Page 100 of Romance and Peppermint Lattes
“I did not forget our marriage and don’t you dare tell them that cock-and-bull story about amnesia.”
“But, darling—”
“Stop it right now, Joseph Rockwell! No one believes you. I’m sure these people can figure out that I’m the one who’s telling the truth.”
The elevator finally stopped on the ground floor, a fact for which Cait was deeply grateful. The doors glided open and twowomen stepped out first, but not before pausing to get a good appreciative look at Joe.
“Does she do this often?” one of the men asked, directing his question to Joe, his amusement obvious.
“Unfortunately, yes,” he answered, chuckling as he tucked his hand under Cait’s elbow and led her into the foyer. She tried to jerk her arm away, but he wouldn’t allow it. “You see, I married a forgetful bride.”
ChapterSeven
Pacing the carpet in the living room, Cait nervously smoothed the front of her red satin dress, her heart pumping furiously while she waited for Joe to arrive. She’d spent hours preparing for this Christmas party, which was being held in Paul’s home. Her stomach was in knots.
She, the mysterious woman Paul was dating, would surely be there. Cait would have her first opportunity to size up the competition. Cait had studied her reflection countless times, trying to be objective about her chances with Paul based on looks alone. The dress was gorgeous. Her hair flawless. Everything else was as perfect as she could make it.
The doorbell sounded and Cait hurried across the room, throwing open the door. “You know what you are, Joseph Rockwell?”
“Late?” he suggested.
Cait pretended not to hear him. “A bully,” she said. “A badgering bully, no less. I’m sorry I ever agreed to let you take me to Paul’s party. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You were probably hoping to corner me under the mistletoe,” he remarked with a wink that implied he wouldn’t be difficult to persuade.
“First you practically kidnap me into going Christmas-tree shopping with you,” she raged. “Then—”
“Come on, Cait, admit it, you had fun.” He lounged indolently on her sofa while she got her coat and purse.
She hesitated, her mouth twitching with a smile. “Who’d ever believe that a man who bought his mother a rib roast and a case of cat food for Christmas last year would be so particular about a silly tree?” Joe had dragged her to no fewer than four lots yesterday, searching for the perfect tree.
“I took you to dinner afterward, didn’t I?” he reminded her.
Cait nodded. She had to admit it: Joe had gone out of his way to help her forget her troubles. Although she’d made the tree-shopping expedition sound like a chore, he’d turned the evening into an enjoyable and, yes, memorable one.
His good mood had been infectious and after a while she’d completely forgotten Paul was out with another woman—someone so special that his enthusiasm about her had overcome his normal restraint.
“I’ve changed my mind,” Cait decided suddenly, clasping her hands over her stomach, which was in turmoil. “I don’t want to go to this Christmas party, after all.” The evening was already doomed. She couldn’t possibly have a good time watching the man she loved entertain the womanheloved. Cait couldn’t think of a single reason to expose herself to that kind of misery.
“Not go to the party?” Joe repeated. “But I thought you’d arranged your flight schedule just so you could.”
“I did, but that was before.” Cait stubbornly squared her shoulders and elevated her chin just enough to convince Joe she meant business. He might be able to bully her into going shopping with him for a Christmas tree, but this was entirely different. “She’llbe there,” Cait added as an explanation.
“She?” Joe repeated slowly, burying his hands in his suit pockets. He was exceptionally handsome in his dark blue suitand no doubt knew it. He was as comfortable in tailored slacks as he was in dirty jeans.
A lock of thick hair slanted across his forehead; Cait managed—it was an effort—to resist brushing it back. An effort not because it disrupted his polished appearance, but because she had the strangest desire to run her fingers through his hair. Why she’d think such a thing now was beyond her. She’d long since stopped trying to figure out her feelings for Joe. He was a friend and a confidant even if, at odd moments, he behaved like a lunatic. Just remembering some of the comments he’d made to embarrass her brought color to her cheeks.
“I’d imagine you’d want to meet her,” Joe challenged. “That way you can size her up.”
“I don’t even want to know what she looks like,” Cait countered sharply. She didn’t need to. Cait already knew everything she cared to about Paul’s hot date. “She’s beautiful.”
“So are you.”
Cait gave a short, derisive laugh. She wasn’t discounting her own homespun appeal. She was reasonably attractive, and never more so than this evening. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she was pleased to see how nice her hair looked, with the froth of curls circling her head. But she wasn’t going to kid herself, either. Her allure wasn’t extraordinary by any stretch of the imagination. Her eyes were a warm shade of brown, though, and her nose was kind of cute. Perky, Lindy had once called it. But none of that mattered. Measuring herself against Paul’s sure-to-be-gorgeous, nameless date was like comparing bulky sweat socks with a silk stocking. She’d already spent hours picturing her as a classic beauty... tall... sophisticated.
“I’ve never taken you for a coward,” Joe said in a flat tone as he headed toward the door.
Apparently he wasn’t even going to argue with her. Cait almost wished he would, just so she could show him how strongher will was. Nothing he could say or do would convince her to attend this party. Besides, her feet hurt. She was wearing new heels and hadn’t broken them in yet, and if she did go, she’d be limping for days afterward.
