Non-Refundable Groom. Patty Salier
ringing was coming from Garrett’s jacket pocket
She gently released herself from his arms, her skin still burning from his touch.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, pulling the cellular out of his pocket. “I’ll take care of it right away.”
“It’s okay,” she whispered back.
As she lifted up the straps of her dress, she noticed him take a few steps off the dance floor to answer the call. Though his voice was low, she couldn’t help hearing his words.
“I’m kind of busy, Bert,” Garrett said into the phone. “You what?” His voice lowered even more. “Are you sure it might be a new account for me? Who’s the owner of the property? I want to talk to him.”
Though her cheeks were still warm with arousal, Elena suddenly became aware that Garrett was discussing the possibility of getting a new property management account.
A flood of disappointment washed over her. No matter how close she felt to him during their date, Garrett was still her competitor. He wanted the vice presidency just as much as she did.
Just then she heard Garrett say goodbye and flip closed the cell phone. He turned to her, looking like he had a secret he couldn’t tell her. After their intimate moments together on the dance floor, she couldn’t help but feel excluded. Yet she knew he had no other choice but to keep silent about his business call.
And she knew she couldn’t get emotionally involved with Garrett, not if she wanted Stanley to promote her.
“I really need to get home,” she said, grabbing her purse with trembling fingers.
“Elena, I didn’t mean to spoil our evening,” he began.
“You didn’t,” she said, avoiding his eyes, wishing she’d never been kissed and caressed by him, because she only wanted more.
“I should never have answered that call,” he said.
She wished he hadn’t, either. Now there was a barrier between them that she couldn’t make go away.
“Garrett, our prearranged dates can’t make us forget who we really are,” she forced out.
“I don’t want it to ruin our evening together.”
“I don’t, either,” she said. “But the fact is that I want that job, too, Garrett. Tonight hasn’t changed my goal.”
She hated talking business with him, but she had to keep an emotional separation between them. She had to show him that the promotion was as important to her as it was to him.
“Maybe I’m wrong,” he began, “but I thought you and I were feeling close to each other tonight.”
“We are, we were,” she stammered, “but only because of the date. We’re business associates, Garrett. I can’t have anything more than a platonic relationship with you.” Her words felt forced. “I’m obligated by the dating service contract to go on two more dates with you, but we can’t date in between.”
“What if I don’t agree to your rules?” he asked, his eyes locked to hers, as though there was no way they could ever stay apart.
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