Free Bachelorette for Sale by Gail Chianese Page B

company specializing in residential and commercial remodeling and repair.”
    The constriction grew tighter. “Are you putting in for the community center job?”
    “Yes.”
    As his words penetrated her brain, their meaning becoming crystal clear, Cherry fought a rush of hot tears. The air in her lungs failed to exhale and her breakfast forced its way up to hang in the back of her throat. “Would you excuse me for a second?”
    She didn’t wait for his reply. She walked to her fridge, pulled out a bottle of water, took a slug, and wished it had been beer or, even better, whiskey.
    “Cherry, let me explain—”
    She held up her hand to stop him. “No, I think I’ve got this correct. You and David bid on me, not to save me from the drunk, but to get close to me. Did you set Burt up to start the bidding? I knew there had to be a reason why he did that.”
    He started to stop her and she shook her head. “So that was step one, win my undying gratitude. Step two was to no doubt wine me and dine me, followed by a night of slow seduction, so that when you showed up here today, and I’m assuming that envelope I’m just now noticing is your proposal, I’d be so overcome with love, lust, whatever that I’d give you the job. How am I doing so far?”
    “I apologize. I had no intention of keeping the information from you. There never seemed to be the right moment.” He stood and paced between the two office chairs, his long legs eating up the small space.
    “How about when I asked what you did for a living? Never mind. It doesn’t matter now.” She eyed the envelope in his hands. How did she not see it? “I have to tell you, Mr. Valentine, I’m not fond of liars.”
    “I didn’t actually lie.”
    “A lie by omission is still a lie. Nor am I fond of people who use other people to get what they want, and that’s what you did, or rather tried to do.” She had been down this road before with Ari. Lied to, used, humiliated, all so he could win the hearts of America by coming off as the wounded party. Everyone loves an underdog, and his debut record sales proved it.
    Jason winced at her angry response. Good.
    “Is there anything else? It’s Friday, and I’d really like to get out of here at a decent hour.” She picked up the top sheet of paper, pretending to study it as she fought back the tears.
    “About the rec center, I think you’ll find Valentine Rehab is the best choice for your needs. Dave, Brody, and I have worked on this for weeks, making sure it’s the lowest we could go and still earn a living.” He handed over the bid. He looked down, nodded toward the bouquet. “Those are for you. They’re not a bribe, just part of the apology.”
    Her gaze dropped to the folder he sat on her desk. Every muscle froze as she silently stared at it.
    “Thank you. We’ll be in touch.”
    He turned on his heel and headed for the door. As he left she heard him murmur that he’d never listen to Fubar again and something about fries.
    She heard the outside door, indicating Jason had left and she could breathe. Cherry stared at the proposal he’d dropped on her desk. If she didn’t have morals she’d drop it in the trash. Even so, the temptation to dump the bid was strong. It’d serve him right after the little stunt he’d pulled.
    She shoved the bid aside and went back to the rental agreements she’d been working on before Tawny’s call. She had enough tasks on her schedule to keep her busy today without adding unneeded stress. Between processing rent checks, applications, and today’s committee meeting, she’d be lucky to get out of work at a decent hour.
    “Why couldn’t he have been up front?” Cherry muttered under her breath as she threw down the paper she was trying to concentrate on. She should have known last night was too good to be true. Picking up the folder he’d set on her desk, she flipped it open. She should have seen it coming, and to be honest, she was just as mad at herself for falling