He nodded slowly. His eyes peered into hers taunting and promising all she should avoid. They were intent, serious, determined, and passionate. Raising his hand, he waved his card, and a server came and took it. “I have advance notice of you requiring April 10thoff for a wedding reception. I too have that day free.”

His comment bothered her. Why did he go there? She told him she didn’t want him to go. Why circle back around to it? It wasn’t easy to do the first go round. Uncrossing her legs, she shifted in her seat and clutched her purse. “I’ll see you at Raphael’s tomorrow. What time should I be there?” she huffed, pushing her chair back from the table.

“Don’t even think about leaving on your own. I will walk you to your car. I’m just curious as to why in all the hours we have spent together talking about a multitude of things… you never tell me anything about you. Your ex. Your life.” Relaxing in his seat, he lifted and bent one leg resting the ankle over the opposite knee. He crossed his arms across his torso. Cocking his head, he scrutinized her and her reaction.

The server returned with his receipt and card. He picked up the pen and quickly jotted the total and signed the small paper and handed it off to her before she retreated. Turning his palm up, he gestured to Lanie to stand.

Suddenly she viewed him as arrogant and bossy. Two qualities she didn’t find attractive. At least she didn’t in the past.

Keep it casual.A part of her yearned to give him a piece of her mind. She didn’t owe him anything. Her ex, her son, and anything related to her were none of his business.

The second they exited the restaurant, he caught her wrist and halted her. He stepped in front of her. “I can only assume you had a bad divorce. Only because you won’t share anything with me. I am being open with you. Talk to me. Please. What are your hang-ups—”

“Why does there have to be any hang-ups? I had a little too much wine the other night and invited you to the reception without really thinking about it.”

“So, your ex will be there. Are you still in love with him? Even if you are, I don’t mind playing the part of a dude to make him jealous. I just want to spend more time with you,” he countered.

Wow. Could he honestly be willing to subject him to that just for more time with her? “That’s not it,” she replied.

“It is because I’m hideous,” he joked. Intertwining their fingers, he led her to the parking lot.

She thought about why she canceled on him. She and David were fine. Better than they had been for a long time. He had Denise. And knowing he currently had someone who hopefully devoted her heart and energy to him pleased her. He deserved it. “You are younger than me. And though my divorce was amicable, and David and I are in a good place apart… and he will be at the reception, your age bothers me.”

“Unless you got a hold of my wallet and snuck a peek at my license, you don’t know my age. And you must admit, that’s kind of shallow. You don’t have an issue with our age difference. It’s what everyone else might say and think that gives you pause. Something tells me you’ve spent enough time worrying about image and others’ perceptions.”

Yep. She had. Removing her hand from his, she stuck it in her purse and pushed the button on the fob unlocking her car. “I propose you don’t share your age and I won’t share mine,” she declared.

Extending his arm around and in front of her for the door handle, she stopped thinking and acted. Spinning around, she reached up, gripped the back of his neck and pulled his mouth to hers. He clutched her waist and tugged her to him.

His other hand went to her knee and slid under her dress. Raising it higher, he stroked up her thigh. She moaned into his lips. She made no attempt to stop his hand. She swore it singed a trail along her skin. Even if a damn tornado formed above them threatening to tear them off each other, she wouldn’t break their contact. Nor halt the direction they were going. She gripped the back of his head accepting his sumptuous assault and launching one of her own.

Gavin broke the Lanie Dam. Right there beside her car, in the backseat of her car, Lanie let her body dictate everything. She shut her mind off and surrendered to desire. Hers and his. And he had a lot of it.

Tags: Sheri Lynn Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net