Page 49 of Rules Of Engagement: St. Louis
After I transferred him back to Tamara, I sat back in my chair and stared out at the city beyond my windows. Three weeks from Saturday, I’d be playing the role of devoted companion to a man who treated me well but would never see me as anything more than a beautiful accessory.
It was what I’d built my business on, what I was good at. So why did the thought leave me feeling empty?
My mind wandered, as it had been doing all morning, to this past Saturday’s encounter at the grocery store.
I wondered what Christian was doing right now. Probably in some conference room, negotiating contracts or reviewing briefs. Or maybe he was in his office, staring out his own windows and thinking about... what? Work? His family?
Me?
The thought sent a flutter through my heart that I tried to ignore. Christian and I had our arrangement, just like Nathan and I had ours. The difference was that with Nathan, I never forgot what we were to each other. With Christian, the lines had started blurring so gradually that I hadn’t noticed until they were already gone.
My phone buzzed against my desk, and I glanced down to see his name on the screen. Christian.
My pulse quickened, and I stared at his name for a long moment, my thumb hovering over the answer button. As if thinking about him had somehow conjured his call.
The phone continued to ring, and I continued to stare, caught between wanting to hear his voice and knowing that talking to him would only make my confusion worse.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
And then, I answered.
Chapter
Eleven
CHRISTIAN
My walk-in closetfelt smaller than usual as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the white tie that refused to cooperate. Dahlia’s voice floated through the speaker of my cell phone, perched on the mahogany dresser between my cologne bottles and watch collection.
“Thursday the twenty-sixth, you have the Williams follow-up meeting at two. Friday is clear except for the partnership review at four-thirty. And Saturday the twenty-eighth...” Her voice paused, and I could hear her typing against a keyboard. “The Children’s Hospital benefit gala. It’s a black-tie event with seven o’clock cocktails, and dinner at eight.”
I yanked the tie loose and started over, irritated by my own restlessness. “Right. The gala.”
“You’ll need a date for that one. You could pull it off alone because, well, you’re Christian Valentine. But having a date will strengthen your overall appearance. If you need me, I’m there,” she continued. “I’ve got a stunning gown that would photograph beautifully next to your tux.”
My hands stilled on the silk. Dahlia’s tone had shifted, giving off a hint of availability a kin to what she’d been droppingfor months. It was professional enough to maintain plausible deniability, but personal enough to make her interest clear.
I cleared my throat, choosing my words carefully. Dahlia was brilliant at her job, and gorgeous. The problem was, the last thing on my mind was wanting her outside of a professional relationship.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll make the necessary arrangements. Thank you, though.”
Silence stretched between us. “Of course. Just let me know if you change your mind.”
“I will. Is there anything else on the schedule?”
“Nothing urgent. I’ll have the Henderson contracts ready for your review Monday morning.”
A thought crossed my mind. “Dahlia, clear my entire Friday this week.”
“Yes sir.”
“Perfect. Have a good evening, Dahlia.”
“You too, Christian.”
The line went dead, leaving me alone with my reflection. Saturday, the twenty-eighth was one of our Saturdays—mine and Naomi’s. We had our rhythm. Two Wednesdays and one Saturday each month, as reliable as rent payments and just as necessary to my sanity. But I had a reckless desire to interrupt our status quo before that time came, and so, I went with it.
Secondly, the gala falling on our day changed everything. It gave me a reason to ask her for more than our usual arrangement. It was a legitimate excuse to want her beside me in public, but I wanted to warm her up to the idea first.
