“Very dark and delicious things, I assure you. My father was quite the possessive man. Now that you know my first name, it’s only fair I know yours.”
There was no reason to hesitate. He knew my last name, so what was the difference? It was just that allowing him to know was getting very personal, something I rarely did. “Josette.”
His features softened, a slight head nod indicating he approved. “Beautiful and fitting.”
I wanted to ask him what he meant, but I was far too entranced by the moment. Perhaps thrilled.
We stood awkwardly in the middle of my driveway while Indiana continued to claw at the door. “Well, that’s something I’ve never heard before. Does that work with all the girls?”
“What part? Find the perfect beautiful woman, bonus points for one who has a dog who just happens to adore the same music I do. Calculate the best way of hitting the dog with my car so he’s injured but not severely. My intentions? So I can become the hero of the day. Then I bring the woman coffee after a long night of sleeping on the floor so I could then schmooze her dog, which would enable her defenses to fall?”
I gave him a hard look, rolling my eyes. “Does that mean you have malintent in mind?”
He narrowed his eyes until they were completely hooded. In the sun, they were luminous. “It would seem there’s a first time for everything. And there are several forms of malintent.”
“I’m certain you’re good at all of them. Now you have me curious. Such as?”
The way he was studying me was more compelling than before. I was no longer just breathless. My panties were damp.
“Let’s just say that I enjoy treating a woman as she should be treated. Passion comes in many forms, including in acts considered dark and dangerous.”
“Which suits your personality.”
He laughed. “Very much so.”
A part of me knew what I was doing was crazy, but I felt safe with him. He wasn’t here to hurt me, and I could have been entirely wrong about what I’d heard. I was certainly hypersensitive to fear. I’d even wrongly accused a poor guy I barely knew of something quite heinous. I had a feeling I’d managed to emasculate him. “You seemed to doubt that I was right about there being a better coffee. Would you like me to prove it to you?”
A slow and steady smile swept across his face. “I’d love for you to try, but I must warn you, I have discerning tastes.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Admit it,” I challenged as I watched his face. He’d taken several sips of my coffee where I’d only had one, eager to hear his assessment of my special brew.
Sin wrinkled his nose, delighting me with making several odd but captivating faces. “I can see your point. I appreciate the hint of hazelnut. The note isn’t too overpowering, but the subtleness is accentuated by a flavor I can’t ascertain.”
“Ah, you know your coffees. You must drink a lot of it.”
“Thankfully, no.”
There were ways about him that caught me off guard. “Cinnamon with a hint of a very special hot pepper. That’s the secret I refuse to give out to just anyone.”
He acted offended. “Well, then I guess I’ll need to do something to be included in the group of special people in your life.”
“Very difficult to do.” When I winked at him, I realized I hadn’t felt this comfortable with any dates I’d had in my life. He had a way of disarming me, his charm and wit undeniable. And my pussy couldn’t seem to stop throbbing around him. I hid behind my steaming cup of java, hoping he couldn’t see the heat rising on my face.
“In all seriousness, you are a huge coffee fan.”
Laughing, I moved toward the refrigerator, removing one of my cards. “That’s because I own a coffee and pastry shop. It’s not very large, certainly not as well-known as Indulgence hasbecome over the years, but I do alright. Hoping to grow. I have big dreams.”
“You’re a baker too?”
“Two years of culinary school. I get by.”
As he accepted the card, our fingers collided once again and my reaction was involuntary but typical. I curled my fingers and stepped away.
“Simply the Best. I like the name.”
“That’s because every cup is made with love and in my humble opinion, itisthe best.”
