Carolina Heat by Christi Barth Page B

reaction was the assumption he’d lied. Normal, caring, steady men were never attracted to her. More often they were completely turned off by her drive and achievements. Why should he be different?
    The second train of thought barreled immediately on the heels of the first, but she didn’t know if it was any more accurate. Mark hadn’t given her a clear cut reason to mistrust him. Vanessa would tell her not to think the worst, give him a chance to explain. One way or another, something must be wrong.
     
     
    The date was off to a great start, in her opinion. Annabelle and Mark shared a companionable silence, taking in the beauty of the beach. The tide was just beginning to turn, so waves still crashed into the shore with regularity. The sun was low, but nevertheless sparkled the water with light. The beach was almost deserted quiet enough to hear the wind rustling through the tall beach grass.
    “This is a beautiful spot.”
    “Thanks.” Mark grinned. “I made sure to clear it of all the jellyfish before I picked you up.”
    “Jellyfish? Up here on the beach, out of the water?” Reflex pulled her legs off the sand and onto the blanket in one swift motion. Barefoot and in crisp khaki shorts, her clothes offered little protection.
    “Only dead ones. There’s nothing to worry about. And there were only two.”
    “You wouldn’t by any chance be pulling the leg of a confirmed city girl, would you?”
    “Low blow.” He tugged her feet out from under her and back onto the sand. “And partially correct. I did want to see if I could get a rise out of you, but yes, there really were jellyfish. Completely harmless, though.”
    “Oh, I’m sure.” She nudged open the top of the wicker picnic basket beside her. “What’s for dinner? I’m starving.”
    “Subs from the best deli in town, with chocolate chip cookies for dessert and beer to wash it all down.”
    “Sounds like perfect picnic food.” For several minutes they said nothing as they munched on the huge, dripping sandwiches.
    “My mother used to take me on picnics in Central Park. She said it was important to appreciate small pleasures like this just as much as refined evenings at the opera.” Annabelle licked her fingers. Mark handed her a red-checked napkin.
    “Wise woman, your mother. You spent a lot of time at the opera as a kid?”
    “Too much,” she groaned. “One of the bigger pleasures I never learned to appreciate. It bores me to tears, if you want the truth. Every time I’m on the subway and even pass the stop for the Met I start to yawn."
    “How do you feel about jazz? And let me warn you, our entire future hangs in the balance.”
    “I love it,” she answered promptly.
    “What a relief. If you’d answered any other way, I would’ve had to leave you here and call it a night. We take jazz very seriously down here.” He crumpled his sandwich wrapper and took a long swig of beer.
    “Is that all you look for in a woman? Similar tastes in music?”
    He shrugged. “It’s a good starting place.”
    “And I suppose it’s a more legitimate requirement than big breasts and blonde hair.” Annabelle regretted letting that slip out.
    Mark set down his beer and whistled softly. “Someone sure did a number on you. Where did you get such a low opinion of men?”
    “Not all men,” she corrected. “Just your average, garden variety, lying snake disguised as a man. And unfortunately there are lots of them slithering around.”
    “Darlin’, not everyone lies.”
    “Oh yes, they do,” she said swiftly. “Everybody lies now and again. Some people just do it more often than others.” This was as good a time as any to bring up the niggling question of his earlier absence. “For instance, what about you? You said you had to work today. But as it turns out, you weren’t there, which means you lied. A small, social lie, I’m sure, but it does prove my point.”
    He cocked his head in obvious confusion. “I did go to work today. I wouldn’t