Bachelor Unforgiving

Virgil was beginning to see that suggesting a business dinner might not have been a smart thing to do. He should have found a way to work her into his workday schedule. He tried not to notice how her hand was clutching a leather briefcase—the same one he’d given her for her birthday. He was surprised she still had it. He could remember the night he’d given it to her and how she had thanked him. Just remembering how she’d thanked him made his lower body ache.

Of its own accord his gaze lowered to her legs again, and he couldn’t help but remember the last time they’d made love. And how those same legs had flanked him, locked him between her thighs while she rode him hard. Damn. That should be the last thing he was remembering. What he should be thinking about was how Kara had caused him so much misery and pain.

With the latter thought flaming through his brain, he stood to pull out her chair for her, pasted a smile on his face and said in a tight voice, “Kara. Glad you could make it.”

“Thanks,” Kara said once she was seated across from him. She immediately picked up on his mood and knew it wasn’t good. Just her luck it would be a carryover from yesterday.

She glanced around. “Nice place.”

At least he hadn’t chosen someplace where they’d dined before as a couple. This restaurant had recently opened and was part of the new development on this side of town. Since taking office as mayor of Charlotte, Morgan Steele had kept his campaign promise to grow the city by attracting new businesses and major corporations. While driving here she’d passed a huge medical technology complex as well as several communications firms.

But it wasn’t the town or the restaurant she was focusing on right now. It was Virgil. And he was staring at her. “Is something wrong?” she asked him.

“No. Why do you ask?”

She shrugged. If he hadn’t realized he’d been staring then she wouldn’t be the one to enlighten him. “No reason.”

Kara averted her eyes, looking down at the menu that had been placed in front of her. Moments later she glanced back up at him. “If it’s okay with you, we can skip the meal and just discuss my action plan.”

He frowned. “No, it’s not okay with me. I skipped lunch and I’m hungry. Have you eaten something already?”

“No. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

She could give him a list but decided the less he knew the better. “There’s no problem, Virgil. I just don’t want to take up any more of your time than necessary.”

Virgil’s penetrating stare deepened. “Trust me, Kara. You won’t take up my time, mainly because I wouldn’t let you.”

He caught the glare in her eyes as she stared at him and it didn’t bother him one way or another to know she was irritated with him. In a way, it should. She had a job to do and he was well aware that his unpleasant attitude wasn’t making it easy for her. But then why should he make anything easy for her?

Sighing deeply, he placed his menu down. Hadn’t he decided last week that he needed to move on, and in order to do that he had to get beyond all this anger he had for her? He looked over at her. “Kara?”

She glanced over at him. “Yes?”

“That apology you made six months ago. I accept it.”

For a minute she didn’t say anything but continued to stare at him. “I’m curious as to why you’ve decided to accept it now,” she finally said.

He shrugged. “That shouldn’t be so hard to figure out. We need to work together.”

“And can we try to be friends?”

“No, I wouldn’t go that far. I doubt we’ll ever be friends. Forgiving does not mean forgetting.”

She narrowed her gaze at him. “Then why bother?”

“Do you prefer I not accept your apology?”

She rolled her eyes. “Do whatever you want to do, Virgil. I don’t care anymore.”

He really didn’t care that she didn’t care. “Now that I’ve accepted your apology, let’s decide what we’re having for dinner.”

* * *

After giving the waiter her order, Kara took a sip of her ice water. While Virgil was telling the waiter what he wanted for dinner, she took time to think about his acceptance of her apology.

Did he honestly assume she believed just saying he accepted her apology meant his attitude toward her would change? She knew better and like she’d told him, she really didn’t care.

So why are you letting it bother you if you don’t care? a voice inside her head asked.

“So how are things going at the office, Kara?”

The sound of his husky voice intruded into her thoughts. Why was he asking her that as if he really cared? However, since he was making an attempt to be civil, she would tell him. “Everything is going fine. Cassandra no longer works for me. She and Eric moved to San Diego to be closer to his family. That way she could get help with the baby.”

Cassandra was the young woman who’d been her administrative assistant during the time they’d been a couple. But Cassandra had been more than just an employee, she had been her friend, as well. Cassandra and Eric had been two of the first people she’d met upon moving to Charlotte. The couple had lived in a condo a few doors down. Kara had been looking for office help at the same time Cassandra’s job had been downsized.

“Baby? Cassandra had a baby?”

Kara couldn’t help the smile that touched her lips. “Yes, a beautiful little girl named Regan. Regan is about two years old now.”

Virgil smiled and Kara knew this smile was genuine. “I’m happy for her.”

“So am I.” Kara knew he would be happy for Cassandra because her former administrative assistant would bend the rules for Virgil. Like allowing him to sneak into her office when she was away to leave special notes on her desk, drop breakfast off for her or personally deliver her flowers...no matter how many times she would tell Cassandra she didn’t want to be disturbed. And Kara would also admit Cassandra had been the one person who hadn’t believed Marti’s lie about Virgil.

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