“Of course I am! Sure. I just thought, assumed that—” She broke off, a tide of color rising in her face.
Michael deliberately threw his arm over her shoulders in the comfortable way that he had developed with her. He shot a teasing grin down at her, even though he felt something that had very little to do with amusement and a whole lot to do with ugliness from the past. “I know what you thought. I’m glad you think about it. About us, I mean. And I know that we haven’t been together in awhile. But sometimes, I just want to enjoy your company without getting hot and heavy. Sometimes I’d rather be with you, like this, instead.”
The faintest of smiles hovered over her mouth. She lowered her head, her hair swinging forward so that in the gathering dusk he couldn’t see her expression any longer. “That’s very nice.”
Michael tightened his lips. The coldness in his gut intensified, and he silently swore. That was the second time this evening that she had referred to him as being “nice!” He was a cold, unfeeling bastard. Everyone knew that. Even his business partner and best friend knew it. Darryl Harriman had known him for years, so he had to know him better than just about anyone else. So why the hell was Winter going on about his being nice?
Michael fumed silently all of the way back to the parked vehicles. He was careful, though, not to allow his body language to give Winter any reason to guess anything was out of whack. He didn’t want to have to deflect questions that pried into his thoughts or emotions. Emotions weren’t to be trusted. He had learned that the hard way.
Michael kept his pace leisurely, when what he wanted to do was to stride quickly up the trail, leaving her behind. It was an effort to keep his muscles relaxed so that the contact of his arm over her shoulders was companionable. She tipped her head to rest on his shoulder as they walked, snuggling trustingly against his side. He gritted his teeth. For the second time since he had met her, Michael wanted to physically withdraw from her. But he didn’t, not until they reached the Lexus, when he gently extricated himself. Against his own volition, he brought up his folded knuckles to brush across one of her soft cheeks. “Goodnight, Winter.”
She was smiling again. Suddenly she swayed into him, catching him off guard, and pressed a swift kiss against his unsmiling mouth. Then she turned and got into the Lexus. He stood watching her drive out of sight before he slammed his palm against the top of his car. His hand smarted, but he ignored it. His thoughts spun furiously. He was going to have to break it off with Winter, after all. He didn’t want to do it. But to square it with his own unexpected surge of conscience, he was going to have to let her go. You stupid son of a bitch!
It was fully dark by the time that Cathy got home. When she let herself into the apartment, Vicky looked up from the magazine that she was reading. Vicky didn’t move from comfortably reclining on the sofa, but she cocked an eyebrow. “I thought you said you wouldn’t be back until late tonight.”
Cathy slowly smiled, remembering the nice evening. Warmth suffused her body. “I was wrong. We just went to dinner and then for a walk on the greenbelt. It was really, really nice. Michael was nice.”
Vicky snorted. “Do you hear yourself? You sound a whole lot like a woman in love.”
“I don’t either!” Cathy was so shocked by the suggestion that she couldn’t think of anything else to say. She just stared at her friend. In love with Michael? That was crazy! She wasn’t in love with Michael. She didn’t even know his last name.
“Yes, you do!” Vicky grinned at her. “By the way, Chloe told me about your new bracelet. She said that it was from your boyfriend, and that you said he was really cute.”
“Oh.” Cathy felt herself flush. She fingered the strap of her purse. “Well, Michael just wanted—wanted to give me something.”