Read Online Sex, Lies, and Beauty Aides by Deb Julienne - Free Book Online Page B

replayed every sordid detail of the entire episode. By the time she finished, they’d fed off each other’s laughter until they were both holding their sides. The sight of her having to wipe away tears charmed the hell out of him even more. He could get used to her sexy laugh.
    “Enough of your experiments, I don’t think I can take any more tonight. What about you? What do you want in a man?” He wiped his eyes.
    She rested her head on the back of the couch, appearing completely relaxed.
    “Like you, the first thing I notice is a man’s sense of humor. I love the lilt of a sexy laugh.” She sat up, and turned sideways on the couch. “Did you ever notice when you meet people, the ones who have the wrinkles on the outer side of their eyes are the ones who have the best sense of humor, and the ones who have the wrinkles between their eyes tend to be the grouchy ones?”
    “Yes, I have.” Her description nailed Travis to a tee. The lines between his eyes were so deep it made him look like a constipated Grinch at Christmas time. “What else?”
    How did any guy miss what a treasure she was? The guys she’d dated must have been morons to give her such a line.
    A line. That’s what it was. She had made them so comfortable in her presence they didn’t feel right proceeding with their agendas to get laid. Sabrina was wife material and they weren’t ready. It was a crazy male code of honor? Yeah, now that made perfect sense.
    “The crummy thing is a man gets to call his wrinkles laugh lines, whereas on a woman they’re referred to as crow’s feet. I mean, how unfair is that?”
    Her keen sense of humor was beyond inspiring. He didn’t bother to stop the fire she incited within him. “Keep talking.”
    “I like a man who can laugh at himself. I’m constantly making mistakes or putting my foot in my mouth. And at times I wish I could take the words back, but you can’t. The only alternative is to laugh at yourself, because Lord knows crying isn’t an option”
    Though he hadn’t planned to imitate his brother again, he hated the idea of not seeing her over the weekend. Under the pretext of helping her figure out how to take on her new challenges, he had the perfect excuse to find out more about her or at least be around her.
    “I know what you mean. I don’t always say the right thing either.” Her company more than made up for the crap he’d dealt with at work today. The only problem with this scheme was the more he learned the more he liked her, and the less he wanted it to end.
    “At least you admit it. It’s a start.”
    “I beg your pardon.”
    “You know what I mean.”
    “Relax. I’m just teasing you. What else?” Standing, he removed his jacket. He swiped off his tie, tucked it in his pocket, rolled up his sleeves and sat beside her.
    “I don’t know. Like I said, I don’t have much experience in dating so I can’t make any other comments or judgments. I think I’d like to be romanced. Then again, I’m not sure what ‘being romanced’ is. I like it when a man holds the door for me and pulls out my chair. I’m definitely not into women’s lib. I like feeling special.”
    “So you’re a girlie girl.” He said with an Arnold accent, making her laugh. He was playing a deadly game and not just with her, but with his own feelings as well.
    “Yeah, I guess I am for the most part. Why? Do you have a problem with it?”
    “Just checking. Tell me what you’d like in a man and a date?”
    Sabrina tucked her foot under her knee. “Let me see.” She rested her elbow on the back of the couch and tucked her palm against the side of her face.” Okay, I want to be treated like a woman, not a brainless twit. I like myself. I have fears and I’m a bit self-conscious. I’m not mean-spirited or vindictive. I’m okay in the looks department and that’s fine with me. I don’t want a man to put me on some pedestal and not let me be me.”
    He wanted to see her blush again. “Ah, I understand.