Up to Date (Better Date than Never Book 8) Read Free

toward my ear as we trailed behind the guys who were heading toward our VIP table. “So, what do you think of Trenton? I was dying to ask you all through dinner.”
    I glanced over at my date, who was chatting away with Paul. Trenton looked studiously handsome with rimless glasses that complimented his intelligent demeanor. He wore an obviously expensive suit, had impeccable manners, and hadn’t come close to a strike yet. “He’s . . . nice.”
    “Nice? That’s the best you’ve got?” She made an incredulous sound. “Trenton was named one of Sacramento’s top ten most desirable bachelors in the latest issue of Sacramento Living magazine.”
    I raised a brow. “Yeah, but what number was he?”
    Kaitlin burst out laughing at my joke.
    Paul stopped at our table, swiveled, then slipped his arm around her. “What did I miss?”
    “Nothing,” I interjected, shaking my head. Here I was on a date with Mr. Top Ten Sacramento and all I could come up with to describe him was “nice.” What was wrong with me? “I’m going to excuse myself and get a drink.”
    “I’ll join you.” Trenton stepped up beside me and together we strolled to the bar where he ordered us each a glass of wine. Then he surveyed the sea of people in the room. “Appears to be a successful fundraiser. Paul says you donated to the silent auction?”
    “Oh, yes . . .” My cheeks heated. “Decorating services. I’m not certified or anything, though.”
    “Some of the most successful people in the world don’t even have a college degree.” He adjusted the glasses on his nose. “Where is your bidding sheet? My office could use a facelift. At least, that’s what my ex kept telling me.”
    An awkward silence followed, so I took a sip of wine. Had he seriously just brought up his ex on our first date? Should that count as a strike? Where was an umpire when I needed one?
    Deciding it had to have been an innocent comment, I asked, “When did you two break up?”
    He touched my bare shoulder. “Months ago. That’s old news. Trust me.”
    His hand felt awkward against my skin and I found myself wishing I’d worn a dress with sleeves. Plus, he was peering at me in such a scrutinizing way that something compelled me to ask, “Why did you two break up?”
    “We’d been together a couple years and she was ready to settle down and start a family.” He laid a hand over the silk tie on his chest. “Rochelle’s a sweet woman, but I’m only thirty-two. My business has just taken off. Now is not the time to be focusing on a family. Plus, Rochelle’s a supermodel and she just released her own perfume: Only Rochelle. Children would kill her career.”
    What the . . .? His ex was Rochelle Richards?
    “I’m sorry it didn’t work out,” I said, trying not to freak that his ex was a supermodel. Seriously, if I’m in the photo, then my friends have to take five shots just to get one with my eyes open. Sad, but true.
    “Old news,” Trenton repeated, then snaked his arm around me. “Let’s take a look at your auction sheet so I can place my bid. One thing I will say is that Rochelle had impeccable taste in interior design.”
    I sucked in a breath, suddenly feeling bad for Rochelle. Shouldn’t he have made the kid thing clear before she’d invested two years into him? That’s why I’d cut things off with Greg right way. It’s not right to lead someone on. . . .
    Argh! Now was not the time to be thinking about Greg Shaffer again. Hello? I was on a date with Mr. Top Ten Sacramento.
    I waved a hand toward midway down the tables. “My donation is number one hundred eighty-three. Maybe around that area.”
    His mouth stretched into a sexy grin. “Let’s check it out.”
    “Okay.” My belly squeezed in terror. What if nobody bid on the auction? What if they hated the “before” and “after” photos of my living room? Well, they could bite me because I loved it. But I didn’t want to let down Jill and all of the people she was trying to