That Carolina Summer (North Carolina) Read Online Free Page B

“I invited you."
    “I'd forgotten,” he lied. “Next time you can buy."
    “Okay.” She gave in readily to the suggestion even though she knew he didn't mean it that there might be a next time. She took a sip of the steaming coffee. “Do you mind if I ask how old you are?"
    “No. I'm thirty-three.” When she laughed he arched an eyebrow. “Did I say something funny?"
    “Not really,” Annette assured him. “It's just the advice you were passing out a while ago sounded like something from my father. And I didn't think you were his age.” She flirted a little. “You aren't that much older than I am."
    “Enough older, Annette,” he countered, but his gaze skimmed her. She knew he wasn't completely indifferent to her feminine attributes, age difference or no.
    “What kind of business are you in?” She discreetly changed the subject, taking a drink of the coffee.
    “Real estate.” Which encompassed a lot of territory. “What does your father do?"
    “He's a troubleshooter for an oil company. He gets sent to all the hot spots."
    “Sounds like he does a lot of traveling,” Josh suggested.
    “He does,” Annette readily agreed. “That's why the whole family vacations together when he's home. We don't get to see very much of him for most of the year."
    Craig approached their table again with a pot of coffee. Josh covered his cup with his hand. “No more for me."
    “Me, neither,” Annette refused. She sensed that Josh intended to bring their meeting to a close, and she wanted to be the one to do it. “I have to be getting back to the room before Dad starts wondering where I am."
    “I have a business appointment,” Josh admitted, and pushed his chair away from the table.
    “Have a good day,” she wished him, standing up to leave, too.
    “You, too.” His smile stiffened a little at the last, then he was moving away.
    Annette was slower to leave, savoring the experience. She didn't notice that Craig was lingering on the sidelines until he came forward to carry away their coffee cups. He glanced in the direction that Josh had disappeared, then looked curiously at Annette.
    “You thought you recognized him yesterday,” he remarked. “I guess it turned out that you had met him before."
    “No.” She shook her head in a brief denial. “We just happened to run into each other while we were out jogging this morning and decided to have coffee together."
    “You work pretty fast,” he commented with a trace of jealous sarcasm.
    Annette smiled. “I've heard that you do, too."
    Craig straightened, suddenly uncertain if he had misunderstood. He was conceited enough to believe Annette was still interested in him. His manner changed to winning charm. “A friend of mine is throwing a party tonight. Are you free?"
    “I'm afraid not,” she refused the offhand invitation.
    “Maybe another time,” he suggested with renewed hope.
    “Maybe another time,” Annette agreed, sincerely doubting that it would ever come. She turned to leave, tossing an airy “See you!” over her shoulder. But as she started through the breezeway between the hotel buildings, she met her father and Kathleen.
    “Good morning,” her father greeted her, and let his gaze slide past her to Craig. “I see you've already made a conquest in the short time you've been here. And you wonder where the gray hairs come from,” he mocked.
    “If you mean Craig, I'm not interested,” Annette retorted, but she was relieved her father hadn't arrived a few minutes earlier and seen her with Josh. She had the uneasy feeling he wouldn't have approved. Right now it was better that he didn't know about him. She pretended to scan the black hair at his temples for a silver strand. “Did you find another gray hair this morning, dad?"
    “No. Surprised?” he countered.
    “No.” Annette laughed, then glanced at Kathleen. “Where's Robby?"
    “Marsha is getting him dressed,” Kathleen replied, explaining her son's absence. “We were just going into the