Maggie picked up her mug and took a sip of coffee, grimacing faintly. She stood and walked over to the coffeemaker, returning with the carafe. “Do you want a top up?”
“Sure.” He held out his mug.
She took a long time, fiddling with the coffee, the mugs and the Granny Smith apples sitting in the fruit bowl.
“Are you going to say something?”
“Doesn’t a deal like this have the potential to blow up in our faces?”
“Why should it?” he asked, trying to convince her. “We’re not kids.”
“I still don’t understand why you’d choose me.” She paced, her obvious anxiety making him nervous.
“You’re a friend. I like you. I trust you.” Connor refused to ignore the many pitfalls. That wouldn’t be smart. “We’d set boundaries before we started anything between us. Stop pacing. Sit next to me. I’m not gonna bite.” Not yet, but if things went his way he would in the future. He’d enjoy marking her, leaving her body wearing his badge of possession.
To his relief, she joined him at the breakfast bar, sliding onto one of the wooden stools.
“What brought this on? Why are you asking me instead of one of the others? Julia isn’t seeing anyone at the moment.”
“I’ve always felt comfortable talking to you about anything, including sex. You don’t gossip and you have integrity. I like you.”Nothing less than the truth.
“Oh.” A cute crinkle marred the smoothness of her brow. “I like you too. You’re one of my best friends.” She paused a beat. “Are we still going to the gym?”
Damn. Her words didn’t fill him with hope. He’d made her uncomfortable.
“Of course. I’m not letting you off that easy. You’d have to go through the sore muscle stage all over again.” Had he scared her off? Or worse, she didn’t find him sexy.
“Good. I’m flattered, but I need to think about your…proposition while I’m on the treadmill.” She attempted a smile. “Can we talk later?”
Thank you, God.She intended to give him a chance. “Sure, we can. I’ll spring for lunch afterward.”
“I’d like to go to the beach.” Her eyes lit up at the thought. “I do my best thinking at the beach.”
“You do? Why didn’t I know?”
She shrugged. “I guess it’s never come up before.”
“Do you have plans for tomorrow?”
“No, apart from sleeping in and having a lazy day. The usual holiday stuff.”
“My parents have a holiday home at Port Waikato. Would you like to drive out there with me this afternoon and stay the night?” Before she could say no, he added, “We can sleep in separate rooms.” Connor had the absurd desire to grab her and stuff her inside his car. Kidnapping. Old-fashioned ravishment. Yeah. All that stuff. Something about Maggie brought out a dominant gene in him, the need to protect.
“Could I walk on the beach?”
“Anything you want.”
When she wrinkled her nose, his heart sank. He knew what was coming next. She’d tell him to take a flying jump. There went a great friend. He knew he was taking a risk, but it had been worth it. There was no way he could have lived with himself if he’d done nothing and stood aside while another man scooped her up first, from under his nose.
Maggie picked up the empty mugs and stacked them in the dishwasher. “Okay, you’ve got a deal—”
“Then you’ll sleep with me?” he asked.
She laughed. “Not so fast. I’ll go with you to the beach. The other part needs more thinking.” Her grin was a flash of white teeth. “I’ll let you know. Promise.”
Relieved, Connor nodded, brain working at speed.Way to go!He could be very charming, especially around Maggie. And persuasive, when he was going after something he wanted.
Looked like his charm gene was in for a major workout today.
