The crests of her pronounced cheeks flushed red. It was so easy to make her blush.
“You do realize that I’m in Gauthier to work, don’t you?” Tamryn asked.
Yes, he did. But the more he kept her from doing that work, the less likely she was to run across something that could erupt in a scandal that could end his political career before it fully got off the ground.
“That’s not an excuse. You can’t work twenty-four seven,” he said. “However, you are right about this particular outing. This is definitely not adatedate. When I convince you to join me on a real date, you’ll understand the difference.”
Tamryn settled back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. “The list must be a mile long,” she murmured.
Matt hitched a brow. “The list?”
“Of all the poor hearts you’ve left broken around Gauthier.”
“I’m not in the business of breaking hearts, Professor West.”
“Go and tell that to the ladies in Claudette’s.”
They were interrupted by Shayla Kirkland, owner of The Jazzy Bean.
“How’s it going, Matt?” she asked. “Today’s the big day, huh?”
“Yes, it is,” Matt said, standing to give her a hug. He’d played basketball with Shayla’s brother, Braylon, back in high school. Braylon had recently died after returning from a long military deployment, and now Shayla was helping her sister-in-law raise his two young daughters.
“Can I get you anything?” she asked.
He pointed to Tamryn’s cup. “What’s in there?”
“Earl Grey tea. No sugar,” Tamryn answered.
Matt’s face scrunched up in a frown. “I don’t think so. Get me one of those thousand-calorie concoctions, with extra shots and double pumps and whipped cream drizzling down the side of the cup.”
“You got it,” Shayla said.
Tamryn shook her head, a huge grin creasing her face. “Aren’t you supposed to be in training to run a 5K? Is a thousand-calorie coffee drink a part of your regimen?”
“Am I getting it wrong?”
“I think so.”
“Maybe you should step in as my trainer. There’s a running path along the wooded area around Belle Maison. I think we should start running together so that we’ll be ready for the 5K.”
“And you calledmepersistent?”
Matt laughed. “You were.” He folded his arms on the table and leaned forward. “But I’m a lot more persistent than you are, especially when it comes to something I really want.”
“And what is it that you want?” she asked.
“A date. Several dates. Anything you’re willing to offer, as long as it includes getting to know you better.”
Before Tamryn could answer, Shayla returned with his drink. Matt handed her a ten-dollar bill and told her to put the change in the tip jar.
He returned his attention to Tamryn, but Matt couldn’t decipher the expression on her face. His heart thumped in his chest as he awaited her answer. In that moment, he realized that as much as he wanted to keep her away from her work, the desire to satisfy his curiosity about her was just as strong.
It was the combination of intelligence, outrageous beauty, and that hint of sass that peeked out; it had him practically salivating at the chance to get to know her better.
She flipped over the pages on the legal pad she’d been scribbling on and reached for the red leather messenger bag that she’d taken from her car when he first found her stranded the day she arrived in Gauthier.
“I’ll take you up on the tour you offered,” she said, stuffing the tablet, along with the rest of the items, into her bag.
