“Derrick, let’s face it. Our date would have been a mistake anyway. We’d have had dinner, maybe headed back to your place or mine, screwed like bunnies and gone our separate ways. I’d have hurt your feelings or you’d have acted like an ass, and then we’d hate each other. At least this way we can be friendly for Gage and Hailey. It means a lot to her—that’s why I’m here.”
Oh sure. Don’t let me mistake the reason you agreed to be anywhere near me.And please God let me forget that part about screwing like bunnies.He cleared his throat. “I don’t think you’re right, but I’d like to be friends for Gage’s sake. So I’m going to continue with the rest of tonight. We’ll go back to my place and have dinner,” he said over her objections. “Just dinner, where we can talk. Then I’ll drive you home. Okay?”
“Just as friends.”
“Yeah.” If he had his way, friends with benefits. A part of him wanted more, but just thinking about permanence and forever gave him hives. He had to get the damn woman out of his system before he fell any harder for her.
“Well, if you’re sure.” She bit her lower lip, and it was all he could do to return his attention to the road.
He nodded.
“Okay. Then I forgive you for being a complete shithead at the restaurant. It wasn’t your fault your ex thought she had the right to treat me like crap and embarrass me in front of the entire restaurant. I’m sure the bleach in her hair tampered with the space between her ears and tainted her limited ability to think. That or the weight of those implants made it hard to focus on anything but standing up straight.”
Derrick blinked. “That’s forgiveness?”
“Do you have a problem with anything I just said?”
“No, no. Not at all.” He pulled into his driveway and parked, his heart hammering at the thought of finally having Sydney Fields all to himself. “So just between us friends, how about a nice dinner and maybe a glass of wine or two?”
She shrugged. “Why not?”
Why not?She needed to have her head examined. If she kept this up, the blasted man would charm her right out of her panties and into his bed. He wore jeans that molded to his fine ass and thick thighs. Tall, with broad shoulders, the man could wear anything and make it look good. The cable-knit sweater clung to his arms, and the sage green color made his eyes look like mossy invitations to say yes. Yes to anything he freaking wanted.
He smiled at her across the table. “You like the lasagna?”
“Love it.” She smiled back and took another look around. He lived in a swanky neighborhood she’d planned to show to Brian. Acred lots, homes that started at three thousand square feet and up and a nice ratio of professionals and families occupied the neighborhood.
She would have pegged him as a bachelor pad kind of guy. This was much more inviting. And unexpected. Comfortable yet quality leather furniture, bookshelves lined with history texts and DVDs, pictures of his friends and family—mostly his family. And of course, a huge-screen television. Masculine but not overdone. She wondered who’d helped him design the place. His mother? A girlfriend? Brittney? God, she should have bitch-slapped the woman in addition to dousing her with wine.
The minute she thought it, she wanted to slap herself. How clichéd. Women fighting over a man. But at least it beat crying over one. A niggle of guilt intruded when she recalled Brittney’s tears. Still, balanced against thefat asscomment, the blonde deserved that wine in her face.
“Like the house?”
She nodded. “I’m surprised.”
“What? That my furniture isn’t made of cardboard and my dishes recycled pizza boxes? Or that I didn’t set out to wine and dine you into bed?”
His crooked smile made her press her legs together. Sonot good to want him this much.I need to get laid like nobody’s business.
“All of the above, I think.”
He chuckled. “I design houses, so no way I’d go with something less than quality. My dad designed these homes, actually.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. A few years before he passed away.” A shadow crossed his face then disappeared. “But we didn’t build it. Warren Construction, I mean. I got it for a decent price, though.” He smiled. “Funny, I could have bought it from you and met you sooner.”
She tried to ignore the flutter in her heart. This man was the one she’d talked to on the phone at three in the morning. This Derrick made her laugh and encouraged her to share her secrets. God, he seemed so real, so human, so caring… She cleared her throat. “If you bought it when I was working for Simpson Realty, I doubt they would have given me a big fish like you.”
He scoffed, “Big fish? More like small fry. I like my job with Gage, but we’re not the top of the food chain by any means.”
To her bemusement, Derrick didn’t seem to be trying to be humble. Hewashumble, at least about his business.
And she liked him all the more because of it. She wiped her mouth with her napkin and watched the play of light over his face. “There’s something I have to know.”
He put his drink down and waited, his gaze pensive. And then his stare slipped to her mouth for a second and she found it hard to breathe.
“Yeah?” Had his voice always been that low and sexy?
