Her wrinkled brows furrowed. “How on earth did you meet him?”
“Oh, I’m working on a special project for Finder’s. I went to ask him some question about Alienn, Arkansas.”
Miss Penny’s eyes widened. “Very interesting.”
“I hope so.” Juliana didn’t want to be rude, but she had a few more chores to complete before Diesel arrived. “I’ll let you know how things go.”
“I’ll look forward to that. I want to hear everything.”
Juliana walked back into her apartment, chucked the apple in the trash container and went to change. A thrill rode down her spine as she looked forward to her coming date. First, they’d chat. Then they’d eat. Then she’d ask him a few innocuous questions. Then she’d hit him with the hard questions and see if he tried to kiss her senseless again to avoid answering them.
Either he’d give her some insight into the rumors or she’d get to kiss him. Both choices counted as a win as far as she was concerned. She’d never been so eager to get a man into her bed before. Was Diesel the one?
Ten minutes before he was due, her doorbell sounded. She fairly skipped over to the entrance, opening the door without looking out the peephole.
There he stood in all his gorgeousness. In one hand he held a small bouquet of flowers rich with the colors pink and white. In the other he held a very large slice of red velvet cake in a clear plastic container. It was known in some circles as the state dessert of Arkansas. Juliana couldn’t believe he’d brought anything at all.
“Hello,” she said exuberantly, her eyes feasting on the gifts he’d brought. “Please come in.”
He stepped across her threshold and Juliana closed the door before Miss Penny could get a look at him. She heard her neighbor’s door crack open just as her front door clicked shut. Miss Penny could grill her later.
Diesel handed her the flowers and the clear container. “I hope you like red velvet cake.”
“I love it. Every self-respecting Southerner does.” Technically, she was a transplanted Southerner, but she wanted to be one and who would test her?
“Probably true.” He grinned. “It smells good in here. What’s for lunch?”
“Soup. I made it myself. Hope you like it.”
“I’m certain I—” He stopped talking in mid-sentence as he looked down into her kitchen wastebasket.
“What’s wrong?”
His severe cobalt gaze came up to sear her with intensity. “The apple.”
She placed the flowers and dessert on the counter. “I found it on my doorstep. I didn’t waste it, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
He looked horrified for a second. “On your doorstep. When didthishappen?”
“About an hour ago. Why?”
Diesel spun around and marched to the door. Popping it open, he leaned out to survey the outside as though he expected to see any number of bad guys swarming the area.
“What’s going on?” Juliana approached. “What’s wrong?”
He stepped inside, closed the door and locked it.
“You’re scaring me,” she said when he secured the chain up top.
Diesel turned and put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to frighten you.”
“What’s the big deal about a half-eaten apple on my doorstep?”
He got that expression on his face, the one that made her think he might kiss her to keep from answering her questions.
Luckily, she was right.
Diesel squeezed her shoulders and planted his amazing lips on hers without saying a word. In response, Juliana launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging to him until he slid his arms around her back and lifted her to her tip-toes, all the while kissing her socks off.
