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her own mother. Things she’d never told a living soul.
    â€œIt’s been a while,” she said evasively.
    His gaze moved over her face and down her torso, and then back up to her face. She was wearing a bulky graysweatshirt, so it wasn’t like he was getting an eyeful, but she could feel her face turn red at his appraisal.
    â€œI have to admit, I’m surprised. But if you’re not seeing anyone, I don’t see the problem.”
    She started to get impatient. “The problem is, everyone in my life knows I don’t date. They don’t understand it, but they accept it. If I start seeing someone out of the blue they’ll go nuts. They’ll want to meet you. My family especially. I have an older brother and sister and none of us are married yet, and my parents really want grandchildren. If my mom gets the idea that I’m seeing someone, she’ll start planning a wedding. It’ll be awful.”
    She took a breath. “And there’s no way they wouldn’t find out. You’re news. If we start going out, it’ll be in all the local papers.”
    â€œMy grandmother’s the only one who needs to think we’re romantically involved,” he said after a moment. “You can tell your friends and family whatever you want. Tell them we’re going out as friends and that the media’s making more of it than it is.”
    He leaned forward, his biceps bunching as he rested his forearms on the table. His black T-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders.
    â€œSay you’ll do it.” His voice was forceful and persuasive at the same time, backed up by that intense gaze and a quick, flashing smile.
    Allison felt her palms getting sweaty. A very inelegant reaction, one the women Rick Hunter dated probably never experienced.
    He was persuasive, all right. And confident, like there was no doubt he’d get his way in the end.
    Allison rubbed her palms on her denim-clad thighsand scooted her chair back a few inches, putting a little distance between them. She’d seen this kind of confidence before—plenty of times, in fact. It had been a defining characteristic of a lot of the rich kids she’d gone to high school with. The boys especially, and one in particular. Paul had been so confident it had been impossible to imagine him ever failing to get something he wanted.
    She folded her arms across her chest. “I’m sorry, but I’m not your solution here.”
    He looked surprised. “You won’t do it?”
    â€œDon’t look so shocked. You’re obviously used to people falling all over themselves to give you whatever you want, but—”
    Now he was frowning. “I don’t expect people to fall all over me.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. I bet no one ever says no to you. Come on, admit it. Don’t you usually get your way? Maybe always?”
    He folded his arms, like her. “No.”
    â€œYou grew up rich, didn’t you? I can spot the attitude a mile off. The silver spoon crowd—you’re all alike. You think because you—”
    â€œHey! Stop doing that.”
    His voice was sharp enough that she actually did. “Stop doing what?” she asked.
    â€œStop making assumptions. Stop judging me because I have money. I’m sorry if that offends you—”
    â€œThat’s not what offends me. It’s your obvious belief that everything—and everyone—should just fall in your lap.”
    He leaned forward again. “I don’t think that. I’venever thought that. Believe me, I could give you a long list of things I’ve wanted in my life that I didn’t get.”
    She frowned at him. “You ooze confidence. It practically…drips off you.”
    He shook his head. “I’m not going to apologize for being confident. I am confident. But not because I have money, in spite of what you obviously believe. I’m confident because