I had an urge to crowd her space, to pull her close to me, but I clamped down on that compulsion, instead, taking her proffered hand into mine. Something sharp moved through me at the contact. I stared at our joined hands for a moment, trying to figure something out before she pulled hers away. She moved around the table and for a second I let my eyes drop to watch the sway of her hips as she walked.
“I hope I’m not late,” Patience stated, sitting next to her father.
“Not at all. I was just preparing to get Aaron up to speed on what I’ve been up to since I got back into town two weeks ago.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Patience’s body stiffen. I turned to see her doe eyes wide, lips turned downward.
“Two weeks ago?”
“Yes,” Thiers responded. “You knew I was out of town on business.”
“Yes, I thought you returned today. You’ve been back in town two weeks?”
I heard something in her voice that made me want to comfort her, which was completely opposed to my normal interactions with women, or most people for that matter. I turned accusing eyes on Thiers.
“Yes, well, I had business matters to tend to. You’re a busy graduate student. I figured you wouldn’t want to be bothered by your old man.” He waved off her obvious disappointment as if it were no big deal.
I glanced at Patience who lowered her eyes before reaching for the glass of water in front of her and taking a sip. No more questions came from her regarding her father’s whereabouts.
“Aaron, tell me about the Collins’ deal you and your father are working on,” Thiers continued.
I gave Patience one last look and then turned my attention on her father, answering his question about Townsend’s newest venture. We talked for a few more minutes before our waitress arrived, taking our orders. Thiers then talked a little about his business that had taken him to Canada. The entire time I kept an eye on Patience who silently listened, as if she’d had years of experience being in the room being neglected.
Once our food arrived, the conversation shifted a bit, but that was because Thiers received a call. I looked again to Patience whose eyes skirted away from me.
“You’re in graduate school?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“For what?”
She cleared her throat, sitting up a taller.
I bit the inside of my bottom lip at the way her movement made her breasts stand out against the blue V-neck she wore.
“Library sciences.” Her voice was soft, yet strong and steady. Welcoming.
“A librarian.”
She gave me a half-smile and again something in my chest shifted.
“Sorry about that. That was my Canadian contact,” Thiers informed, picking up the conversation where we’d left off, once again leaving his daughter out of it.
Upon finishing our meals, Patience stood. “I need to go to the restroom.”
“Okay.” Her father nodded.
I watched her as she walked away, willing myself not to completely turn my back on Thiers just to watch the effort of the jeans she wore to contain all those curves.
“Tell Robert he owes me a round of golf for skipping out on our monthly dinner.”
I nodded, standing along with Thiers. “He sends his apologies for missing it.” I glanced down at my watch.
“You know what? I hate to eat and run but I just remembered I had a late evening appointment.”
I picked my head up, a wrinkle in my forehead due to his abruptness.
“Do me a favor,” he began, tossing a few bills on the table, “tell Patience I will give her a call in the next day or two.”
