Where We Left Off Read Online Free PDF Page A

commercial properties, shopping centers, and hotels.
    “That’s interesting.  I’m actually surprised Keri didn’t opt to get married in a church, rather than this hotel.”
    “I don’t do churches,” he chimed in.
    She chuckled, “You aren’t the one getting married.  What does you not ‘doing churches’ have to do with their wedding?”
    He laughed, avoiding the question.  “Jackson would have never agreed to it.  So,” he took a sip of his drink, “we’re here.  I like it a lot better here anyway.”
    “Why do I feel like the next thing you are about to say is you built this hotel?”
    He laughed, “I did,” he arrogantly noted.
    She took a delicate sip of her Moscato and looked around the ballroom the reception was being held in.
    “At least you have pretty good taste,” she said.
    He looked at her with an obvious attraction in his gaze.
    “I’d like to think so,” he flirted.
    She picked up on it instantly, just as she had picked up on his intentions from the very beginning.  Although she entertained the conversation, she was smart enough not to play fully into it.  She clearly didn’t hide her bouts of flirtation, though, as she prepared to make her way back to her seat.
    “Can I get you another drink?” Mason offered, seeing she was just about finished with her first.
    Pondering his question, she smiled, giving him a peculiar look.
    “You know, I find that very interesting,” she mentioned.
    “What, that I offered you another drink?”
    “No,” she paused, “that I now know your name, what you do for a living, and even where you work.  And all you could think to ask me was if you could get me another drink. Not what I do for a living, or where I’m from, or anything that makes me appealing apart from the way I sip from this glass.”
    Shocked, he didn’t know what to say.  She looked at him and smiled, seemingly without offense.
    “It’s okay, I’m not holding it against you… not yet, anyway.”
    Is she flirting with me now? he asked himself.  This entire conversation had taken a dramatic turn and he was just about clueless as to what to say next.  All he could do was lean back and smile.
    “Well, Mason, I’m going to head back to my table, which happens to be full of the bride’s friends” she laughed.  “It was a real pleasure to meet you.  Maybe I’ll see you around.”
    “The pleasure was all mine,” he insisted.  “You still didn’t tell me your name.”
    “Oh…so I’m that interesting that you actually want to know my name now?” she smiled. “Sydney.  My name is Sydney.”
    “ Sydney… ” He repeated, waiting for her last name.
    “Just Sydney,” she clarified as she walked away.

Chapter 5
     
     
    Okay ‘just Sydney’, he said to himself.  He watched her as she walked back to the table.  He couldn’t recall a time he’d seen anyone more beautiful.  But she was just that: more beautiful. Her petite model-size shape caused his eyes to travel her body as if they were coasting the curves of a roller coaster.  She was only a few inches shorter than him.  Her hair, a rich shade of dark mahogany, flowed like silk just past the brim of her shoulders, falling against a light caramel complexion and a body that looked soft to the touch.  Her lips were full and inviting, and her eyes a deep brown melted you the very moment they made contact.
    Something about this girl was different, and although she wasn’t as easy as most, he was attracted to her.  Perhaps for that very reason.  Maybe it was the challenge, maybe it was how different she was from Erika.  Whatever it was, he was just now realizing he hadn’t given her his card for her to call him something he always did.  The girls always seemed to like it, and to be honest, so did he.  He loved making himself look more official and appealing by ending the conversation with, here’s my card, give me a call.  Not this time, though; she seemed to have the drop on him from the very