A smirk tugged on her mouth. “You’reafraid?”
“Yes, only because my father has dementia and every month it gets worse. He forgets everything, and whenever I visit him, it takes him an hour to remember me... and that’s what happens on good days, which don’t happen very often anymore.”
“Oh, that’s terrible. I’ve never known anyone who has had that disease.”
Calvin nodded. “It’s really hard for the family. Father is in a nursing home right now, but I really hate to see him there.”
“Where is your mother?”
“My parents divorced when I was twelve. Mom lives in Paris with her new husband, so of course, she doesn’t care about my father losing his mind.”
Rayne touched his arm. This time when she frowned, it was genuine. “I’m truly sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“You have younger brothers and sisters, don’t you?”
“Yes. We’re scattered all over the United States. I’m the closest one to our father, though.”
They reached the coffee shop and he opened the door for her. A small grin touched her face as she gave him thatI’m impressedlook. He held back from chuckling.
He ordered drinks for both of them before they found a small table to sit. He pulled out her chair, and once again, she gave him theI’m impressedlook. This time, he smiled widely.
“You know,” he began, “I feel awful because I don’t know that much about your family, but you seem to know about mine. All I know is that our fathers used to be friends before we were born.”
She laughed softly and shook her head. “Well, I suppose they had been friends at one time. They were friends even a few years after we were born.”
“They were? You wouldn’t know it from the stories my father used to tell about Max Kennedy.”
“Yes, and the stories my father had told me about your father.”
“So, Rayne,” he leaned his elbows on the table, “what are you doing with your life now?”
“I’m actually a fashion designer.”
“Really?” He scanned his gaze over her and realized that she spoke the truth. That was why she looked so darn good. “Is this dress one of your creations?”
“It is.” She linked her fingers and placed them on the edge of the table. “I don’t have a huge name in the business, but I have my own little shop and a website, of course.”
“How many people work for you?”
“Ten.”
He smiled and gave her theI’m impressedlook. She chuckled.
Their drinks came and he sipped his, watching from over the rim as she took a sip from hers. He’d guess her to be in her mid-twenties. She was a very stylish woman, but that wasn’t why she was gorgeous. It was difficult to tear his gaze away from her amazing blue eyes, and if it wasn’t her eyes keeping him spellbound, it was her heart-shaped lips and the memory of kissing them.
She brushed her fingers across a lock of her light-brown hair that had fallen over her cheek, and he noticed the diamond ring. It didn’t surprise him that she was taken, but it did surprise him that the diamond was so small. Then again, maybe she didn’t like flashy jewelry.
He motioned to her ring. “I see you’re engaged.”
Her shoulders stiffened, and the stern expression she’d been wearing since she’d learned his name had returned. He actually liked her smile better.
“Yes, I’m engaged.”
“Oh, yeah... so about that kiss.” Calvin cringed. “Will your fiancé understand? I swear I wasn’t trying to hit on you. I was just trying to get Rona to stop hitting on me.”
“I’ll make him understand. Or, I just won’t tell him.”
