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Chapter Eight
Rose arrived in the hotel lobby right on time for her brunch with Gray. She felt a million times better than she had when she left her mother’s house thanks to some retail therapy. Her car was packed with her finds from the cute downtown Carmel shops.
She’d loved seeing the artist cottages built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Hansel and Gretel Cottages as well as the Storybook Cottage and the Obers Home were her favorites. They were straight out of a children’s book come to life. They made Carmel-by-the-Sea feel magical.
After her date, she’d head home, redecorate her room to flip the bird at her dad and show her mom and sister that they didn’t have to live in his world anymore. They could redecorate the house and redefine and reinvent their lives, too.
She spotted Gray the second he stepped out of the elevator into the huge lobby and smiled at him.
His gaze swept over her in one hot stroke that left her a little breathless and her mind taking a turn to sultry thoughtsof his hands and mouth touching every inch of her. “You look fantastic,” he said by way of hello and kissed her on the cheek.
She was so glad she’d packed an extra casual dress. The short-sleeved, dusty pink dress fit snug up top with a cinched waist that flared out into an above-the-knee-length skirt. The flirty dress was perfect for shopping in the upscale and trendy shops and for their brunch date. She was so glad he liked it.
“You’re all business today, but still gorgeous.” He looked good in the white button-down dress shirt, a black silk tie, and black slacks. She bet he had ditched the suit jacket upstairs in his room.
He took her hand and led her toward the restaurant to their left. “Video conference calls this morning. I don’t know why people like to see me when a phone call would do.”
“Were you talking to women?”
“In two cases of the three, yes.”
She looked up at him, then swept her gaze down him as he’d done to her. “I can’t imagine why they’d want to stare at you for an hour.”
He chuckled. “I’m the lucky one who gets to stare at you for however long I can get you to stay.”
“Do you always work on Saturday?”
He frowned. “No. But since I’m taking so much time off this coming week, I had my assistant set some of the more urgent calls for this morning. Usually, if I work on the weekends, it’s more social or charitable kind of stuff.”
“Making deals while playing golf or over drinks at a charity benefit,” she guessed.
He nodded. “My golf game sucks. It’s more dinner parties than the links.”
“Sounds like you lead a very busy life.”
“If I had something better to do with my time, I’d be happy to ditch work.” He gave her a pointed look to let her know he’d happily spend time with her.
“Lucky me. I get you all to myself for a little while.”
“I’m the lucky one. Unfortunately, I can’t spend the rest of the day with you. Marc’s meeting me here later so we can take off for the bachelor party.”
“I’m meeting Maggie at two and going with her to pick up her wedding dress and mine before her bachelorette party this evening. I can’t wait to see her in the gown.”
Gray held up two fingers to the hostess.
“Right this way.” The hostess gave Gray a seductive smile.
Rose couldn’t blame her. The man was too good to be true. Tall, dark, handsome, smart, successful, nice, and he had a killer smile and body to go with all that and everything else she was uncovering about him.
The hostess sat them at a table by the windows that overlooked a fountain and pretty garden. “Your server, Jeanine, will be right with you. Enjoy your meal.”
Gray held her chair out for her, then took the seat closest to her rather than across the table, even though he couldn’t see outside. Instead, he stared at her.
“Why aren’t you married or attached to some lucky woman?” she asked.
The half grin made him even more endearing. “I love it that you don’t hold back.”
She eyed him. “I hope you won’t, either.”
