Their Business Betrothal by Julie Brookman

Author:Julie Brookman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-11-26T21:37:19+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Clara was nervous about her supper with John. She didn’t know why. She had spent so much time with him in recent weeks that it should be easy for the two of them to be together without any tension or awkwardness. But she was now trying to be a different person with him. Formal, no emotion involved.

That plan almost went out the window when the man in question strolled around the corner of the hotel lobby and into the restaurant. He didn’t see her at first, so she had time to study him. He wore a suit, like the one he’d had on when they first spoke, only a bit nicer. Over the past few weeks, he had dressed less formally for his time in the store, oftentimes with his shirtsleeves rolled up for ease of motion while doing all the hauling and lifting she and her sisters required of him. He was handsome no matter what he wore, but he was almost breathtaking now.

The suit clung to his form nicely, and he had brushed his hair back out of his face, so his eyes were the first thing you noticed about him. He surveyed the room, looking for her.

Only when he found her and grinned (which made her traitorous stomach do flips) did she notice the bruising on his face and his swollen nose.

How was she supposed to be professional when her friend was so injured? She stood up when he walked over to her and fussed over his nose, which he seemed to enjoy.

“Clara,” he said in a soft voice. “It’s so good to see you. It’s been forever.”

She scowled at him. “We last saw each other yesterday, and you were in much better shape.”

He grinned, and it was infuriating that he was making light of his injuries. “I will be fine. Emmers just wanted to thank me for stealing his fiancée.”

Clara wanted to object that she had never been Michael’s fiancée, but she decided to leave it alone. John was mostly fine, despite how terrible his injuries looked. She had to get back to her plan of being professional with him instead of personal. She wanted to put their kiss and the fake engagement behind them. She dropped her hands from his face and stepped back.

“Thank you for coming, Mr. Butler. Especially at such a short notice. Will you please sit down?”

John’s grin dimmed a bit at her formality, but he just nodded and took a seat. “John. My name is John, Clara. I think we agreed to drop that propriety a long time ago.”

Clara just shook her head. “I have to discuss business with you. In light of that, I think it’s best we keep things professional.”

He leaned across the table and took her hand. “We have some unprofessional things to talk about too, Clara.”

Clara mustered all her resolve and stared him straight in the eye. “Be that as it may, Mr. Butler, I think we need to proceed professionally.”

She pulled her hand from his, immediately feeling the loss of their connection.

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