fundraiser.” She settled her white cloth napkin in her lap. “It was hard losing them both so close together, but Dad was never the same after Mom died. I think he missed her. Now it’s just my brother and me.”
“Is he coming home from college for the summer?”
“No. He’s taking a class, working and sharing an apartment with some buddies. I’m helping out with expenses.” Which wouldn’t be necessary if the sweet-talking jerk who’d wined and dined her hadn’t cleaned out the money her parents left for their children’s education. She took a sip of wine. “You already know about my pathetically normal childhood. I’d like to hear about how you didn’t have one.”
He frowned, an expression just this side of brooding but no less appealing than his grin. “My father was always working. Because he was never home, Mother had hobbies. She took classes. Painting. Knitting. Needlepoint. Calligraphy. Aura reading.” Over the flickering light of the candle, his gaze connected with hers. “Neither of them were around much. I became pretty self-sufficient.”
“It sounds to me like your mother was hurt about your father working so much. She was probably hiding in her hobbies.” She finished off the wine in her glass. “And I can’t decide if you take after her or your father.”
“How about neither?”
She shook her head. “You put in a lot of hours at the hospital.”
“And you know this—how?”
“While the women wait in your line, they talk about you.” The snarky remark made him smile, just as she’d intended. “It’s said that you’re dedicated. So either you’re a workaholic like your father, or you’re hiding like your mom.”
Just then Mario brought their salads. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
“Not right now,” Nathan said.
The light, carefree expression had disappeared and it was her fault. Cindy wished for a filter from her brain to her mouth, but it was too late for that.
They ate in silence for a few minutes. At least he did. She pushed romaine lettuce and croutons around the plate and not much of it got eaten. She wished she’d kept her views to herself.
Finally she couldn’t stand the silence. “Look, Nathan, it’s just my opinion and worth what you paid for it. About now you’re probably regretting this invitation. The offer of sex with no strings attached must look pretty good. Sometimes I don’t know when to keep my mouth shut.”
His eyes turned even darker with an intensity that was almost tangible as his gaze settled on her mouth. “Let’s just say you’ve given me food for thought. Perspective that’s both sincere and sweet.”
Yay her. It felt like he’d yelled at her even though he hadn’t raised his voice. Unlike that day at the hospital, this time he had a reason to be mad. Amateur psychoanalysis probably wasn’t what he’d signed up for tonight in his quest to know her. He’d no doubt learned everything necessary to form the opinion that this night had been a cheap validation for her pronouncement that he should have taken no for an answer.
Two hours later after more to eat and drink and entertaining, idle conversation, they were standing in front of her open door. Cindy was pleasantly full and still rocking a lovely buzz from his favorite red wine.
“Thanks for dinner.” She looked up and her breath caught.
The inside light showed the glitter in Nathan’s eyes as his knuckles lightly grazed her cheek. “I’m going to kiss you.”
“Do you really think that’s a good idea—”
“No. But all night I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you. I want to see how that sexy, sassy, smart mouth tastes.”
Her heart started to pound until she thought it would jump right out of her chest. “Oh, my—”
“I can’t help it.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with a shaking hand. “I want to feel all the passion you put into being so tough.”
Words were trapped in her throat so she started to shake her head. The feel of his lips stopped her as surely as it shut down all rational thought. One moment his mouth was on hers and the next she was plastered against his body, her arms twining around his neck. His big, warm hands restlessly rubbed up and down her back until her skin prickled with awareness and every nerve ending was on fire. Her breasts were crushed to his chest and ached for the touch of his hand.
In an awkward, erotic dance, he maneuvered her inside then closed the door. As he backed her against the wall, the sound of their raspy, ragged breathing filled her small front room and she let her purse fall off her shoulder. When her arms were around his neck again, he slid his palm over her hip then down her thigh before inching up the hem of her dress.
He hooked his finger into the waistband of her panties and drew them down until she stepped out of the restraining prim cotton. Kissing her senseless, he slipped a finger inside her and played until she was mindless with desire. A breathy moan escaped her throat and he groaned.
“Cindy,” he breathed against her cheek. “I’ve wanted you since the night of that damned dinner. But if you don’t want this, I’ll—”
“No. I want …” Her voice was a wanton whisper. She’d never felt such a powerful need so completely consuming her. There was a very real possibility she would simply implode if he didn’t take her in the next ten seconds. “Now. Nathan. Please. Do you have—”
“Yeah.”
He dropped his wallet on the floor after pulling out a condom and lowered his pants and briefs before covering himself. Then he lifted her, and as her legs circled his waist, he entered her, bracing his forearm against the wall. The thickness of him filled her and took her breath away at the same time. He drove her higher and higher until she shattered into a thousand points of light and shuddered with the pieces of pleasure surging through her.
Moments later he went still and tightened his arms around her, groaning out his own release. As his breathing slowed, he buried his face in her neck and kissed her gently, tenderly. Finally he let her legs go and they slid down as he wrapped his strong arms around her waist and held her to him.
“Wow.” He rested his forehead against hers. “There’s no reason you should believe me, but I really didn’t mean for that to happen.”
“I know.” And neither had she. For whatever reason, she believed him and here they were.
“Bathroom?” He was asking where it was. Hard to believe he hadn’t been further inside than the front door.
“Down the hall,” she said. “First door on the right.”
When he was gone, she slipped her panties back on, picked up her purse and tried to figure out what to say when he returned.
It didn’t take long. Unlike her with the nerves doing a rumba inside her, he looked as cool as Mount Charleston after the first winter snow. But the expression on his face told her there was a problem. And when had she learned to read him so well?
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Probably nothing.”
