He didn’t disguise his interest, but instead of being on the same proverbial page, Chloe had spared him only one glance of amusement—or maybe pity. Hunter prayed that it wasn’t pity. Then she ignored him as if he didn’t even exist.
Women did not ignore Hunter Tate.
Not the ones who counted anyway.
Could this be his holiday challenge? Hunter knew Chloe well enough to understand that her life was a spreadsheet, all planned from one day to the next, with no room for surprises. She was probably in tight with some business dude, like Tyler, all expensive suits and fancy cars, big money and private jets, and they probably had a twenty-year plan all worked out and carved in stone. There wouldn’t be any living in the moment with Chloe: no impulse, no whims, no sudden detours.
What if he took it as a challenge to teach her how to have fun?
It would be doing her a favor.
He was pretty sure Chloe wouldn’t see it that way.
Could he change her mind? Hunter was tempted to try. He spent the meeting considering numerous possibilities and discarding them as implausible. She’d have an answer to every suggestion, inevitable refusals, most based on her existing schedule. How did people live like that?
Hunter made his presentation about the roll-out of more fitness classes for new mothers in the new year but wasn’t really paying attention to much beyond Chloe’s note-taking.
They were packing up and he had no plan, then Chloe’s phone chimed.
Chloe shook her head when she looked at the text message. “Oh, Mom,” she said with resignation, then looked around the room with what might have been desperation. “I don’t suppose any of you know a hunk with a tux who’s available Friday night?”
It was the opening Hunter needed.
Sonia grinned. “If I did, he’d be busy,” she said and Meesha laughed.
“I do,” Hunter said and waited for her to look at him. “I am,” he added with a smile.
“You?” she said.
“Me.”
“What about the dance club?” Damon asked.
“Jax made me take a Friday off. This one.” He smiled at Chloe. “My dance card is open.”
“And you have a tux,” Meesha said, folding her arms across her chest to eye him. “Color me skeptical. No rental is going to cut it for any party Chloe’s going to.” She turned to Chloe. “Isn’t this your mom’s annual charity ball with all that Upper East Side money?”
“That’s the one,” Chloe said, meeting Hunter’s gaze. “All the fancy people will be there. I don’t think you’d like it.”
“You don’t know, though,” he countered. “And I’d like to find out. Come on, let’s do it, Chloe.” He lowered his voice, letting her worry about the double-entendre. “Are you afraid to take a chance on something that isn’t already on your calendar?”
She bristled predictably. People who loved their routines hated having that trait pointed out to them in Hunter’s experience. “Of course not.” She raised a hand. “It’s just...you.”
“Not good enough for you?”
“I don’t think we have a lot in common.”
“Opposites attract.”
“My mom would never believe we’re a couple.”
“Does that really matter?”
She opened her mouth and closed it again.
Hunter closed the distance between them with a single step, liking how her eyes widened a little. “I dare you to take a chance. Just one little one.”
“And take you to my mom’s charity ball.”
“I don’t see a line of other candidates, and it’s already Wednesday night.” Chloe’s eyes narrowed and he knew she was thinking of another objection, so he spoke quickly. “What time should I pick you up, and where?”
Two
Hunter had a daredevil look, one Chloe didn’t trust at all. Why would he make such an offer? Why was he so determined to make it happen? What would he do at the event itself?
Why had she even given him an opening?
No doubt about it, her mom’s confirmation that Josh would be attending had thrown Chloe’s game. She didn’t really need a crutch or a defense, but she also didn’t want to be bombarded by her mom’s expectations in concert with Josh’s.
She was afraid she would cave.
That possibility annoyed Chloe, which she didn’t like at all.
On the other hand, there was zero chance of her falling for a guy like Hunter. He just might be the perfect fake date. It was evident that he was already convinced of his own perfection—she wouldn’t fall for him and he wouldn’t be hurt by that. She wasn’t sure he cared about anything other than having a good time.
The others left, but Hunter lingered, his gaze locked on her like he’d eat her up.
“You didn’t answer me,” he said, his voice low and husky.
“You weren’t serious.”
“I am serious.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I like to mix it up. I’ve never been to one of those parties. How will I know whether I like them or not unless I go?”
“You’ll be bored.”
He smiled and her heart went thump. “Nope. I’ll be with you.”
Chloe held up a hand and took a step back. “Don’t try to charm me.”
He sat on the edge of the conference table, his jeans making him look tall and rugged, like a cowboy. His dark hair was a bit long and his eyes were fiercely blue. She’d always been jealous of those dark lashes. He’d grown a short beard, but it was his wicked smile that made her heart go crazy. “So, there are rules? I should have guessed.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That you haven’t really changed inside, even with the new packaging. You’re still risk-averse. You still want to control everything. You still have rules for your rules.” He shook his head as if this was a sad state of affairs.
Chloe was startled that he’d noticed that much about her. “It’s better than not having any rules at all. It gives me focus.”
He gave her a simmering look, one that surprised her. “I have rules.”
“Seduce every woman in proximity?”
Hunter laughed, startled into it, and his teeth flashed. “Not officially, but that’s a good one.” He sobered and studied her, those blue eyes twinkling. “Are you volunteering?”
“No.”
He nodded with mock solemnity. “Oh, so we’re supposed to attend this party together but never touch each other or talk to each other, like two strangers who just met in the lobby. I’m thinking that you need a date for a reason and that strategy won’t fix whatever the problem is.”
“I don’t need a date.”
“Then you want one.”
“No, I don’t.” Chloe winced when he waited. She looked down at her phone and the stupid text message, feeling Hunter’s gaze bore down upon her. She found herself wanting to tell him the truth. It might actually convince him to back out.
She met his gaze steadily. “Okay, I was engaged to a guy before I took the job in San Francisco. My mom adored him but I dumped him.”