Kismet: A Serendipity Novella Read Online Free Page A

Her
voice rose along with her mortification.
    “Hey, that’s not it.” He sat down beside
her, close enough so their legs were touching. “It’s more like I
got a shocking lesson in making assumptions.”
    She swallowed hard. “You thought I lived
well off the Banks money.”
    “Well, I assumed that if the guy was doing
the right thing by marrying you after he—” He caught himself before
saying
knocked you up
. “After he got you pregnant, then he
would treat you right after he split up with you, too.”
    “You know what they say about someone who
assumes things,” she muttered.
    To her surprise, he laughed. “Yep. And an
ass certainly describes how I acted today. So maybe the clothes
were an apology, too.”
    Lissa didn’t know what to do with this
kinder, gentler Trevor, and part of her wondered if that wasn’t his
intention. To keep her off balance, guessing, unsure of herself
during the time she was with him. To her dismay, she realized she
didn’t know him all that well anymore.
    “I’m sorry things have been so hard for
you.”
    She forced a smile. “I managed.” She’d also
put herself in the position of having to marry Brad, but it didn’t
seem smart to get into the specifics of their past right now.
“Thank you, though.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    “And thank you for these.” She swept her
hand toward the bags surrounding them on the bed.
    “That was my pleasure.” His smile warmed her
straight down to her toes.
    She was trying really hard not to think
about the fact that they were sitting in a hotel room alone on a
king-sized bed, but it wasn’t easy. Trevor’s pants-clad thigh
touched her bare one and she could swear she felt the heat of his
skin through the material. When she inhaled, he smelled deliciously
male and need rose quickly.
    It had been so long since she’d had a man’s
arms around her, a man who made her feel good and wanted. Unlike
her ex, Lissa had remained faithful in her marriage, and her one
short relationship afterward had left her cold and wondering
whether she’d ever feel real desire again.
    Well, now she knew. She ought to be
surprised that it was Trevor who’d awakened her long-dormant
hormones, but she wasn’t. Not really.
    Lissa pulled in a deep breath and forced
herself to continue the conversation. For all she knew, she was the
only one feeling the heat and she didn’t want him to think she’d
misinterpret a kind gesture for anything more. She knew how he felt
about her.
    His first unguarded reaction had shown his
true emotions, and though he was trying to be nice now, she knew
the resentment still lurked below the surface. She couldn’t let
herself think anything else was at play or she’d be risking her
heart. She was sure Trevor’s was locked up tight, at least to
her.
    “How did you know my size?” she asked.
    He shrugged. “I asked my secretary to guess.
Some of the things will have to be returned.”
    She nodded. “I look forward to trying them
on.”
    “I look forward to seeing you in them.” His
gorgeous eyes sparkled at the thought.
    “What time should I be ready tonight?”
    “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
    Lissa shook her head. “I’ll meet you there.”
This wasn’t a date; it was business. She couldn’t let him play the
gentleman and go through the motions. It would only make her want
things she’d never have.
    He scowled. “I don’t mind picking you
up.”
    “There’s no need for you to treat me like a
date. I’m a journalist writing your story,” she felt compelled to
remind him. Or maybe she needed to say it out loud for herself.
“The Waldorf, correct?”
    He nodded, but she could see from the
stiffness in his shoulders he wasn’t happy with her suggestion.
    “Great,” she said, rising from the bed.
“I’ll see you there.”
    He rose and stood way too close. “You’ll see
me, all right,” he murmured too enigmatically for her liking.
Reaching out, he placed his fingers beneath her chin until she
looked