew combed his hair for the third time, his hands shaking with each swipe. “Chill, man,” he urged himself. “It’s just a date.” He threw the comb onto the bathroom counter. “Besides, she already knows what you look like. No need to freak out about it.”
His pulse was obviously not listening to his little pep talk as it continued to race. He could feel it pushing against his wrist. And he knew, deep down, that he was lying to himself. This was definitely not just a date.
Andrew had been surrounded by beautiful women his entire life, and yet not one of them had ever made him feel the way that Val did. She excited him, attracted him, and intrigued him, something no other woman could ever claim.
Now he was about to spend an evening with her and he was completely tied in knots. I haven’t been this nervous since I took Cassie Lanson to prom. He whistled low under his breath as he thought of the head cheerleader he’d had on his arm that night. At the time it had felt like he’d scored the winning touchdown at the Super Bowl. “And yet I wasn’t half as nervous as I am now.” His laugh was shaky. “Why do I have the feeling that I’m going to forget how to do simple things like eat tonight?” He shook his head. “Time to get going. Suck it up, buttercup!”
The drive to Val’s was just as nerve-wracking as getting ready was, and Andrew found himself having to take a couple of deep breaths before he approached her apartment door. Making a fist, he rapped on the metal, then straightened his tie.
“Grown man. I’m a grown man. I can do this,” he muttered to himself. The door opened and Andrew felt his eyes grow impossibly wide. “V-Val?”
“Hey,” she said softly, leaning against the door frame.
Andrew’s eyes traveled down and back up as he took in her outfit. Her black heeled boots went up to just above her knee, over the top of a pair of skin-tight black pants. Her deep red blouse was sheer with a black tank top underneath. For the first time ever, Andrew got to see what her hair looked like down, as it flowed nearly to her waist in a silky, straight line. After he finished his perusal, he gulped and met her dark eyes. “Hey.”
“You, uh, look really nice,” Val said, eyeing his suit. Her eyes dro
pped to her own outfit. “I guess I didn’t realize I needed to wear my Sunday best.” She chewed on her lip for a moment, looking uncomfortable. “Should I go change?” She stepped back and Andrew immediately grabbed her hand.
“Don’t you dare,” he said, his voice husky and deep. “You look amazing and most importantly, you look like you.”
Val’s brow puckered. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means our plans for tonight have changed.” Andrew grinned. “Come on.”
Val’s lips drooped, but she dutifully followed Andrew down the stairs to his car. Val ran her hand along the top of the sleek luxury vehicle. “I’ve never ridden in something like this before,” she said softly.
“Then I guess tonight’s your lucky night,” Andrew said with a wink. He opened the door and helped her inside, making sure she was comfortable before he walked around to his own seat.
“So where are we going?” Val asked as they pulled onto the road.
“Weeeelll...funny you should ask.” Andrew gave her a sheepish grin. “I have reservations at The Prism, but now I’m thinking that might not be the best place.”
Val’s eyes widened. “The Prism? Are you kidding?”
Andrew shook his head. It hadn’t been hard for him to get reservations at the swankiest restaurant in town. After all, his family name was well known in the upper circles. However, he’d had a revelation after seeing Val all dressed up. She wouldn’t want to go to The Prism. She doesn’t belong there. Not because she’s not good enough but because that lifestyle is not who she is. She’d be uncomfortable and bored the whole time.
“It takes months to get into that place, not to mention it costs like my whole yearly salary to eat there.”
Andrew tilted his head and gave her a look.
“Okay, maybe not quite that, but still! I’d be worried all night that I’d break something.” She paused and stiffened. “Oh.” She looked at her outfit. “That’s why you didn’t want to take me there. After seeing me, you realized I wouldn’t fit in.”
Her soft, depressed voice nearly did Andrew in, and it took great concentration to keep his eyes on the road. “That’s not it at all,” he assured her. When she tsked her tongue, he could just imagine the unbelieving look on her face. “Look, I set up the reservation because that’s what I would normally do.” He felt heat crawling up his neck. I hadn’t really planned on talking about my past dating life. Way to jump right into the deep end. “Any time I’ve ever had to take out a woman, it’s been expected for me to take her to a place like The Prism. She expects high class, expensive, and to be draped over my arm so she can make the local gossip scene.”
He cleared his throat when Val didn’t speak, deciding the best thing to do was to push on. “Out of habit, I made the reservation for us. But when I saw you...” He sighed. “When I saw you, I realized that’s not who you are. That’s not who we are.”
Andrew took a risk and reached over to take her hand, untangling it from the knot she was creating with her fingers. “You won’t expect me to wine and dine you, showing off all my money. You won’t expect me to display you to the rest of the wealthy people in this city. In fact, you would actually be bored out of your mind sitting in that stodgy restaurant with everyone staring at you, judging your hair, your skin, and your teeth. Or even how long we’ll actually be together.” He grimaced. “I’m embarrassed to say that it wasn’t until I saw you weren’t dressed up in some slinky dress for me to remember that. I meant it when I said you look amazing, but you look like you, not some pretentious pony on display.”
“I have a couple of slinky dresses,” Val offered quietly. “I guess we could go back and get one.”
Andrew jerked his head to look at her, then back at the road. “Is that what you want?” he asked through a clenched jaw.
The few moments of silence that followed his question were pure torture. He would absolutely take Val wherever she wanted to go, but a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders when he’d realized a place like The Prism wasn’t the right place for his date. It had felt like the pressure to perform was gone, and he desperately hoped she felt the same.
“I have to admit, I’m not exactly the show pony type.”
A slow smile tugged at Andrew’s lips. “So you’re okay with going somewhere else?”
“Guess that depends on what you had in mind,” Val said with a little more of her usual sass. She flicked her hair over her shoulder and Andrew clenched the steering wheel. It looked like black silk and he knew he’d have to run his fingers through it before the night was over.
After a minute, Andrew chuckled, feeling much better about the situation. He took her hand again and squeezed it a couple of times. “How about a steakhouse I know about on the other side of town? Food’s good, if you sit in the right place you can actually hear yourself talk, and if your competitive side wants to make a showing, they have darts and pool in the back.”
“That sounds perfect,” she said softly.
“Hey.” Andrew frowned and glanced at her. “You still upset?”
“No, it’s just...” Val chewed her lip.
“Come on, please tell me.”
She sighed and gripped his hand tightly. “I just can’t help but wonder how this will work, Andrew.”
“How what will work?”
“Us!” Val exclaimed. “You. Me. It’s our first date and you’re already having to change in order to make it happen.” She shook her head. “I’m not high class material, never will be, and you’re...you! You can’t change that, nor should you have to change that, because of me.”
VAL’S HEART SANK FURTHER and further with each word she spoke, but she knew it had to be said. Despite the fact that this was their first date, her heart was already involved in the situation. Andrew was turning out to be unlike any man she had ever met. He was kind and understanding, and he looked out for others, all while being confident and strong. The combination was intoxicating to Val and add in his good looks? She was a goner.
But there’s no way this will end well. Our first time out and he has to change his plans. How can we develop a relationship from this?
“Do you really think I care about going to The Prism?” Andrew asked incredulously
“Don’t you?” Val shot back.
“No! I told you, it’s a show place. I went there because it was expected, because if I hadn’t, my dates would have thrown a fit, because when you don’t want to do something, you stick to the status quo!”
“And you’re saying you don’t like that lifestyle?” Val scrunched her nose. “I’m not sure I can believe that.”
Andrew snorted and let go of her hand.
Val suddenly felt cold and wished she wasn’t pushing so hard. Why am I doing this? Why am I pushing him away before he’s ever been close? Even as she asked the question, she knew. Because I’m afraid to get closer. The longer this goes on, the more it will hurt when he decides I’m not enough.
The tension in the car was palpable, and not in a good way. It felt cold, and it pricked at Val’s skin in an uncomfortable way.
I did this, she lamented. All because of my own insecurities. But how do I fix it? Val had never been one to back down, but she tried to be humble enough to say sorry when it was necessary. And right now...I think it’s necessary.
She had just opened her mouth to apologize when the car jerked into a parking lot. Val snapped her mouth shut and held onto the door while Andrew drove to the back of the lot and spun the car into the back corner.
Slamming it in park, he turned in his seat and glared. “Let’s just get one thing straight, shall we?” he started in a tightly controlled voice. “I might have been raised with money, but I was also raised with a conscience. I can’t necessarily say the same for my ancestors. and I’m sure some of them were just as snooty and obnoxious as most of the people who live in the upper crust. However, I never have and never will wish to be like them. I’m grateful for my financial circumstances, don’t get
me wrong. It’s nice to always have food, to never worry about the next bill, and to be able to play when I want to, but it doesn’t define who I am as a person, and I resent the fact that you think it does.” His chest heaved a couple of times, and it was easy to see he was holding back his frustration, and Val immediately felt about two inches tall.
She had seen that Andrew was different. It was a large part of why she was attracted to him in the first place, but she’d still judged him. She had put words in his mouth and was punishing him for a future that had never happened. I think I dropped to a new low this time.
“I’m not perfect, Val. I’ll never be. The fact that I had planned a routine date with you shows that quite nicely, but I’m trying. And when I make a mistake, I’m not afraid to admit it and then correct it.” His shoulders softened as did his voice. “I’ve seen what the love of money did to my parents, and Grams made sure I chose a different path. So, while I don’t have any plans to give it up, I also don’t have any plans to let it direct my decisions, especially about whom I date or bring into my circle.”
“I’m sorry,” Val hurried to say before Andrew could continue.
He paused, his expression showing he was wounded as he waited for her to continue.
She swallowed hard and her eyes dropped to her lap. “You’re right. You’ve given me no reason to think you’re like that. I’m sorry. I just...” She bit her lip and looked out the car window. “I’m scared, Andrew,” she whispered. “I’m not some pretty, little woman that fits neatly into your world.” She looked back, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “You were right the other night when you talked about our chemistry. I’ve never felt it like this with anyone else, but we come from two completely different worlds and I’m worried that’s going to catch up to us one day.”
Andrew’s body posture softened even more. “Maybe we should actually go on that first date before we worry about the future, huh? You might hate the way I eat and never want to see me again.”