She Belongs to Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

approach him, or his sisters were always ready to set him up.
    “That’s what I thought.” A warm smile flashed across her face as she set the bottle of A.1. down and settled into the booth again, sighing. “My name is Caycee Jaynee Evans, both spelled with ay and both ending in ee . Caycee is a boy’s name, an d Jaynee should have been Jayne . It would flow better. Try explaining how to spell Caycee Jaynee long enough and you end up with C.J.,” she babbled.
    Maybe a date wouldn’t be so difficult after all. “I understand. I like them both though, especially Jaynee. Can I call you Jaynee?”
    A small huff escaped as she shook her head in confusion. “Why would you want to do that? You’ll probably never even see me again. And by the way, it’s your turn. What is your name, and where exactly are you from?” Her eyes were impatient.
    “My name is Jordan Monroe, and I’m from a little town in North Carolina called Stanfield. It’s about forty-five minutes southeast of Charlotte.”
    “Figures,” she huffed again, sounding displeased with this revelation. “A real southern gentleman. And I was correct. You’ll never see me again. So why does it matter what my name is?” She stood up promptly, scurrying away before he could respond. Okay, so it was going to be difficult.
    C.J. stopped by a few minutes later to check on his steak but left swiftly so as not to allow any time for additional questions or conversation.
    The dinner was delicious, but the overwhelming desire to breakthrough her shield was frustrating. What compelled him to ask a complete stranger if he could call her by her middle name? It was personal. He wanted it to be personal. He saw disappointment when she sighed at his response. She called him a southern gentleman. Not a redneck, a country boy, or a hick. Those were references he’d become familiar with over the years, particularly in the Army. He’d even began referring to himself by those disparaging names on occasion.
    C.J. had two more tables sit down, and he knew he couldn’t keep bugging her.
    She walked back to his table a cool look in her eyes. “Have a nice evening,” she said, then laid the check on the table.
    He already had a twenty and a ten ready. “Thank you, C.J. You can keep the change. I hope it makes up for me irritating you,” he stated, standing up.
    She accepted the folder without a word.
    “Would you meet me for coffee after you finish work?” The words left his mouth before he even thought about what he was asking.
    Her eyes contained such passion; he was positive she was going to say yes. But then, she shoved her hands in her pockets. He could hear her crumbling paper. She was just nervous he thought, but after a couple seconds, she looked up at him with those gorgeous eyes.
    “I don’t date,” she said. Her brows narrowed as though she had something else to say, but she turned to greet her next table.
    Her words hit him like a steel bat. But something about her eyes told him he shouldn’t give up. There had been something about the way she ’d dismissed him that said she ’d regretted telling him no.
    He walked toward the exit, but at the last second altered his course and headed to the bar and ordered a beer, which he knew he wouldn’t drink.
     

63

 
    Carmen DeSousa

Chapter Two
     
    C.J. watched as Jordan walked out of her life.
    She was angry with herself for saying “no” but angrier that she wanted to say “yes”. Her stomach was in knots, and she didn’t even know him. She was correct to say “no”.
    He’d return to Charlotte, or wherever it is he lived, and never consider her again. She couldn’t withdraw her eyes from Jordan as he walked toward the door. She wanted to dart after him, tell him she’d changed her mind and decided she would meet him. Then to her amazement, he turned and headed for the bar. She averted her eyes when he turned his head and looked back at her. She didn’t want him to catch her gawking.
    She turned away