Trust by Design (Colorado Trust 2)

“I thought you were going to start with the great room?”

“Don’t worry, it’ll get done. But as long you’re here, I think you should take a look at the bed and let me know if I’m on the right track.”

Without taking his hand from his pocket, he angled his left arm for a glance at his watch. “I suppose I can spare a few minutes.”

“Great.” She reached for her purse, keys, and windbreaker. “You can follow me there.”

He waited in the hall while she shut off the lights and locked the door. “How about I just drive?” he suggested.

Because then she’d be in an even smaller enclosed space with him, and the subtle scent of whatever cologne he was wearing was already wreaking havoc on her over-eager senses. “I’m going home right after, so I’d rather take my own car.”

Unfortunately, in that moment, a loud rumble announced the fact that she’d had nothing to eat since breakfast. Damn. She thought she’d moved past hungry.

“Was that your stomach?” His eyebrows arched and her face flamed.

“I worked through lunch.”

“On my budget?”

“Among other things.” She strode past the elevator for the stairs. Movement was a safer option than standing with him in the tiny elevator.

“Then the least I can do is buy you dinner.”

“My skipping lunch is not your fault,” she said as they skimmed down the three flights of stairs to the main floor. “I’l

l grab something after we’re done at the furniture store.”

“I didn’t eat yet, either, so really, we could just be two people sitting at the same table at this casual little Italian restaurant not far from here.” He moved ahead of her to hold open the door leading outside. “Or we could really go crazy and maybe talk and get to know each other.”

At face value, the idea itself was dangerous, but she didn’t actually believe he intended to be the one revealing anything. At some point, he would have to realize whether he accused her outright, or tried to charm the information out of her, it wouldn’t make his suspicions true. Right now was a perfect opportunity to establish a connection that would gain his sincere trust.

She met his gaze and smiled as she stepped past him into the parking lot. His gaze wavered, and he ran his hand through his hair again. The man looked so uncomfortable with his subterfuge, she didn’t even have the heart to be annoyed. Besides, knowing what she was walking into gave her time to mentally prepare a good defense.

“I like Italian,” she said by way of agreement. “If we happen to end up at the same restaurant, the same table, I guess that’d be okay.”

He laughed, his tension eased. “Let’s guarantee it. I’m parked over here.”

After he surprised her by opening the passenger door like a true gentleman, she gave him directions to the furniture shop. Thankfully, it was a short ride and she was able to suck in a discreet breath to restore a normal level of oxygen in her lungs as they walked inside.

Then she was faced with a whole showroom section of beds, and a memory that wanted to pick up where it’d left off.

“Which one did you want to show me?” he asked.

“Look around first. I’m curious to see what you pick.”

His gaze switched from one set of furniture to the next. After a long, silent minute, he turned, and those brown eyes fixed on her. It felt like she was in the close confines of his vehicle again, pulse racing, oxygen at a premium.

Desperate for a distraction, she asked, “Do you have a preference for a certain type of wood? Oak, pine, cherry, mahogany…”

“What do you prefer?”

“It’s your room.”

He stepped closer, and she forced herself to hold her ground as he reminded, “I am paying you for your opinion.”

“I’d do pine.”

“Really?” A wrinkle of surprise creased his forehead. “Wouldn’t that be too much with the pine logs?”