“And who are you bringing, Leah? You need a date.”
“I do?”
“Leah, you can’t go on like this.”
“Like what?” She knew what was coming. Both he and Ellen had been a stuck record about her having a man in her life ever since she’d broken up with Dan last year. Truth was Leah had enjoyed having a break from dating after the two-year somewhat bland relationship. She was ready for another one now, if the right man came along, but she wasn’t about to tell her father that. She’d be set up on blind date after blind date, and they’d all be boring cardboard cut-outs of one another.
“You can’t keep coming to these events on your own,” he said with a sigh. “You’re a pretty girl. You should have a husband, or at least a fiancée by now.”
There, he’d said it.
Again.
“I’ll get Ellen to have a think. There’s bound to be someone we can invite to the party to introduce you to. She knows a lot of people from—”
“Please, no, don’t do that.” The thought sent a shudder up her spine, and her jaw clenched.
“It’s no problem. In fact, she mentioned Duncan, an accountant from—”
“Sorry, Pops, Nick is at the door. We have a case to go over, it’s important, and the day is running by. Speak later.” She ended the call then tossed her phone onto a pile of files. There’d been no knock at the door.
Her heart was thudding. The walls were closing in. She needed a break. She had to get out of Pierce. The trees were trapping her, so was the sky. She needed fresh air, light, and the sound of waves.
She quickly opened a new browser on her laptop and tapped invacation rentals in California.
A whole list came up. She narrowed it down to sea views.
And then she saw it, just south of Strands Beach, the most perfect beachside home. Painted in pale blue, it had a sloping roof, a decked seating area that looked over the dunes to the Pacific. It even had a couple of surfboards, not that she could surf.
A red banner covered the corner of the main photograph.Available at discount owing to last-minute cancelation.
Leah clicked on it. Wow. What a discount. It was available for immediate rental for the next seven nights at a fraction of its usual price. She hovered her finger over thebook nowbutton. It was a nine-hour drive away. Did that matter?
No.
Plus, it would be impulsive and indulgent but … but it was totally necessary. If she had any chance of getting through the mayoral party without losing it, she needed a break. She needed to hear the waves when she woke in the morning. The longing for sea air, the sound of gulls, the weight of Pierce to be taken from her shoulders was suddenly all-consuming.
Within seconds, it was done, and a confirmation email had come through.
Blowing out a breath, she reached for her phone again. Nick wouldn’t have a problem with her disappearing. He’d told her often enough to take files somewhere with a view so she’d get a change of scenery.
And that was exactly what she was going to do.
Chapter Four
Carter tossed his cigarette stub and debated lighting another but decided to wait it out. With a bit of luck, Leah would be heading from her office soon. He’d noticed seven-thirty was her usual leave time.
Would she head to Cheers and Beers with Willow again? Or would she go home tonight? Home to 2432 Fairfax Street. A nice part of town and a nice little house. Had she bought it? Or had daddy dearest forked out for it?
Carter didn’t know. He didn’t much care. But he’d like to get inside her house, with her. Pour her a glass of wine after a hard day in court. Perhaps make her dinner, give her a foot rub, a massage, see the tension lift from her sexy little body as the wine did its work, and then he’d watch as she relaxed into orgasm after orgasm. Pleasure he would be in control of, every second, every touch. He’d play her like a finely tuned engine, and her climax would come in waves she could surf on breathlessly, perfectly, and with his name hanging on her pretty lips.
He swung his leg over his bike and stood on the sidewalk. He had to stop creating these little Leah fantasies. They were damn uncomfortable in the groin department.
He reached for another cigarette, then stopped and shoved the packet back into the pocket on his cut.
There she was.
With a briefcase in hand, she was stalking from her office building.