“Why, Mr. Conner, flattery will get you everywhere.”
He lifted his eyebrows and softly replied, “Let’s hope.”
Swallowing hard, I tried to remember this was a client and this stupid flirting was bound to get me into trouble. Especially since deep down inside I knew I didn’t want to do what he clearly wanted to do.
It was time to ease up on the flirting and kick it more into professional mode.
“Well,” I said releasing a breath and smiling. “Let’s concentrate on picking out some fabric swatches and paint colors.”
“Then afterwards, dinner?”
Pressing my lips tightly together, I forced a smile. “Let’s just get through the afternoon shall we?”
The next three hours had me laughing for the first time in almost a month. Dale was not only handsome, but funny as well. We had a ton in common and it turned out he was an art major and worked for an art gallery in Denver. He even loved the opera.
“So what made you interested in art?” I asked as we strolled through Acacia Park.
With a wide grin, he replied, “Probably my mother. She loves anything to do with art. She’s a painter, and I remember sitting when I was little and watching her paint. I thought it was the coolest thing ever to watch her take a white canvas and add the most beautiful things to it. Flowers are her favorite thing to paint.”
“I love painting, but I’m afraid I’m not that good at it. Now give me a room to draw out and I can do that no problem!”
Dale laughed. “Have you always wanted to be a designer?”
I may have been enjoying myself, but I was not opening up with Dale like I had Thano. “Yep. Pretty much. I’m a tad bit boring.”
“So, how about dinner?”
Searching desperately for my body to tell me I was attracted to Dale, I chewed on my lip. A part of me was screaming to just go have dinner and enjoy the company of a good-looking man. The other part of me was screaming out Thano’s name.
“Where did you have in mind?”
His eyes lit up, but I held up my hand. “Strictly business. That’s it.”
He pretended to pout but nodded his head. “For now. We’ll see if I can change your mind by the end of dinner.”
I instantly didn’t like the over confident and smug way he thought he was going to get me to change my mind.
He called for a taxi and held the door open for me. The next thing I knew we were pulling up to the Blue Star. It was a tapas bar I’d been to a number of times. The moment we walked in, something in the air changed. Goose bumps raced over my body and I swore someone was watching me.
Dale motioned for me to follow the waitress. When he placed his hand on my lower back, I quickly picked up my pace so his hand fell away.
My gaze bounced around the bar. I couldn’t shake the feeling someone’s eyes were on me.
I took a seat and set my purse on the chair next to me.
“Would you like to pick out the wine, Kilyn?”
Still looking around, I completely ignored Dale.
“Kilyn? Are you even with me?”
Snapping my eyes back to him, I grinned and said, “I’m sorry. I had the strangest feeling someone was watching me.”
Dale looked around and then put his attention back on me. “That’s because the most beautiful girl in the room walked in. All eyes were on you.”
There went my cheeks heating up again. “Anyway, what were you asking?”
“Wine?”
“Please, you pick,” I responded as I reached for my purse and took out my phone. I sent a quick text to Claire to let her know I was having dinner with Dale. When she didn’t answer right away, I pulled up my email. When there was nothing there from Thano, I cursed myself for hoping there would be.
Who was I kidding? Thano was stuck in the past and I was walking around reading books about the Greek culture and trying like hell to figure out why his grandmother spit on me three times. I finally got the answer today in the book I had bought at Barnes and Noble.
“You’re lost in thought.”
Making myself smile, I shook my head. “Sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind with projects and such.”
We quickly got lost in an easy conversation. I had to admit, Dale would be easy to date and he was probably good in bed. Not as good as Thano, but I’m sure he would be okay.
Looking away, I closed my eyes. Jesus. Am I really now settling for some guy so I can forget Thano?
My breath caught in my throat and I opened my eyes. His green eyes pierced mine almost immediately.
“Thano,” I whispered.
He was standing with his best friend Gus and two women.