Page 51 of My Book Boyfriend
“She’s playing hard to get? That’s good. You should have to work to date someone. Too many women throw themselves at you.”
“She’s definitely not throwing herself at me,” I say wryly.
“What’s her name?” Grandpa picks up a pen and pulls his pad toward him.
“Lily,” I say.
“No last name?”
“I don’t want you running some Google search on her.”
I turn around and race back to my office, only to find Rowena sitting on my desk, waving theIntelligencer, a portfolio under her arm. I should send the editor and Jenna a thank you. Grandpa didn’t even mention the protestors. He’s now fixated on trying to figure out who I’m dating.
“Make yourself at home,” I say.
“She’s very attractive.” She places her portfolio on the side of my desk.
“You can’t even see her face, thankfully. At least they heeded my warning that she’s a private person.”
“I saw her outside—same red coat.” She smirks. “No need for a face. That picture is enough. I didn’t think you were the kind of guy who shared pockets. Will wonders never cease.”
“Why wouldn’t I be that type of guy?” I ask.
“I thought you told me you don’t like to hold hands. You find it awkward.”
I pause. I think I did say that. “I’m still worried she’s only dating me to change my mind about the garden.”
Because yes, that thought is still there, at the back of my mind.
But even more present is the feeling that I can’t wait to see her again.
“I always worry that guys are dating me just because I’m wealthy,” Rowena says. “But then there are the guys who find out who I am and run as fast as they can in the opposite direction because their ego can’t handle it. It’s not easy.” Rowena gets up from my desk and wanders over to my bookshelf, her back to me.
“I like her.”
“What happened last night?” Rowena turns around. I walk over to sit in one of my reading chairs. Rowena sits in the other one.
I explain about her date—Rowena growls in disgust—and how I then approached her.
“You approached her?” Rowena asks.
“Yes.”
“It doesn’t sound like she was thinking about seducing you for any nefarious means.”
It’s true.I approached her. And I initiated the kiss. And she was the one who stopped me when I was about to kiss her … when she shoved the steaming hot chocolate into my hands.
“So anyway, then we walked home together, which is when they must have snapped that picture.”
“Why didn’t you call CarFast? It’s not like they wouldn’t have figured something out.”
“I didn’t want to make a point of my wealth. And I kind of enjoyed that extra time with her.”
Rowena nods slowly. “Tricky. I always test my dates if I think they want to date me solely for my money.”
“How?”
“I suggest something totally extravagant, and if they’re too into it, that could be a red flag. And I almost always do the camping test.”
