A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess: A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess. Sara Orwig

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СКАЧАТЬ my flowers immensely.”

      “That isn’t the reply I was hoping for.”

      “That’s about as personal as it will get, Tony. We don’t know each other all that well.”

      “I beg to differ,” he said. “I remember clearly—”

      “Stop right there,” she said, laughing. “I walked into that one.”

      “I do wish I were there.”

      “I’m sure you could come home if you really wanted to,” she said, amused because he owned the company and could get someone else to take his place. She glanced at her watch, remembering she was going to cut him short.

      “You’re right, probably. Maybe I micromanage. I hope to hell I don’t though. My dad did enough of that when he ran the business before it passed on to me.”

      “Tony—” she said, starting to tell him goodbye.

      “Tell me what you know about the new ad campaign that was started just before I stepped in. The one regarding the East Texas hotels.”

      She told him how the campaign was going, what her department had done. She was on familiar ground. Eventually talk shifted away from business and she listened to Tony as she kicked off her shoes and took down her hair.

      “You can tell me all about the San Diego opening when I see you. That’s a great town.”

      “I’m looking forward to it.”

      “Better than where I am in the frozen north. Now if I had you here to keep me warm—”

      “Tony,” she interrupted, smiling and feeling tingles in spite of trying to avoid them.

      “I’m just telling you what’s on my mind. It really isn’t ad campaigns or hotels. I don’t want you hanging up on me when I’ve waited all day to get to talk to you.”

      “I know better than that,” she replied, remembering all the business calls he had taken the night they had been together. It was over an hour later when she finally ended the call. She stared at the phone a moment, thinking about him. She should firmly end the calls from him. Or even avoid them in the first place, because she had caller ID. She took the call tonight to thank him for the flowers he had sent. But once she was on the phone with him there was no hope of cutting it short, because he always talked her into listening or answering.

      Flowers, phone calls, a terrific job so she would stay. Where was she headed with him?

      Wednesday night Isabelle waited for her close friend, Jada Picard, a Morris attorney, for their plans to work out at their health club.

      When Jada climbed into Isabelle’s car, she shook short, straight black hair away from her face and turned gray eyes on Isabelle. “Sorry, I got delayed.”

      “It’s fine. I did, too. I’ve just been in the car a minute or I would have driven to the door to pick you up.”

      “After the workout, let’s go eat. You can pick the restaurant so we can also celebrate your new job with Ryder Enterprises. How was your dinner last week with our new boss?”

      “I’ll have to admit, it was a great evening.”

      “Now that he remembers who you are, I imagine you’ll have more excellent evenings,” Jada remarked.

      “No, I won’t.” Isabelle stopped for a red light and glanced at her friend. “I’m not accepting another invitation from him. So far, he’s been out of town and when he returns this weekend, I’m away on business in San Diego. I’m staying an extra day just to enjoy the city.”

      “You’ll have a wonderful time. I love San Diego. When you return, I predict you’ll go out with Tony again,” Jada said.

      “A relationship with Tony won’t happen,” Isabelle said, remembering his kisses and being held in his arms, not mentioning the flowers and phone calls.

      “Sounds like it could easily happen.”

      Isabelle moved in traffic, keeping her eyes on the road. “No, it won’t. He’s not for me,” she said, despite how she had been dazzled by his kiss and unable to forget him ever, still recalling the long-ago night in as vivid detail as the recent evening with him. “I just couldn’t resist the invitation to celebrate and it was beginning to sound like a big deal if I refused to go out with him. Otherwise, it was nothing and I won’t go out with him again,” she stated, trying to convince herself that she could say no to him.

      “Doesn’t sound like ‘nothing’ to me,” Jada remarked.

      “He’s not my type,” she added. “Jada, we’re both twenty-eight this year. We’ve both agreed we want marriage and a family. For me, the time has come. Our new boss definitely does not want marriage or a family to interfere with his ambition. He’s already married to his work. Friday night he had calls all evening long.”

      “Calls are not a big deal. His not wanting to get married—there you may have a stumbling block.”

      “I promise you, the man’s work comes far ahead of anything else in his life. He’s every inch the workaholic. I don’t ever want to tie my life to one of those. Growing up, I watched my best friend’s dad live that way and her mom had to cope without him. He was practically a stranger to his family. That’s not for me.”

      “Yeah, if you grew up around a workaholic, you know what it means.”

      “Lucy’s dad never saw her at any of her games, at recitals, at anything. She had nicer things than I did and a fancier home, but she would have traded some of the comforts for having her father around. My family was really close and she saw that. She loved to come to our house and she told me that was one reason why.”

      “How sad,” Jada said.

      “The quality of life is important. Fortunately, Tony is supportive of his sister. Their parents are giving her grief over the man she’s been seriously involved with. They don’t think he’s good enough for her. I’ve told you about him—my friend Dylan.”

      “I remember meeting Dylan. He’s a nice guy with a good job. What kind of parents does Tony have? In spite of his looks and money, I’d say two strikes against Tony. A workaholic guy with a snobby family. Be careful.”

      “Don’t worry. I’ve seen the last of evenings out with Tony Ryder.”

      “I’d still say to watch out. Sounds as if he might be a heartbreaker. He has the looks for it.”

      “That he does,” Isabelle agreed, envisioning Tony’s sexy dark brown eyes and his thick, curly hair. “Have you ever gotten your interview appointment with him?”

      “Not yet, but I’m not anxious about it. I’ve got really good offers now,” Jada said. “I won’t mind moving on.”

      “That’s the way I felt. Having a place to go makes the future look much rosier. I knew you would get some promising job offers,” Isabelle said, turning into the fitness center parking lot. “I need this workout.”

      “So СКАЧАТЬ