I gasp and tip my head back. “You have kids?”
He grins. “Not yet.”
“Are you married?”
“No, sweetheart. I’m not married.”
I blow out a breath. Neither of those possibilities had occurred to me. I’m irrationally relieved. As if I have any claim on him.
I have one more important question. I shouldn’t ask it because I’m just torturing myself, but I have to know. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
He steps closer. “Depends.”
I frown. What kind of answer is that?
He lowers his head to one side of me and whispers in my ear, “I’m hoping you’ll agree to fill that role.”
Three
Adam
* * *
I hope to heaven I’m not pressuring her. She has knocked me off my feet. In such a short time, I’m ready to get on one knee. It’s madness. I never dreamed anything like this would happen to me. I’ve dated many women. None have affected me like this one.
I want Rebekah to be mine, and I’m not willing to pretend otherwise. I can’t let her go home without knowing my intentions. I hate the idea of her leaving at all. If it wouldn’t insult her, I would tell her to stay and never go back.
I have a bad feeling about her father. When she speaks of him, she’s dodgy. I don’t like that she lives alone with him. He doesn’t even have a job. How is he providing for her? Not well, I can see. I suspect she doesn’t own any nicer clothes than what she’s wearing. I know for a fact she hasn’t eaten well in a long time. I thought she was going to stuff that entire sandwich in her mouth and swallow it whole.
That breaks my heart. Apparently, there is such a thing as love at first sight because I’m experiencing it right now. Having known her a decade ago doesn’t count. This is adult Rebekah. She’s feisty and sassy and adorable. Already, I can picture these rooms filled with our kids. I sure hope some of them inherit her gorgeous, fiery hair.
Her eyes are wide, and her cheeks are bright red. With her skin being so fair, there’s no way she can hide her emotions. I bet her cheeks pinken every time she’s embarrassed.
Or aroused.
I want to see that. I want to see her breasts. I bet her nipples are hard little pink points. I bet the skin is creamy and turns dark when someone sucks on them. I wonder if anyone ever has. I suspect not. And that makes me feel all kinds of cocky.
I want this woman.
She’s mine.
How long will it take me to convince her? Hopefully not too long because my body tightens at the thought of her leaving my sight.
“Don’t say things like that,” she whispers. She doesn’t believe me.
I draw in a breath and lick my lips. “Rebekah, I don’t mean to scare you, but I’m not the sort of man to beat around the bush. I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you what I’m thinking, and what I’m thinking is that I want you in my life.”
“You want me to be your girlfriend,” she deadpans, suspiciously.
“For now.”
She gasps. “For now?” Her voice rises. “What does that mean? You want to take me to your bed and later dump me?” She shakes her head. “I’m not that kind of girl, Adam.”
I move my hands up to cup her face. “You misunderstand me, sweetheart. What I meant was I only want you to be my girlfriend for as long as it takes to convince you to be my wife.”
I’m stunned by my own admission and my thoughts. But they’re true. I won’t take them back, and I won’t ever regret this.
“You can’t be serious.” Her voice is breathy.
