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Kyle Worthington leaned back in his chair, sipped his beer, and listened to his favorite, most intriguing, person speak. Soft with just a hint of rasp, Cassie Corwin’s voice suited her perfectly. Sexy. Mysterious. Different.
“It’s just not the same here, people,” she murmured with a secretive smile. “I’m telling you...Halloween is way better in New England. At least, it was for me.” She shrugged, unrepentant when those around her jeered. “What can I say? It’s the truth. If you haven’t experienced October in Salem, Massachusetts, you don’t know what you’re missing.”
Everyone conceded they’d either visited the world-renowned witch city and loved it, or it was on their bucket list. Now, with autumn fully upon them, it sounded like the perfect place to be. Especially the way Cassie described it.
“Why did you leave, Cass?” one of their co-workers asked her.
A flicker of sadness crossed Cassie’s beautiful features, yet she quickly masked it. “The Company. My program was moved to Chicago, and then here.” She downed the dregs of her margarita, licking the last bit of salt from its festive rim. “Follow the money, my mama always said.”
Their server in the popular Tex-Mex eatery arrived just in time to scoop up the empties. “Another round here?”
Kyle seized his opportunity. “I’m buying. If I can join you guys. Does anyone mind?”
Surprised laughter and shouts of enthusiasm came from the group that included individuals from all departments within the big pharma company they all worked for. Hasty introductions of those he didn’t know bounced around the too-tight table, as Kyle squeezed in.
Sultry dark eyes connected with his over the flickering candles in the round table’s center. Long, sooty lashes fluttered beneath equally long, black banks. He’d never seen hair so shiny. A silken curtain draped around one perfectly formed woman.
“Do you know Cassie?” everyone’s friend, Margo, asked? “She’s a researcher in the Discovery Lab.”
Kyle flashed his best and brightest smile. “We haven’t been formally introduced, but I’ve seen her around.” Warmth rushed to his face. “Hello, Cassie from the lab.”
The hint of a smile tugged the woman in question’s red lips.
“Okay...who’s having another?” their server bellowed above the bar noise.
Everyone chimed in at once. Except for Cassie.
Kyle snuck another look her way. She was checking her phone. Damn...don’t leave yet. Give a guy a chance.
“So, Cassie...” he began.
She glanced his way with a stand-off-ish look.
“You lived in Salem?”
“Nearby. When I was young.” She flipped her long hair over one sleek shoulder, the tinkle of bangle bracelets reaching his ears despite the restaurant commotion surrounding them.
A flash of memory sparked in Kyle’s brain. The many windchimes on the back porch of Sandpiper Cottage. The beachfront B&B his grandparents owned and operated for fifty years.
He shook the odd remembrance off yet took it as a sign. “I’ve never been there, but I hear it’s amazing. Bet it’s super-busy this time of year. Halloween and all.”
She gave him a polite, tepid smile and nodded.
“Do you must miss all the fall color?”
Wait...was that an actual smile?
“I do. Fall leaves are great. The way they look, sound, and even smell. There’s nothing like walking through crunchy leaves on a chilly October morning.”
“Another margarita, hon?” the server interrupted them.
Cassie met Kyle’s riveted stare. No doubt, she could see the hope in his eyes. “Sure, why not. Classic with salt, please.”
“Can we get some chips here, too?” Kyle tossed out loud enough so everyone could hear. “How about wings and maybe a round of sliders? That sound good, everyone?”
The happy group cheered except for the sleek woman, assessing him across the table. When the two ladies sitting between them got up to hit the rest room, Kyle made his move, sliding into the seat next to hers.
Cassie smirked. “Big spender?”
“Expense account,” he admitted with a sheepish grin. “I’m a sales rep for the Company.”
“Ah, I see, the Company’s tab then. And how will you label this expense?” she asked with a dubious look.
“Team building,” he shot back, showing off his most confident face.
Drinks arrived, followed by plates of steaming food, and everyone happily dug in.
“Slider?” Kyle offered the stunner by his side.
“No, thank you, I’m vegetarian.”
His smile fell to the floor. “Excuse me,” he hollered to the server, his hand shooting up to ensure attention. His gaze snapped back to Cassie. “Do you like the veggie quesadillas here? They’re good.”
Holy shit! An actual tooth smile. Score!
“Yes, I do,” she practically purred.
“Can I get a plate of veggie quesadillas for the lady here? Thanks,” he hastily added, loving his life.
“So...tell me, Kyle from sales...What’s your story?” Cassie asked, focusing on him for the first time.
“Oh...there’s not much to tell...” he hesitated, formulating his strategy.
“How long have you been with the Company?”
Kyle sat forward in his seat, sensing this was a first interview. “About five years now.”
“Do you like it?”
He squirmed and shot her a forced smile. “Most days.”
Her dark-eyed stare captivated him, demanding the truth.
“I’m on the road a lot. Bets old sometimes,” he found himself admitting. “It’s hard to strike a good balance between work and...”
“Life,” she chimed in, as if commiserating.
“It’s all good. I’m in a sweet spot. Just got bumped up to a bigger territory,” he bragged, hoping to impress her. Yet somehow, he knew that wouldn’t work.
Cassie studied him as she sipped her drink. She licked her pouty lips, sending a shot of yearning straight through him. “Won’t that mean more work and less balance?”
“Undoubtedly.” He remembered he had a new beer in front of him and took a swallow. “What do you do for fun?” he skillfully switched the subject back to her.
Food arrived before she could answer, and Kyle cursed its timing. The woman on the opposite side of him nudged his arm and asked a question, forcing him to turn away. The entire time he chatted with her, his mind was working to find a polite way back to Cassie. More people piled into their conversation, and before he knew it, he’d lost his one-on-one time with the mysterious beauty.
All too soon, Kyle was handed the long tab. Everyone thanked him profusely before standing and moving toward the door. Cassie was going too, with Margo by her side and a couple of hopeful dudes, trailing behind them. He watched in utter fascination as her lithe form strolled away. Long, black, sleeveless dress with strappy sandals...Man, look at that strut. Like a panther. Queen of the jungle.
Kyle shook his head to clear it. He focused on the bill and walked it over to the register rather than waiting.
In a mad dash, he bolted for the exit. Heat and sunlight assaulted him when he burst out into the parking lot. There she was—target acquired—and he took off in a jog. Cassie opened the door of her powder-blue Volkswagen Beetle convertible. Vintage. A car my grandma once owned. Yet totally befitting Cassie’s quirky, never-pin-me-down vibe.
“Great car,” he tossed out, causing her to look his way again.
She tossed her purse and phone to the seats covered in peace signs and daisies. “Thanks,” she murmured. “I like it.”
Kyle fidgeted, feeling uncharacteristically at a loss for words.
There it was...The obligatory smile. The one that screamed, “Okay...leave me alone now, please!”
“Have a good weekend,” he said, walking away. He hated himself for not being smooth enough to come up with some clever line. Something that would pique her interest, or at least make her smile again. Get her to see him as a man, a prospective suitor, not just a co-worker. Her car door slammed, and he knew he’d missed his chance. Damn...It was a solid try if nothing else.
Her little car’s engine sputtered to life, and he gave a light laugh. Maybe it was for the best. Even their taste in cars was different. His attention always went for flash, speed, and horsepower. Cassie obviously liked classic and cute. Or quirky. Vegetarian verses carnivore, sales guy verses lab squid. Did opposites attract? Yeah...probably not in real life. Maybe the universe knows best after all.
His phone rang just as he got to his two-door, luxury coupés. He glanced at the caller ID. Stone Worthington. With a groan, he accepted the call from the man he didn’t even have listed as “Dad.”
“Yo,” he said in a clipped tone, bracing himself. He listened, then dropped his head. “Why the hell are you telling me this when you should be talking to Mom?”