Lost in Time (Forever and Always #20) Read Online Free PDF Page B

exactly noon. “Hello, Mr.
Preston.” She wore a black dress with a gray cardigan. Her hair was
pulled back, revealing her thin face. A golden necklace hung across
her chest, giving her outfit some color.
    “It’s nice to see you again, Ms. Augustine.”
I shook her hand.
    “Call me Aris.”
    “Will do.” I turned back to my desk. “Please
sit down.”
    “Honestly, I haven’t eaten lunch because I’ve
been busy all morning. Could we discuss this at a restaurant?”
    Uh… What do I say? It was one thing to
speak in my office when everyone could see us through the windows,
but to have a meal together…that felt inappropriate. I knew it was
an innocent invitation, but I was married. What if someone saw me
and assumed I was having an affair? The panic set into my bones.
But then I realized Scarlet didn’t care. Even if this woman wanted
to sleep with me, she wouldn’t give a damn. She trusted me, and if
we were having lunch together, Scarlet wouldn’t blink an eye over
it. “Sure.”
    “Good. I’m starving.” Her accent was still
thick.
    We walked out and then headed to the lobby. I
kept my hands in my pockets and didn’t look at her. “What are you
in the mood for?”
    “Greek food?”
    “Can’t go wrong there.”
    We entered the restaurant and I held the door
open for her. She gave me a light smile then walked inside.
    “Mr. Preston, it’s nice to see you,” the
maître d’ said when I walked in.
    “Likewise, Samuel.”
    “How’s the wife?”
    “Perfect. Thank you for asking.”
    He nodded then spotted Aris. With one look at
her beautiful features, suspicion came into his gaze.
    “I’m having a business lunch with my client.
Just business.” I didn’t have to explain myself but I felt
pressured to. New York was a big city but word still traveled
fast.
    “Of course, sir. The hostess will take you to
your table.”
    I couldn’t tell if he believed me. Why
couldn’t Aris be hideous? Or why couldn’t she just be a
dude?
    We arrived at our table. I didn’t pull out
her chair for her because I thought that would be too intimate. If
she thought that was rude, she could deal with it. We immediately
ordered our drinks then browsed the menu.
    “You’re well known in your city,” she said
while she looked through the menu.
    “I have a few restaurants I frequent.”
    “I see.” She put down the menu and gave me
her full attention. “Your wife dines with you often?”
    What kind of question was that? Who else
would I go out with? “Yes. She joins me for lunch all the
time.”
    “Does she work?”
    What’s with all the personal
questions? “She’s an editor. She works from home.”
    “That’s nice.”
    I couldn’t tell if she meant that.
    I straightened my tie. “So, I’m willing to
meet your demand in order to establish exclusivity.”
    She acted like she hadn’t heard me. “I’ve met
many men who I’ve done negotiations with. The first thing they do
is take one look at me then never take me seriously. Secondly, they
can’t keep their eyes glued to respectable places. Negotiations
turn into dates, and they pine after my affections until I
eventually cease business with their companies altogether.”
    Okay…” I’m not hitting on you. I’m
married.” What the hell did I do? I kept my hands to myself
and I never once checked her out.
    She smiled. “I know. That’s why I like
you.”
    Oh. Phew, I was glad I dodged that
bullet. “I apologize on the behalf of my sex. But I admit we
live in a sexist world and it will remain that way for a long time,
perhaps forever.”
    “Unfortunately.” She played with her glass,
tapping her nails against the side. “So, what do you do for
fun?”
    I’m not following this conversation. Why did
she keep steering away from our deal? “Can we get back to the
reason why we’re meeting today?” I said it as nicely as
possible.
    “Sure. But then what will we talk about?” She
shrugged. “I thought it would be nice to have a decent