“Nothing to beat spanking. You like getting spanked? It turns you on?”
Maggie allowed herself a secret smile. “That’s for me to know and you to find out.” Good grief. This flirty siren wasn’t her. She didn’t want to attract the wrong sort of man. It was fun, though.
The bell rang. Maggie stood. “Nice to meet you.”
Three dates later, she came across Connor. “Hi.” She grinned at him. “Are you having fun?”
“Fun is not the word I’d use to describe this speed dating thing.”
“So you haven’t met anyone interesting?”
“I didn’t expect to. Did you?”
Maggie thought about her dates so far. “I’ve met a few interesting men.” And she’d shocked some of them speechless. A couple had seemed intrigued.
Connor leaned closer, lowered his voice. “What are you doing afterward? You want to come around to my place? Spend the night?”
“I don’t know. The others were talking about the pub. I’d already said I’d go for drinks. They’ll think it’s strange if we both change our minds.”
The bell intruded, loud and strident.
“That’s my cue to meet my next date.” Maggie blew him a kiss. “Only four more dates to go and we’re out of here.”
Connor groaned. “Don’t remind me. I’m gonna make things up soon. I’m tired of the same old questions.”
“Poor baby. It sounds like you need a drink.”
“A drink won’t cut it. I need a shower. I feel dirty after being stared at so hard.”
With a laugh Maggie skipped off to meet her next date, a spring in her step.
Connor wished he’d never agreed to attend. All he could think about was Maggie. He wasn’t interested in other woman. Once, maybe. But not anymore. Hiding and skulking around wasn’t working for him. He wanted to tell everyone that he and Maggie were together. Thefriends with benefitsdeal meant he couldn’t do a thing.
Hamstrung by his own cleverness.
The final bell rang.
Thank God. Connor stood and joined the rest of the men. “I’m pleased that’s finished. I came under protest.”
“I don’t know,” one man said. “There were a few interesting dates. One girl asked me about spanking.”
“You too?” another man asked. “She was fun—she didn’t look like the kind of girl who would be into kinky stuff.”
“No one asked me about spanking.” Suspicion rioted through Connor. “What did she look like?”
“On the plump side. Long dark hair.” The man held his hands up in front of his chest, a leer forming on his face. “Big tits.”
Maggie. Hell, why hadn’t she asked him about spanking? Why would she ask complete strangers and not ask him?
“She’s on my list of dates,” another man said. “I like adventurous women.”
Connor’s mouth tightened. Maggie wasn’t going anywhere with these men.Not if he had anything to do with it.
He left the men talking about the woman interested in spanking. When he exited the screened area, a crush of chattering women met his gaze.Hell. He stilled like a possum in headlights. Where were the girls? He’d had enough of feeling like prey. Julia. Good. Without making eye contact, he navigated the room.
“Drink,” he said in greeting.
Julia gave a clipped nod. “Let’s go.”
“Where are the others?”
“Somewhere around the place. I saw Susan briefly. They’re meeting us at the pub around the corner. God, if I ever agree to do speed dating again, shoot me. It was excruciating.” She hooked her arm in his and dragged him to the door.
Connor went unwillingly. He didn’t like leaving Maggie here with all these slavering men. What the hell had she been thinking, asking about spanking?
