“That’s right.”
“Don’t you think that’s a little unethical? For my father to be dating a young, impressionable female who’s under his employ?”
“I’m not that green, Alex.”
“Is that right?”
She stiffened at the low, rough quality of his voice. She blinked, breaking his palpable stare.
“I don’t work directly for Mitchell. I work in mergers and acquisitions, under Mr. Littleton.”
She took a step back when he stood. In the few minutes while he’d been kneeling, she’d forgotten how intimidating he was. Not that she was afraid of his size. Not exactly. At five-foot-ten, she rarely felt cowed by a man’s size. Alex Carradine just made quite an impact, that’s all. Angeline couldn’t describe exactly what that impact was on her, but she sensed it nonetheless. It felt like some kind of internal pressure in her chest and lower belly.
“If you’re so wise in the ways of the world, you must realize by now that while my father excels at making promises, his true expertise is in breaking them. When he said he’d meet you up here, surely you knew there was a good chance he’d call it off?”
Heat rushed into her cheeks despite the increasing chill in the room. Alex’s sharp sarcasm hurt all the more because there was an element of truth to what he said. Mitchell did frequently cancel dates. Still…there was always a damn good reason for his last-minute cancellations.
“Your father has a very demanding job. Becoming a name partner at his age at the largest, most prestigious firm in Chicago is no small feat. And as for tonight…” she nodded pointedly at the window where she could just make out the frantic movement of falling snowflakes, “…is it any surprise he’s not here?”
He shrugged carelessly. The action made her glance down at his chest. A strip of ridged abdomen and lightly haired, muscular chest was left exposed. She resisted an urge to blurt out that he needed to grow up…and cover up right this instant. When she glanced into his face, she realized he’d been staring at the exact same place on her body as where she’d been gawking at his. Her flash of defiance drained out of her. She shivered uncontrollably. Her nipples pinched tight.
“It’s only going to get colder,” he murmured, his eyes still fixed on her breasts.
Angeline shifted uneasily on her feet. Had he noticed her nipples becoming erect beneath her sweater? Is that why he’d mentioned the temperature completely out of context to their conversation? The knowledge that it hadn’t been the cold air that made her body respond left her flustered. It suddenly felt too confining in the flame-lit room. She grabbed one of the lanterns and headed toward the kitchen.
“Do you have anything to drink?”
“I’m going to finish my shower and shave while there’s still hot water. Get whatever you want.”
Angeline set the lantern down on the counter and watched as the large shadow sauntered down the hallway. Her mouth hung open. His manners were beyond inhospitable. They were intentionally rude. And the way he’d looked at her just now—
Alex Carradine seemed determined not only to insult his father, but her as well.
Or maybe he considered it one and the same thing?
She’d already guessed that Mitchell and Alex’s relationship was rocky. Why hadn’t Mitchell told her it verged on full-out battle? She noticed the phone on the counter and grabbed the receiver. She was thrilled to hear a dial tone—apparently the lack of electricity didn’t affect this type of phone.
Figured that grouchy Alex Carradine hadn’t told her.
Mitchell picked up on the second ring.
“Mitchell?”
“Angeline! I’ve been so worried. I left two messages,” Mitchell exclaimed.
“I keep dropping the cell here. I couldn’t make any calls out.”
“Where are you?”
“At Alex’s.”
“You actually made it there?” Mitchell asked. “The news is saying the interstate is closed.”
“They closed it after I took the exit, apparently. Conditions are a bit better coming from the north versus the south. I’m surprised you didn’t get stuck in the thick of this mess. Surely you would have had to leave Chicago before two to make it here by four thirty—”
“I got caught up with that Millington account. Good thing too, or who knows where I’d be spending the night tonight. By the time I finished, they’d already closed the interstate.”
“Oh…yes, it’s a good thing, then,” Angeline said with a little bit too much warmth. She knew they hadn’t closed the interstate until 3:50 p.m., well past the time when Mitchell would have had to be on the road if he wanted to make their scheduled rendezvous. She told herself the flash of disappointment and hurt she experienced had absolutely nothing to do with Alex’s comments about his father’s undependability.