Convince Me (Holton Series #1) Read Online Free Page B

to say to him.  She
hadn't been this tongue-tied since her first date with Willie Martin.
    Steven seemed to fill the room and
Anna couldn’t look away.  Every time she tried, her eyes returned to
him.  He was dressed similar to the first time she had seen him but this
time the suit was gray.  It was neatly pressed and the white shit was
starched.  Once again, the tie seemed out of place.  This one was a
dove gray color and matched the suit well but it contained a large picture of a
giraffe.  Anna was fascinated by the fact that a man who appeared so
conservative and serious would wear such an item.  She realized she was
staring at it when she heard Steven chuckle.
    “Hideous, isn’t it?” he said with a
smile, picking up the tie and looking at it.  “Victoria gave it to me so I
have to wear it.”
    “Who’s Victoria?”  Anna tried
to stop herself from asking but her curiosity got the better of her.  She
knew Steven wasn’t married but he said the name Victoria with such affection
that she had to ask.  She wasn’t sure she really wanted to know the
answer.
    “My sister.”
    Relief flooded through her at his
simple statement.  Why she was so relieved?  She wasn’t interested in
Steven herself.  Was she?  No, that couldn’t be it.  Anna wasn’t
looking for a relationship.  She shook off the feeling.
    “She has interesting taste. 
Did she give you the multi-colored one too?” she asked.
    Steven laughed.  “Yes. 
Tori is always trying to update my sedate image.  She thinks I’m far too
conservative.  Since I refuse to let her take me shopping, she buys me
these crazy ties.  The worst part is I think she would really be offended
if I didn’t wear them and even though she lives over a thousand miles away, she
would know if I didn’t wear them.”
    “Where does she live?” Anna asked.
    “In Los Angeles,” Steven
replied.  “But she and Julie are best friends and no matter how far away
she is, Tori always know what’s going on.”
    “So, you wear the ties,” Anna
stated, intrigued by this aspect of his character.  It would be
interesting to see how much he would do for his sister.  Anna, who had no
siblings, found it charming that he could care so much.
    Steven smiled sheepishly and
nodded.  “Yeah, I wear the ties.”
    It was a delightful gesture. 
This man is too good to be true, Anna thought to herself.  There had to be
a flaw somewhere.  He was thoughtful, charming, nice.  Maybe, too
nice.  Yes, too nice was good.  No woman wanted a man who was too
nice.  Anna knew she wouldn’t be attracted to a wimp.  She had
nothing to worry about.  Steven Carson was not a threat to her.  He
was too nice to break through her resolve.  She was so pleased with this
new discovery that she gave him a dazzling smile.
    “Thanks for stopping by. 
Please tell Julie thank you for the coffee and banana bread.  It was very
kind of her.”
    Silence reigned for a moment as
Steven studied her.  Then, without a word he picked up Julie’s basket and
headed to the door.  Anna gave a sigh of relief when he opened it. 
She wasn’t prepared for him turning around.  He leaned against the door,
his hand resting on the handle, and looked out at the now busy street before
looking back at her.
    “How about having lunch with me?”
he asked.
    Anna shook her head, smiling
politely.  “No thanks.  I’m much too busy setting up shop.”
    “You have to eat, Anna.  I’ll
be back about noon.”
    “No,” Anna said more firmly wanting
to make sure he understood.  “Thanks, but no.”
    He looked at her with his serious
gaze.  “It won’t work, you know.”
    Anna felt her heart begin to
thud.  The blood rushed to her head and her mouth was dry.  She
clenched her hands together to keep them from fiddling with the papers on her
desk.  She was suddenly nervous and didn’t know why.
    “What do you mean?” she asked
cautiously.
    “It will take a great deal more
than a simple no to make