The Chosen One by Deborah Camp

Author:Deborah Camp [Camp, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-03T16:00:00+00:00

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Alexander did call her while he was in Dallas. In the late evenings they talked on the phone about their favorite books – she preferred romance novels and he went in for nonfiction dealing with politics or business – the best films they’d seen, the best restaurants, their first sexual experience – his had been memorable and hers had been disappointing – and all the exotic places he’d been and the crazy things he’d done like jump off cliffs to parasail or climb mountains during a blizzard.

The night before he returned home they video chatted. He looked sleepy with his hair mussed and his shirt unbuttoned.

“I’ll be back by one tomorrow afternoon,” he said, then stifled a yawn. “Sorry to spring this on you, but there’s a thing I have to go to Friday night. It’s a charity function. Something for the hospital. Muriel’s involved in it. It’s a dinner with some kind of entertainment – an orchestra I think. I only half listened when she told me about it.”

“And this is something you want me to go to with you?” she asked, getting to the bottom line of it.

“Oh, yes. If you could. Please.” He yawned again. “It’s formal, so feel free to get yourself a suitable frock. I’ll give you one of my credit cards to use.”

“No way.”

“Olivia, I insist.”

“Alexander, I have something I can wear. I don’t need a . . . a frock.” She squinted at his image. “You look half dead. What have you been doing to make you so tired?”

“Doing? I’ve been nice and congenial for three days straight! It’s pure torture.”

She laughed at his dramatics. “You mean that in your line of work you aren’t required to be nice to your customers and co-workers?”

“Not consistently.” He ran a hand through his longish hair. “I’m weary of shaking hands and laughing at stale jokes and talking nonstop about real estate. Chatting with you in the evenings has been my saving grace.”

“Did you shave this morning?” she asked, peering more closely at the small screen on her phone. His jawline was darker and she was sure she could see stubble.

“Uh . . . no.” He scratched his chin. “I could say I was going for the grungy look today, but I actually overslept. We didn’t hang up last night . . . or this morning until after two.”

She made an “ooops” face. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m not.” He heaved a sigh. “So, shall I pick you up Friday about seven then?”

“I’ll be frocked and ready.” She smiled back at him, momentarily dazzled by his sexy grin. “Is it formal enough that you’ll wear a tux?”

“No, not quite that formal. Would you like to see me in a tux?”

“I wouldn’t mind it.”

“Would you like to see me out of a tux?”

She glowered at him. “Good night, Alexander.”

He chuckled lustily. “Good night, sweet Olivia.”

She ended the call, still smiling.

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