Just Believe by Anne Manning Page A

the other things swimming in her feelings
tank.
    "Say what?"
    "Say the word. Don't look at me like
that. You know perfectly well what word. The one men always use
about a woman they can't run over." She dared him
silently.
    "Bitch."
    "I knew it," she crowed. "You're
intimidated by that tiny, pretty woman just because she won't let
you charm her to get your way."
    "You told me to say it. And do you deny
some women are bitches?"
    "Dr. Duncan--"
    "Dr. Duncan's picture is beside the
entry for the word in the Oxford English Dictionary."
    Annabelle couldn't keep the smile from
her lips.
    "So, those lips can smile. I was
beginning to wonder."
    "Leave my lips--"
    "Can't even consider it. Such lips have
inspired verse, songs, mur-r-r-r-der."
    The last word was spoken with an
exaggerated accent, comical, yet sexy, all at the same
time.
    "My lips are none of your concern, Dr.
Riley." She wanted to clear her throat, her voice sounded so
scratchy.
    "A situation I would like very much to
change."
    Annabelle stared at him. What did that
mean? Was he really coming on to her?
    As if to give her no doubt such was
indeed his intention, he stepped closer. Annabelle stepped back and
found herself backed to the wall. Standing in front of her, so
close her breasts brushed against his broad chest, he raised one
long arm and rested it over her shoulder. His eyes bore deep into
hers as though he would ferret out every secret she had.
    She broke his gaze and concentrated on
a clock on the opposite wall.
    "I'm not interested, Dr. Riley." She
ducked under his arm and starting toward the elevator.
    "Not interested?"
    Annabelle couldn't resist turning to
see the expression accompanying his words. Gaelen stood as though
frozen, his brow deeply furrowed.
    "Not interested?" he repeated, his tone
incredulous.
    She barely suppressed the giggle
threatening to ruin her serious façade.
    "You think all you have to do is grin
and wink and tell charming stories and any woman will fall for you?
Hah!" Annabelle turned to continue to the elevator.
    "Miss Tinker, wait."
    Gaelen's footsteps echoed behind her,
making her stomp louder to drown them out. When he started to run
to catch up, she felt a wave of apprehension.
    "Wait, now." He got in front of her and
blocked her way, stopping her. "I think we got off on the wrong
foot, Miss Tinker. I'd like very much to try to make it up to you.
If you're not busy, would you go to dinner with me tonight?" He
grinned, blue eyes twinkling. "Let me try to prove I'm not a
monster."
    "Why are you asking me out?"
    "Why?" He appeared confused. "Because I
want to."
    "I really don't know you at
all."
    "Well, then, let's fix that," he
said.
    Why did she blush? It wasn't like he
was serious.
    "Come, now," he chided. "It's a very
simple question. Will you come with me? Just a simple dinner at The
Tea Room?"
    The Tea Room was Chapel Hill's priciest
eatery, the one place everyone in town had to go at least once in
their lives. Even though she'd been born and raised in Chapel Hill,
Annabelle had only passed by The Tea Room when shopping on Franklin
Street, promising herself she'd have a grand dinner there someday.
Now, here was Gaelen Riley tossing the suggestion like he was
offering her a quick burger.
    And she really wanted to say yes. She'd
have wanted to say yes even if the invitation had been for the
burger.
    "Well? Are you going to make my day, or
leave me in loneliness and depression?"
    Unbidden, a smile came to her lips as
she looked into his eyes.
    "Yes?" he asked with a tip of his head,
tossing forward a lock of his wheat-gold hair.
    Only for a moment did Annabelle think
about using her mother as an excuse.
    "Wait. Don't decide now, when you're
irritated with me." He pulled a business card and a pen from his
breast pocket. Scribbling on the back of the card, he said,
glancing away from the card to her face, "Here's my cell phone
number. If I don't hear from you by six, I'll assume you've decided
to give me another chance. I'll pick