A chuckle escaped his lips and my stomach muscles tightened.
“Anything involving you is relevant to me, Destiny.” He said my name as if it was meant to fall from his lips and his lips alone.
“Don’t you have another practice to get to?”
“Not yet.”
I shook my head. “This is ridiculous.”
“What is?”
“You. This whole … whatever you’re doing. It’s not going to work.”
“It’s already working, Destiny.”
There went my name out of his mouth again.
“I’m not a jump off.”
“A jump off?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure you’re familiar with the term. I’m not a groupie who chases after athletes looking to have a baby with them for the child support check, or the girl who’s willing to play second fiddle while you parade your main woman like arm candy on TV.”
“Nor would I expect you to be.” He stepped closer.
My breathing increased.
“I-I’m too old for you,” I blurted out.
His eyes scanned my body, causing heat to rise in my belly.
“You were born in June nineteen eighty-two, making you thirty-six. That’s perfect.”
I furrowed my brows. “You looked up my birthday?”
“You mentioned it in an episode ofFashion and Finances.”
My jaw dropped open. I shook my head. “You did not actually listen to an episode …”
“Every single one.”
“I don’t believe you.” I folded my arms over my chest.
“How about you quiz me on any episode you want while we go out to dinner?”
I grinned. “Are you asking me out on a date?”
He shook his head and my grin faded. “Not asking. I’m letting you know we’re going out. I’m asking what you’d like to discuss once we’re on that date. You can question me on my knowledge of your podcast, or we can talk more about your days as a cheerleader, or—”
“Or we could cut this conversation short because there will be no date.”
Tyler took a step forward and grasped my chin in between his thumb and forefinger, lifting my head up to meet his eyes. “Destiny, your feistiness is fucking adorable, but I wouldn’t keep poking the bear if I were you. A man can have only so much restraint.”
I clamped down on my lower lip with my teeth and inhaled deeply when his eyes noticeably darkened, his mouth tightened into a stern look. My nipples hardened painfully. My body’s response to his commands was unrecognizable. No man, and I meannoman has ever had that type of impact on me.
Suddenly, Tyler took a step back, releasing my chin, a look of satisfaction appearing on his handsome face. “I’ll see you next Saturday night, six p.m. at Mar Belo. I would highly suggest you not force my hand and make me come look for you.” His eyes hungrily scanned my body one last time before he turned and confidently strode up the stairs and out of the door of the lecture hall.
I was left standing there with what felt like a damn geyser had gone off between my legs.
