“I don’t know, but you could ask her,” Summer replied, pleased with the idea. “I think she’ll be honored. It will make her feel like you trust her to behave herself in front of your associates.”
“Can I trust her?”
“Of course you can! She knows how to act at a genteel cocktail party. She doesn’t particularly like them, of course, but she would probably attend this one for your sake.”
He nodded. “I’ll ask her, then.”
“Good.” She smiled at him.
Derek shifted his weight, ending up a little closer to her on the deep, oatmeal-colored couch. Summer looked at him suspiciously, but he only said, “I’d like for you to come, too.”
“Why?”
He lifted one eyebrow. “As Connie’s friend, your being here might put her more at ease.”
“Oh.” For a moment she’d thought he was asking her simply because he wanted her to be there. She tried to tell herself that she wasn’t disappointed that he was only thinking of Connie.
“Besides,” he continued as if her thoughts had been audible to him, “I’d like for you to be here.”
“Why?” she asked again.
“Because I enjoy your company,” he replied simply.
“You do?”
“Yeah. I do.” He leaned closer.
Summer backed off quickly. “I thought we’d agreed there would be no more of that.”
“You agreed,” he reminded her. “I agreed to no such thing.”
She glared at him, trying to read his expression. Was he teasing her? The funny little smile was gleaming in his metallic eyes, but he didn’t actually look as if he were teasing as he leaned even closer.
“Derek?”
“Yes, Summer?”
Intrigued by the way he’d said her name, she almost forgot what she’d been about to say. Then she remembered. “You don’t approve of the way I live my life.”
“Not entirely, no.”
“And you’re no hero.”
“God, no.”
“So it would be a waste of time for us to… you know.”
“Perhaps.”
“And you don’t believe in wasting time, remember? Connie says—”
“Connie has a big mouth.”
“I’m her best friend. She tells me everything.” Then she remembered that she’d been about to make a point. “So do you agree that it would be best for us to remain friends?”
“You and Connie? Absolutely.”
Summer growled. “No, Derek. You and I. We should remain friends. Nothing more.”