“In that time, have you ever had an extramarital affair?”
I sucked in a breath at his boldness. “That’s private. I should slap you for even asking.”
“So slap me,” he said. “Then answer the question.”
I swallowed. The longer he waited, the warmer the space between us grew. I licked wine from the inside of my lips. I had the sudden urge to see what he’d taste like, to put my mouth on his. “No. I’ve never cheated on my husband.”
“Ever been tempted?”
“No,” I said. “I love him. I’ve never so much as fantasized about another man since I met him. I wouldn’t even be out here with you if—” I stopped myself, my heart pounding.
“If?”
If I’d ever felt anything close to this before.
The reason I wanted to stay and the reason I needed to go was the same. I couldn’t voice my attraction, but he understood. By the way he flicked his tongue over his bottom lip, by the satisfied half-smile that followed—he understood.
“Sorry to disappoint you,” I said wryly, “but I’m not that kind of person. I’m not going to sleep with you.”
“I’m not disappointed.”
My face warmed. I certainly hadn’t misunderstood his intentions—for God’s sake, he’d practically asked me to have an affair—but maybe I’d made our attraction bigger in my mind. “I don’t believe you.”
“I’m not disappointed you won’t sleep with me—I wouldn’t sleep with you, either. Not tonight.”
“Not any night,” I said, but my voice faltered, and my declaration came out sounding more like a question.
“And I’m sure as hell not disappointed you’ve never had an affair. That only confirms my suspicion.”
The railing dug into my back. He had me cornered. Trapped. I could set myself free if I wanted. Yet not even the fear that Lucy or Gretchen, or God forbid Andrew, Bill’s closest friend, might come out and find us this close was enough to get me to move. “What suspicion?” I asked.
“This is about you. It’s about me. There’s something here, between us, that goes deeper than sexual attraction.”
No. It was the first response that came to mind, but not because I didn’t agree. I didn’t want to recognize anythingdeeper. Emotions I’d been suppressing for years threatened to surface. Everything in my life was how I wanted it, and Bill respected that. He didn’t push my boundaries like David was doing now, because he knew I’d withdraw. “I’m married, David.”
“I know. Believe me—if you weren’t, we’d be having a different conversation.”
“You can’t say things like that.”
“Iamdisappointed about one thing,” he said, ignoring me. “That I didn’t meet you first. If I had, all bets would be off.”
The intensity between us had never left, but it grew thicker in that moment. I didn’t want to ask myself if I felt the same. I barely knew this man. I didn’t regret meeting or marrying Bill—he was exactly what I needed. A good man. Someone who accepted me as I was and didn’t take pleasure in making me uncomfortable.
The thought of this being my last meeting with David sent a wave of dread through me, but I needed to put a stop to this. I gripped the railing and lowered my voice to a whisper. “There are plenty of women here—singlewomen. If you’re looking for company, I’m sure they’d be much obliged.”
“You’re right—they would.”
I gaped. “Cocky much?”
“You don’t think I could find someone else tonight?” he asked.
I wasn’t about to answer that. Of course he could. Gretchen, for one. And I realized that was why I was still standing there. David could be paying this kind of attention to anyone at the party, but he’d chosen me. He’d followed me out here knowing I was married and that he couldn’t have me.
“Find someone else,” I dared him. “This city is littered with available women. If an affair is what gets you off, there are plenty of married women who’d go home with you tonight. You shouldn’t have any problem finding someone—”
His nostrils flared. “I don’t wantsomeone.”
The women chatting in the corner quieted with his raised voice.
