Best Laid Plans (Dearly Beloved) Read Online Free Page A

Claire opened her mouth and snapped it closed again.
    Nick chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “You’re spinning your wheels again. Don’t think so hard, Claire. Lean back, drink some excellent wine, and eat some wonderful food while we visit and get to know one another better. There’s nothing dangerous about that. Men and women out on dates do this all the time.”
    “There. See? That. What you just said. This is not a date.”
    “I beg to differ.”
    “Read my lips, big guy. This. Is. Not. A. Date. I don’t date clients.”
    “Technically, my daughter is the client. She signed the contract.”
    “And you amended it.”
    “Let’s not get the lawyers involved. Why can’t you admit you find me fascinating and want to spend the evening getting to know me better?”
    “Whoa. Ego much?”
    It was Nick’s turn to retort but the waiter appeared with the antipasto plate and their salads. The sommelier followed in his wake with a bottle of wine. After the wine tasting ceremony and Nick’s approval, the wine steward poured a Pinot Noir into her glass. She stabbed a square of cheese, pretending it was Nick.
    She closed her eyes as the flavors burst on her tongue. “Mmmmmm.” She chewed and swallowed. “This is—”
    “Amazing.”
    “Don’t finish—”
    “Your sentences?”
    “It’s very—”
    “Rude.”
    Claire glared again and refused to say another word.
    ****
    Nick decided she had a very pretty scowl but then every one of her expressions was pretty, so far as he was concerned. “I’m going to break the first rule of negotiating, Claire.”
    “And that would be?”
    “Never admit when you’re really interested.” She didn’t say anything. Considering how talkative she was normally, he wondered at the cause. He could play a waiting game or he could make another move. “I just broke the rule.”
    “Wha—”
    Her voice squeaked and he decided he was amused by the cute sound. Claire was not a cute woman. Attractive, curvy, intelligent, sassy—very, very sassy—but she wasn’t cute .
    She cleared her throat and tried again. “Are you saying you find me interesting?”
    “No.” A look of consternation followed by one of relief washed across her features and he couldn’t decide if that pleased him or pissed him off. “I am saying that I am interested in you.” Color stained her cheeks once more. Good. He had the upper hand again. “Though that’s not to say you are uninteresting. I find you mostly intelligent.”
    “M-m-mostly?” She sputtered and her eyes narrowed to slits.
    “You have your…what does Laurel call them? ‘D’uh moments’?”
    “I do not.”
    “Yes. You do.” He couldn’t control the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
    “Oooooh.”
    “Well. That’s certainly erudite.”
    Claire inhaled several times and he enjoyed the rise and fall of her breasts. From what he could surmise of their size and shape, he’d bet money they were firm but lush and would fill his hands nicely when he caressed them. He’d been hoping to glimpse her cleavage tonight but she’d worn a high-necked dress.
    “You enjoy infuriating people.”
    “I do, yes.” He chuckled as her expression changed to the one he identified as her determined face. “Don’t bother trying to ignore me. I’ll just find another of your buttons to push.”
    “I don’t have buttons.”
    “See?” Before he could react, she smacked his arm. Hard. She was in darn good shape. He couldn’t hold the laughter, so it spilled out and added fuel to the flames he’d kindled. “You have many buttons, Claire. One of these days I hope to enjoy unfastening them.”

Chapter 5
    Claire didn’t remember dinner. Or dessert. Nick’s comment about her buttons had her teetering all evening. The trip home remained a blur, despite the magnificent scenery. Normally, she loved to drive along the coast. Watching the ocean was a favorite pastime. That said, all coherent thoughts had fled.
    But she did remember the way he had