Cynthia Rutledge - Rich, Rugged...Royal

“It’s Saturday,” Lauren said finally. “I assumed you’d be having people over.”

“We are,” her mother said pleasantly. “But there’s no rule that says our daughter can’t be one of the guests.”

“Thanks for the invitation,” Lauren said. “But I already have plans.”

“A date?” her mother asked, surprise evident in her tone.

“Actually I’m going over to Sara’s for dinner.”

“Tell her you’ll come another time,” her mother said as if that settled the matter. “Did I mention that your father met the nicest man at the Club the other day? He thinks the two of you would be perfect for each other.”

Suddenly all the pieces fell into place.

“Let me guess,” Lauren said. “This nice man just happens to be coming to dinner tonight?”

“As a matter of fact, he is,” her mother said with obvious satisfaction. “He’s a great catch—thirty-three, moderately attractive and runs his own business. A business, I might add, that has been very successful. Best of all, he’s unattached.”

“Unattached?” Lauren couldn’t keep the suspicion from her voice.

“He soon will be,” her mother said. “He’s in the process of filing for divorce.”

“He’s married?” Despite Lauren’s intention to keep emotion out of the conversation, her voice rose.

“You weren’t listening,” her mother said in a lighthearted tone. “He’s already met with an attorney. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Did I mention he’s an entrepreneur?”

“Yes, you did.” Lauren congratulated herself on keeping her tone even, though she was seething inside. “But as I said, I’m not able to make it tonight. And, even if I were available, I’m not interested in married men.”

“He’s not married,” her mother protested. “He’s—”

“I know,” Lauren interjected. “He’s filing for divorce. I’m not interested in dating those kind of men either.”

Her mother sighed. “You’re never going to find anyone decent with that attitude.”

Silence filled the phone line.

“Lauren, honey.” This time her mother’s tone was conciliatory. “You can have dinner with Sara anytime. I know you’d like Chad if you’d just give him a chance. But timing is crucial. You need to snatch him up while he’s available.”

Lauren thought about reminding her mother the guy really wasn’t available, but knew her comment would fall on deaf ears.

“I’m not changing my plans.” Lauren wondered for the hundredth time how she’d ended up with such parents. They were basically nice people but they had a strange way of looking at the world.

Opportunistic was the word she’d settled on back in high school when her father had almost gone to prison for investment fraud. She’d decided it sounded better than amoral or criminal.

“And I’m not interested in your latest prospect.” Lauren added in case her mother still hadn’t gotten the message.

“He’ll be here at seven,” her mother said as if Lauren hadn’t spoken. “Wear something pretty. And low cut. Might as well show off your assets.”

“I’m not comin—”

“See you at seven.”

The dial tone sounded and Lauren resisted the urge to strangle the phone. Why couldn’t she have had a normal mother? Marion Cunningham of Happy Days would never have tried to fix Joanie up with a married man. Olivia Walton would have never tried—

Lauren forced the comparisons from her mind and reminded herself she had more important things to worry about than her mother and her ridiculous matchmaking.

She had bills to pay.

And a roommate to find.

Living out of a hotel room had never been a problem for Alex. In fact, he’d spent six weeks at the Ritz in Boston just last year while he visited his youngest brother.

But his seven days at the Inn-and-Out Motel had been seven days too many. The place reeked of garlic from the restaurant next door and the paper-thin walls made sleep impossible. If it wasn’t the baby down the hall crying for hours on end, it was the couple in the next room making loud passionate love.

Not only had the moans kept him awake, they’d brought back memories of the night he and Lauren had shared.

Though he’d be lying if he said he didn’t want her in his bed, what Alex really wanted was to get to know her better. He wanted to hear her laugh. He wanted to see her cheeks turn a becoming shade of pink. He wanted to be her roommate.

She might have made her home sound less than appealing but Alex knew she’d just been exaggerating in an attempt to dissuade him. The place had to be a step up from the motel room and whatever she charged him in rent would be a whole lot cheaper than what he was paying for this dump.

Being without a job for four weeks had been enough to deplete most of the money Alex had managed to save the past five months. Of course, he still had ten thousand dollars set aside in a Chicago bank, but he’d starve before he’d touch a dime of those funds.

Alex’s gaze drifted to the clock he’d placed on the room’s rickety desk. His eyes widened. There was no time to waste. He needed to be at Sara’s house in Brentwood in less than an hour and he still had to pack.

Tonight was his chance.

He had to convince Lauren she’d made a mistake.

And more importantly, he had to convince her to take him home.

On her way to Sara’s house Lauren decided she was sick of winter. Though her friend never complained about the weather, Lauren knew the snow and cold had to be wearing on her, too. That’s why stopping at a florist’s shop made perfect sense. Fresh flowers would be just the thing to add a breath of spring to the evening’s festivities.

Thankfully, the Stem Gallery had in-store credit so Lauren was able to give her charge card a much needed rest and walk away with a bigger bouquet in the bargain.

The sweet scent of flowers filled the tiny interior of Lauren’s car and brought a smile to her face. A smile that turned thoughtful when she pulled up in front of Sara’s house and saw Alex’s car parked in the driveway.

Though every self-preserving bone in Lauren’s body told her to keep her distance from the man, she couldn’t stop the anticipation that coursed up her spine at the thought of seeing him again.

And the fact that she’d just checked her makeup before leaving home didn’t stop Lauren from flipping down the vanity mirror. But she told herself the fact that Alex was waiting inside didn’t have a thing to do with her desire to do a last minute touch-up. She always tried to look her best, no matter what the occasion or who was in attendance.

She applied more color to her lips, grabbed the flowers and headed up the walk.

Sara’s husband opened the door before the bell rang twice, a warm smile of welcome on his lips. Sal quickly ushered her inside, taking the flowers and her coat.

Alex must have just arrived because he still stood in the foyer chatting with Sara as if she were an old friend instead of his new employer.

Sara’s hand rested lightly on his arm and she gazed up at him in rapt attention. Despite being dressed in basic black, the singer resembled an angel, with her silvery blond hair and big blue eyes. A fact that hadn’t escaped Alex’s notice. Even from a distance, Lauren could see the admiration in his eyes.

A swift stab of jealousy took her by surprise.

“Look what Lauren brought me.” Sal shot his wife a teasing grin and held out the bouquet.

Sara shifted her gaze and her smile widened. She moved quickly across the foyer and gave Lauren a hug.

“It doesn’t surprise me.” Sara’s blue eyes sparkled with good humor. “I always knew she had a thing for you.”

Lauren watched the playful interplay, wishing her mother were standing here to see the happiness the two exuded. Maybe then she’d understand that this was the kind of relationship Lauren wanted, one with true love driving the commitment, not money.