Gareth laughed. “I would hope so or I’d feel even worse than I do now. How can I make it up to you?”
“Like I said, there is no need,” she said, adverting his gaze. He could laugh if he wanted to, but she wasn’t.
“Not even over dinner tonight?” he asked.
This time she turned back to him and said, “I don’t want to hear what your hobbies or likes are that much.”
“Was that what we were going to discuss? I’d much rather hear all about you,” Gareth stated.
“Not much to tell. I like to read. I like to sail. I like . . . just about everything. No food allergies, and I’ve had all my shots. There it is in a nutshell. See. I just saved us both a lot of time.”
“You make it sound like I was shopping for a pet of some sort.”
“I have no idea what you are looking for, Mr. Lawson. But I can tell you, I’m not it.” That was pretty much as clear as one could get. Any other man would’ve walked away long ago, but he didn’t budge, didn’t even flinch at her words. Was he that thickheaded or just stubborn? Maybe it was because he wasn’t getting his way and couldn’t stand it. He did seem the type, like most men who stayed here, who believed their money gave them the right to whatever they wanted. She might have been brought up with a silver spoon in her mouth, but those weren’t the values her parents instilled in her.
“Maybe if you had dinner with me, you’d find I’m not such a bad guy after all. Well, I do have my moments, but overall, I can be charming. And Mr. Lawson is my father, I like to go by Gareth.”
“Fine, Gareth it is. But like I said, you very well might be a nice man, but—”
“You don’t like guys with dark hair. Or maybe it’s my brown eyes. Or my sense of humor. Too tall maybe? Or was it that I wouldn’t go singing? Because that is the one thing I can change. What would you like to hear?”
Brooke didn’t want to laugh or smile, but she couldn’t help it. Once he started singing some country song, belting it out like they were alone on the beach, it was all over.
“You win. You win,” she exclaimed.
“So you’ll have dinner with me?” he asked, looking hopeful.
“Only if you promise never to do that again,” she teased.
He grinned. “I told you singing wasn’t my thing. Now you know I don’t lie. So what time works for you?”
“How about now? I haven’t eaten yet.”
“It’s a bit early for dinner, don’t you think?” Gareth asked.
Brooke snorted. “Trying to wiggle out of it again so soon?”
He raised his hands. “Nope. Now is perfect.”
“What do you want to eat? I can grab it from the kitchen.” It was going to make her feel uncomfortable having any of her coworkers wait on her.
“You can’t be serious,” Gareth said. “I asked you to eat with me, not serve me.”
Before she could reply, Dena, one of the women who worked the front desk, approached. Brooke prepared to be told her mini break had just been cut short. If that was the case, it was okay . . . disappointing, but still okay. She hadn’t expected time off in the first place.
“Hi Dena, is Janet looking for me?” she asked.
“No. Actually I’m here for Mr. Lawson. Mr. Henderson said he is ready to meet with you now and then dinner afterward.”
Gareth replied, “Can you please let him know I’ll reach out when I’m free?”
Brooke stood up. “You can’t blow him off. What if he won’t meet with you later?” He’d mentioned he was in the steel business. And she understood, work came before pleasure. Or lunch.
Dena stood there not sure what to do. Gareth said, “Trust me, he’ll see me later. It’s either that or you join us for dinner.”
Brooke choked. “I think the sun has gotten to you.”
“Brooke, I was with Alex last night. That’s why I had to cancel our date. I’m not doing that again today. He can wait.”