Read Four Weeks for Free Online Page B

rich oils framed with glided gold that hung above green and white seating arrangements. The old-fashioned floral pattern of the carpeting and window treatments would've looked ridiculous anywhere else, but under the high white ceilings and wide chandeliers, it was surprisingly perfect. Impossibly elegant and casual at the same time.
    "Quite a place isn't it?” Trent said as he led her to the entrance of the restaurant.
    Louise turned and noted that he wasn't giving his attention to their surroundings. His hazel eyes were focused tightly on her.
    "You've been here before? With your father?” she asked.
    If she hadn't been standing so close, she might not have noticed the shift of his features. His lips tightened and his eyes lost their spark. Louise eased away from the scrutiny her question brought.
    Her glaring error in mentioning his father reminded her that the men back home were a lot simpler; she'd better be more careful. If she was going to charm him into keeping the stable open, she'd better pay attention and try harder. She had too much to lose.
    Within a few minutes, Trent and Louise sat at an intimate table for two with the low murmur of the conversing diners humming around them. The clink of china and occasional laughter filled the room. Starched napkins, vases filled with fresh flowers, enthralled diners—the dining room had everything.
    A waiter arrived to greet them; he had a charming musical Caribbean accent. After handing them padded menus and filling their water glasses, he left.
    After several minutes of reading and re-reading the menu, Louise gave up and set it down with a sigh. Who would have guessed there could be so many kinds of fish? Trent glanced over the top of his menu at her. “Would you like me to order for you?"
    She waited, expecting some follow-up comment, something about how she should be able handle such a small decision, but he surprised her by simply waiting for her response. “Yes, thank you."
    Trent chose Brown Lake Trout for both of them. The waiter smiled at Louise and she asked him a few questions about his homeland. Smiling as she told him that spending the summer in Northern Michigan and then enjoying the long winter months with his family where it was warm sounded like a fantastic life.
    "That will be all for now.” Trent's voice pulled the waiter's attention away from Louise and he moved off with one last smile in her direction. “Do you make a habit of flirting with the wait staff?” he asked softly, leaning toward her.
    She didn't know whether to laugh or get mad. Not that she was flirting, but why would he care if she'd flirted with all the men in the restaurant, anyway? His comment wasn't worth getting annoyed over. “I know it might come as a surprise, but some men actually appreciate friendly women."
    He turned his scowl to the tables of diners circling the room.
    * * * *
    TRENT WAS DISGUSTED with himself. What was he thinking? Accusing Louise of flirting with another man made him look like a complete insecure idiot. What was it about her that made all his usual tactics, like being forthright and direct, seem out of place? It certainly wasn't the attraction they shared. He'd had chemistry with plenty of other women ... So why did Louise make everything so different?
    He sighed against the confusion and turned his attention to his glass of water. He took a long drink, but the cool liquid did nothing to douse the warmth that had him dying to peel off his dinner jacket.
    The inane comments he offered while they waited for their food sounded so dull even he wished he'd stop talking. After their fish arrived, he watched her pick at hers, and occasionally she offered him a quick smile as they ate. The taste of the gourmet meal was wasted on him because all he could think about was the way Louise's lips curved each time she raised the fork to her mouth. Instead of watching her, he should've been making good use of his time with her. An evening that should have been punctuated