Free Outmatched in October (Spring River Valley Book 10) by Clarice Wynter Page B

remembering he’d never shut the car off. The drive wheel screeched in annoyance , and he cursed. If he said no, the argument would continue. She’d waste precious time trying to convince him they could make it all work. If he said yes, she’d hate him, but at least she’d know there was nothing standing in the way of her success.
    “Yes. That’s what I think.”
    “Well, you’re an idiot.” She opened the car door and got out. He expected her to slam it, to rattle the windows and rock the shock absorbers with the force of her rage, but instead she just walked away, leaving the car open so he had to stretch across the seat she’d just vacated to pull it closed. The scent of her perfume hit him, a subtle, sweet reminder of the bliss they’d shared in each other’s arms.
    Idiot was such a mild word. Nothing compared to the names he called himself as he revved the engine and pulled away from the curb.

Chapter Eleven
     
     
    Splotches of color from street lights and neon signs glimmered in the puddles left by a cold rain, making the city street outside Claudia’s dressing room window resemble the night sky. Everything twinkled and shimmered. Yellow cabs sped by, sending showers of water over the gutters and sidewalks. Traffic surged and stuttered, and bicyclists shrouded in plastic slickers wove in and out between cars and trucks, urban daredevils who seemed not to have a care in the world.
    Claudia shivered and turned away from the window, unimpressed by the dynamic cityscape that had inspired so many songs and books and works of art. There was some small part of her that found the view from the floor above Eclipse fascinating, but she tamped down that spark of excitement because it seemed to o traitorous. She was miserable, and she wasn’t going to allow herself to forget that just yet.
    A knock on the door focused her attention and she rose from the overstuffed floral couch by the window. “Come in.”
    The door opened and Jacob peered around it as if he might be afraid to catch her in dishabille.
    “It’s okay. I’m decent,” she said, mustering a smile. He looked great in his gray suit, confident and cool. He leaned casually on the door frame and smiled, dark eyes appraising her in a way that should have been flattering.
    “The dress is perfect. Understated but very sexy. Is it new?”
    She probably should have blushed at his compliment, but she just wasn’t feeling it. She’d been numb since her last conversation with Owen. “It’s newish. I’ve only worn it once before.”
    The dress was sapphire blue, bought because Lily had said it made her eyes look like Elizabeth Taylor’s. More importantly, it fit well and showed some leg without making her self-conscious. Best of all, it had been on sale.
    If she took the job permanently, she wouldn’t need to worry about bargain hunting for clothes , but she probably wouldn’t be doing much shopping with Lily anymore.
    Jacob spread his arms in an encompassing gesture that might have turned into a hug if she’d crossed the room to meet him halfway. “It’s my favorite color, and it suits you. Does Liam have your music?”
    She nodded. “I e-mailed him earlier in the week, and he told me all the songs I picked are ones he already has.”
    “Good. You don’t look the least bit nervous.”
    “Should I be?” She wasn’t nervous. Just numb. She’d spent the last four days trying to decide what life in Spring River Valley would be like if she wasn’t with Owen.
    She knew exactly why he’d said what he’d said to her. It hadn’t been to hurt her. She understood that he didn’t want to be the source of her regrets later in life. He believed she’d end up resenting him if she didn’t spread her wings now while she had this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If he hadn’t forced the issue by making her angry enough to walk away from him, she probably would have found a million excuses not to be here tonight.
    He was right. She owed herself this