“What I’m trying to say, Mr.Sloan—” I began to explain.
“Marcus.”
“Marcus,” I snapped and watched his very fine lips twitch.
Whatever.
I carried on.
“You and Smithie will have no problems from me.”
“I didn’t suspect we would.”
“Good,” I returned.“So thank you for…” I lifted a hand andflitted it through the air, watching his shades move to it and stay locked onit in a way that made me feel funny, “your kindness, but there’s no need totake it further.”
When I dropped my hand to my lap, he rocked back on hisheels, his shades returning to me.
He didn’t say anything for a long time, he just looked atme, and I fought squirming.
Finally, he spoke.
And when he did it, his deep voice wrapped around the wordswarmly, communicating that warmth to me.
“Daisy, I’d very much like to take you to dinner.”
“Thanks,” I returned sharply, using my tone to fight backthat funny feeling that just kept growing.“But no thanks.I don’t need a pitydate, not to mention…” I lifted my hand again, this time to gesture stiltedlyto my face, “I’m notfeelin’ good aboutgoin’ to some fancy place andbein’on show.”
“I don’t pity you,” he told me.
“Really?”I asked, cocking my head again, feeling my hairmove and seeing his head shift slightly so I knew he watched it.“A girl whogot the skin scraped off her ass in a parking lot because some guy tore herclothes off, threw her to the blacktop, and banged the shit outta her when shewas onlykindaconscious?”I righted my head andnodded.“Right.I get it.You don’t pitythatkind of girl.Mykind.I work a pole, I got itcomin’.”
I stopped talking, but I’d done it so heatedly, I’d stupidlynot paid close attention to him while I was doing it.
So when I stopped talking, I had no choice but to payattention because the entirety of Marcus Sloan had changed.Every inch.Everymolecule.The change filled the air and circled around me, drawing me into its snare likeI was Snow White reaching for the apple, even knowing the dangers that lurkedif I took a bite.
“I misspoke,” he whispered, his words slithering over myskin, not like a snake.
Like silk.
And they kept doing it as he kept speaking.
“I don’t pity you.I’m very sorry for what happened to you.What you endured.Verysorry, Daisy.However, I don’t wish to havedinner with you because I pity you.I wish to have dinner with you becauseyou’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Yep.
My mouth dropped open at that too.
“It’s too soon for you,” he murmured.“I apologize.We’lltake this slow.To that end, I’d be honored if you’d have lunch with me onFriday.Somewhere quiet where you won’t feel on show.”
“It’s Wednesday,” I told him something he likely knew, butit being Wednesday, no way my face would be okay to go to lunch anywhere byFriday.
Not at all.
Definitely not with a man like him.
And taking it slow meanttaking it slow.Friday wasonly two days away.That wasn’t slow!
“Yes,” he agreed.
