Zita screwed up her face. “He’s a bit wordy for me.”
David gaped at her. “Wordy?”
“Yeah. All that Gloin, son of Thoin, son of Foin stuff. It’s too hard to remember.”
He shook his head. The detail was the best bit. “What series do you like then?”
“Pretty much anything with dragons.”
Perhaps this was something that would impress her. “Anything up there?” He pointed to his bookcase.
She got to her feet and wandered over to browse. “Oh my God, check out this collection!”
He grinned. She looked so cute, standing there with her head tilted so she could read the spines.
“I’d marry you for this alone.” Her words were light, but they hit a tender spot in his heart he’d not realized he had.
He glanced down at his mug. He’d thought tonight was about sex, but the pain from her words suggested that maybe it wasn’t. He enjoyed talking with her and had already been thinking about their next date. He was used to women wanting him for his money, but hehadthought Zita was different. Though he never would have picked his book collection as a selling point.
“Hey, are you all right?” Zita hurried over, laying a hand lightly on his arm.
“Of course.” He forced a smile.
“I was kidding about the marriage comment,” she said. “I’m not in the market for a husband.”
“You’d be the first.” He didn’t know where the words came from or why he was so upset. He knew he was a ‘catch’ and had always used it to his advantage.
Zita frowned. “Yeah, well, I’m a bit busy at the moment for a relationship.”
Darn it. He had to snap out of it. She’d been joking. He had this gorgeous woman in his house and she liked the same kind of books that he did. That was a win.
“Perhaps I should go,” she said.
“That’s probably a good idea.” The words were out before he could stop them. What was wrong with him?
She nodded, her face showing her concern. “Of course. I’m sorry.” She got to her feet, grabbed her purse from the table and headed to the door.
He followed. “Zita...” What could he say? Part of him was screaming at him to pick up the ball he’d dropped, but a different part of him, one he hadn’t really heard before, was telling him not to bother. “I’m a little tired.”
“It’s fine. It’s late.” She turned back to him, a cautious smile on her face. “I had a nice time tonight.” She leaned in and pressed her lips against his.
They were warm and the kiss was sweet, but it wasn’t enough to shut off the voices in his head.
She stepped back.
He opened the door. “Drive safely.”
She pressed the button on the elevator. “I’ll call you when we get Teresa’s court date.”
He nodded, wishing he could say something else. Wishing it was just sex he wanted from her.
He froze.
The elevator arrived with a ding and she got in. As the doors shut, his body relaxed, but his heart thudded loudly in his chest. He rested his forehead against the door frame.
For the first time in his life, he wanted more from a woman.
And he didn’t like the sensation at all.
