“No? He didn’t?”
With pleading eyes, I ask, “Can we please change the subject?”
It’s his turn to shake his head. “I’m imagining what I can lick off you.”
My face is burning with embarrassment. I’ll try another tack. “Haveyouever been engaged?”
“No.” And he quickly tips his glass back, finishing his beer first. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” That’s not true. I could be much more prepared after a few more shots and another beer, but I’m guessing we don’t have time for that. No, now it’s time to put my mouth where my… what I mean to say is, I agreed to this. Now I need to pay up.
Okay, that’s not right either.
I need to pull on my big girl panties….
Oh, hell, please don’t tell me I put on my big girl panties.
I place my hand over my stomach and feel around. “Nope.” No grannie panties.
Why can’t I remember which underwear I have on?
Chase is out of the booth, holding his hand out for me to slide across and out. “Let’s go, Velma Lou.”
I stop moving out of my seat and glare at him. “If you call me Velma while we…” I nod toward the elevators. “I’m going to leave.”
“Got it.” Chase smirks. “Can I call you that after?”
“No.” Geesh. “My name is Lou.”
He nods as I place my hand in his. Those stupid tingles run through my hand and up my arm. I hope it means the sex will be good.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
CHASE
This woman is a surprise.I’m not referring to her name. No. That is rather unfortunate. It’s right up there with Alan Allen. Sadly, Lou doesn’t fit her either. It’s too masculine. When I speculated about her name at our first meeting, she remains, to me, to be more Louisa than anything. But I don’t get to change her name. I wouldn’t want to. Lou is who she is, and I rather like her that way.
I place my hand on the elevator door to keep it from closing on us. Lou steps in first and I move in next to her as another couple enters. I press the up button. Fortunately, the other pair on the elevator exit on the third floor, leaving us six floors of alone time.
Peering down at her, Lou’s busy biting her lip. Is this the right thing to do? She seems overly nervous. “Are you sure about this?”
She smiles, but it’s weak. “Positive.”
Leaning closer, I skim the side her face with my finger. My god, she’s pretty. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Yeah?” I smell beer and a little tequila on her breath. “You sure about that?”
“Positive.”
She moves up and kisses me, and I’ve got to say, I enjoy her taking the initiative. I take the opportunity to deepen the kiss, letting my tongue sweep across her full bottom lip. When she opens for me, I step closer until she’s pressed up against the wall. Her arms wrap around my neck, and thanks to a soft moan that escapes from her, I know she’s enjoying the kiss as much as I am. The bell sounds, and we hear the doors slide open. Pulling back, I take her hand in mine and lead her out of the elevator and down to our room.
With the key card in hand, I place it over the pad on the door and hear the click. Pushing the door open, I let her enter first.
“Wow,” she says once she’s inside.
There’s nothing special about the room. It’s a standard king suite, but Lou seems to like it. “There’s a view.” She’s at the window now. I move in behind her and wrap my hands around her waist.
“A view of downtown Excelsior.”
