Read Jealous in July (Spring River Valley Book 7) for Free Online

tie. Something in the middle of her chest twinged at the sight , but she dismissed it as a hunger pang. He looked good, still with a faint stubble he would never have worn to the office and dark aviators obscuring his unusual eyes. They were brown, she reminded herself, but a light color, like ginger or Scotch. She shook off the thought as he approached the steps and held out his hand to her.
    “Anxiously waiting , I see.”
    She ignored his hand and hauled herself off the steps, dusted off her skirt , and slung her purse over her shoulder. “The super can’t fix my A/C until Monday morning, so at least if I faint from the heat out here, someone will notice me and call 911.”
    “Sorry. I could take a look at it. I’m pretty handy with heating and cooling systems. I spent my high-school summers working with my stepfather in his plumbing business.”
    She eyed him sidelong as he opened the car door for her. “ I’d love that, but it’s the whole building, not a single unit.”
    “Too bad. You could stay in a hotel for the weekend.”
    “Don’t tempt me.”
    He pulled away from the curb, a half smile curving his upper lip. “That’s my whole plan for tonight, tempting you.”
    “I thought this was a strategy meeting.”
    “That , too, but why can’t it be a luxurious evening also?”
    Brenda considered the question. For some reason, riding off with Chase made her feel like she was cheating on Riley. The illicit nature of it made her pulse race a little faster , and that disturbed her. There was nothing wrong with going out for dinner with Chase. Going out with Chase to plot how to lure Riley into her feminine clutches was another story, but she told herself all was fair in love and war, and she planned to come out the victor in this battle to get the aspiring lawyer’s attention.
    The ride across town in the air-conditioned car was heaven. She almost didn’t want to get out when he pulled into the parking lot of Taverna Fiora, but the place looked so magical she couldn’t resist. The Italianate building had been liberally strung with white lights, and small fountains on either side of the entrance gurgled happily, making it seem at least ten degrees cooler than the rest of the world.
    Chase offered his hand as they reached the marble steps leading to the portico , and this time she accepted. She told herself it was only because the sleek stone looked slippery, and she’d worn her highest heels.
    A uniformed waiter met them inside and welcomed them to what he called their Festival Evening. Brenda gave Chase a curious glance.
    “They have a new garden patio out back, and they’re holding theme nights,” he explained. “I hear it’s gorgeous.”
    The waiter led them through the building, past the banquet halls Brenda was familiar with from weddings and dances she’d attended. Through an ivy-coated archway, he took them to a shimmering garden surrounding a rock waterfall. Small tables sat in secluded nooks and grottos around the space which glowed with white candles in hurricane glasses, bouquets of brilliant seasonal flowers, and thousands of pinpoint lights. The strains of Italian music floated on the breeze, which seemed so much more temperate under the potted olive trees that made up the faux orchard.
    Brenda sighed. “It’s amazing. I had no idea this was back here.”
    “It’s new. The new manager, Mr. Addison, designed it,” the waiter said as he pulled out a cushioned chair for Brenda. Their table was partially hidden behind an avalanche of bougainvillea, obscuring it from most of the other tables. Brenda wondered just who Chase had thought would see them together and talk about it to Riley if they weren’t even visible to anyone else having dinner at the same time they were.
    What did it matter, after all? This whole jealousy idea wasn’t going to work. She should just enjoy the evening for what it was and go back to Plan A, buck up her courage , and ask Riley out point-blank the next time