But I’ve got plenty of hang-ups that make up for it, I’m
sure.”
“Why do you say that? You’re a great catch. Beautiful,” he
said forcibly. “Smart, funny, you have a good job and a nice condo. You don’t
rely on men to do everything for you, but you’re not frighteningly independent
either.”
“Was that supposed to be a compliment?” she asked.
He laughed. “Yes, sorry. But come on, don’t you think you’re
being a bit ridiculous about this looks thing? It’s kind of insulting that you
seem to think I’d only date women who make money with their looks.”
Well, when he put it that way. She tried to hang on to the
security blanket, but felt him pulling it away despite her efforts. The image
made her realize she was acting like a two-year-old. “Okay, fine. I guess when
we first met I was very attracted to you.” She glared at his grin. “And I
didn’t want to get hurt, so I told myself you’d never date someone like me when
you were surrounded by women like that. As long as I believed that, it was fine
that you didn’t want me. Good, even, because I wouldn’t want a guy like that
anyway. It…sort of became circular, I guess.”
He frowned. “I don’t remember it taking very long for me to
express some interest in you.”
She took a drink before answering, trying to figure out the
best way to explain. “That just made it more important to really dig in, hold
on to the idea so I wouldn’t give in and get hurt. Don’t forget, you admitted
yourself that you weren’t exactly thinking relationship back then. Anyway, I
used that idea, and the mantra, to keep myself from falling for you so that I
could continue to work with you and remain sane.”
“The mantra?”
Oops. She squirmed, then forced her body to be still,
waving only her hand as if she was brushing the question away. “Never mind.” He’s
just a nice guy who really likes women. All women. That does not mean he loves
all women, just that he likes to make them feel special. She repeated the
words in her head and realized she had comforted herself with them only at the
beginning of their date, had gone the rest of the day without thinking about
it. That seemed…important.
“Anyway, it was about saving myself from getting too
attached to you. Don’t expect it to make perfect sense. That’s sort of the
point. I was just…protecting us both from a…from what I thought was a bad
idea.”
“Why do you think you’re not good girlfriend material?”
“What, this conversation isn’t proof enough? It is what it
is.”
“Well, whatever it is, I like it. I like you. A lot. And I
want to go on another date. Or two, or ten. Will you do that? Will you give me
another chance? I promise I’ll try not to screw it up again.”
“Oh, Keith, you didn’t screw it up. It was a wonderful date.
The best date I’ve ever been on. Hell, it was two dates, the two best dates
I’ve ever been on.”
“Well, I was afraid you wouldn’t put out on the first date.”
She spit her coffee out as she laughed and laughed, not
stopping until he scooped her up and took her back into the bedroom.
The slow buildup of the night before, the surprise awakening
of the morning, neither left her prepared for the carnal onslaught that began
the moment he tossed her onto the bed. Her laughter died and her eyes went wide
as he ripped the buttons off the shirt she wore in his haste to get her naked.
Her heartbeat doubled at the hunger she saw on his face. Hunger for her. His
finger teased her sex for only a few seconds before he pushed it into her. But
she already needed more.
“Don’t make me wait,” she gasped.
He added another finger, leaned down to reach her breasts,
gave her a tiny nip.
She raked her fingers across his back. “Now, damn it!”
When he pulled away from her she nearly snapped, but he
lunged for the drawer he’d pulled a condom from the previous night. She almost
snatched it from him, but figured he’d be faster.
“Hurry.”
sure.”
“Why do you say that? You’re a great catch. Beautiful,” he
said forcibly. “Smart, funny, you have a good job and a nice condo. You don’t
rely on men to do everything for you, but you’re not frighteningly independent
either.”
“Was that supposed to be a compliment?” she asked.
He laughed. “Yes, sorry. But come on, don’t you think you’re
being a bit ridiculous about this looks thing? It’s kind of insulting that you
seem to think I’d only date women who make money with their looks.”
Well, when he put it that way. She tried to hang on to the
security blanket, but felt him pulling it away despite her efforts. The image
made her realize she was acting like a two-year-old. “Okay, fine. I guess when
we first met I was very attracted to you.” She glared at his grin. “And I
didn’t want to get hurt, so I told myself you’d never date someone like me when
you were surrounded by women like that. As long as I believed that, it was fine
that you didn’t want me. Good, even, because I wouldn’t want a guy like that
anyway. It…sort of became circular, I guess.”
He frowned. “I don’t remember it taking very long for me to
express some interest in you.”
She took a drink before answering, trying to figure out the
best way to explain. “That just made it more important to really dig in, hold
on to the idea so I wouldn’t give in and get hurt. Don’t forget, you admitted
yourself that you weren’t exactly thinking relationship back then. Anyway, I
used that idea, and the mantra, to keep myself from falling for you so that I
could continue to work with you and remain sane.”
“The mantra?”
Oops. She squirmed, then forced her body to be still,
waving only her hand as if she was brushing the question away. “Never mind.” He’s
just a nice guy who really likes women. All women. That does not mean he loves
all women, just that he likes to make them feel special. She repeated the
words in her head and realized she had comforted herself with them only at the
beginning of their date, had gone the rest of the day without thinking about
it. That seemed…important.
“Anyway, it was about saving myself from getting too
attached to you. Don’t expect it to make perfect sense. That’s sort of the
point. I was just…protecting us both from a…from what I thought was a bad
idea.”
“Why do you think you’re not good girlfriend material?”
“What, this conversation isn’t proof enough? It is what it
is.”
“Well, whatever it is, I like it. I like you. A lot. And I
want to go on another date. Or two, or ten. Will you do that? Will you give me
another chance? I promise I’ll try not to screw it up again.”
“Oh, Keith, you didn’t screw it up. It was a wonderful date.
The best date I’ve ever been on. Hell, it was two dates, the two best dates
I’ve ever been on.”
“Well, I was afraid you wouldn’t put out on the first date.”
She spit her coffee out as she laughed and laughed, not
stopping until he scooped her up and took her back into the bedroom.
The slow buildup of the night before, the surprise awakening
of the morning, neither left her prepared for the carnal onslaught that began
the moment he tossed her onto the bed. Her laughter died and her eyes went wide
as he ripped the buttons off the shirt she wore in his haste to get her naked.
Her heartbeat doubled at the hunger she saw on his face. Hunger for her. His
finger teased her sex for only a few seconds before he pushed it into her. But
she already needed more.
“Don’t make me wait,” she gasped.
He added another finger, leaned down to reach her breasts,
gave her a tiny nip.
She raked her fingers across his back. “Now, damn it!”
When he pulled away from her she nearly snapped, but he
lunged for the drawer he’d pulled a condom from the previous night. She almost
snatched it from him, but figured he’d be faster.
“Hurry.”
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