“I don’t believe in casual sex.”
“There is nothing casual about where you fit into my life.” The gravity of his expression and tone convinced her he was telling the truth.
As impossible as it might seem, this man was serious about her. He wasn’t making any promises, but he wasn’t denying the possibility of a future either. A very skilled seduction campaign or was he showing the marks of integrity she could rely on?
“If I invite you up, it isn’t to share my bed.”
“I’ll settle for some coffee to start with.”
“All right.”
Angelo pulled back, shocking her by not cementing his victory with another kiss.
They had coffee and to her further surprise, he left around eleven without making a pass. Oh, he kissed her again and her lips were still tingling the next morning from it, but he hadn’t tried to get her into bed.
Which had left her confused and unable to sleep for dwelling on the implications of everything that had happened at and after the barbecue.
She was yawning the next day when she sat down at her desk and looked over to see Danette doing the same thing.
They both laughed.
“Tired?” Tara asked.
“Yes, you look like you are, too, but I bet it’s for different reasons.”
“You’re so bad.”
“Well, admit it…you probably went home and worked on a project until bedtime, while I worked on Ray.”
Tara laughed again, this time shaking her head. “You are incorrigible.”
“And you aren’t answering. Dare I hope you and the boss hit it off last night?”
“I’m sure Ray told you we kissed…I’d say it was pretty obvious we’re attracted to each other.”
“That doesn’t mean a whole lot when it’s you we’re talking about. You’ve got more fortitude than anyone I’ve ever known.”
“Are you saying I’m stubborn?”
“If the conservative shoe fits…”
Tara just shrugged, not wanting to get into a long discussion about her date with Angelo and knowing that was where this conversation was headed if she didn’t watch it.
She and Danette worked for a while before her friend piped up with, “Ray thinks you two are a great couple.”
“Ray needs to spend more time focusing on you than what’s going on around him. I was ready to throw his camera in the pool last night.”
Danette gave a gasp of mock horror and clutched at her heart. “He paid a thousand bucks for that baby. He would have cried like a lost orphan if you’d drowned it.”
“I guess it’s a good thing your hobbies feed each other.”
The phone rang before Danette could reply to Tara’s teasing.
She picked it up. “Tara Peters here.”
“Good morning, stellina.”
“Angelo.” She turned so her back was to Danette’s now avidly curious gaze.
“Did you sleep well?”
“If I answer that honestly, you’ll get a swelled head.” Where the flirtatious words came from, she didn’t know.
She’d never been particularly flirtatious and in the last two years, she’d been positively subdued in her behavior toward men, but he brought out a side to her she’d considered gone forever.
“I did not sleep.” The words were given in such a seductive voice, she about melted in her chair.
“Um…I’m sorry?”
A wicked chuckle made her insides shiver. “I’m not sure I believe you.”
“You doubt my sincerity?”
“Perhaps I wouldn’t if you answered my original question…did you sleep well?”
“No.”
“Ah. I like that. It was because of me.”
“Conceited man.”
“Am I?”
“Maybe not.” She had spent her night thinking about him.
“I need to be back in New York on Monday.”
“Oh.” Gosh, how original, but what was she supposed to say to that? Don’t go?
“My flight was scheduled to leave this afternoon.”
“It was?” As in he’d changed it?
“Yes.”
She waited in silence, not sure how he wanted her to respond. Hoping she’d interpreted his use of the past tense correctly.
“I had it postponed.”
Relief surged through her and she knew she was in deep trouble with this man. “You did?”
“I wanted to spend more time with you.”
“I like that,” she admitted.
“So, you’ll let me take you out tonight?”
“Yes.” She was making an irrevocable decision, but maybe it was time she started taking some risks.
If she didn’t, she might spend the rest of her life regretting yet another bad choice.