She slowly shakes her head. “No way, Ben Rhoades. I’m not that kind of girl.”
I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss her sweet knuckles goodbye. “That’s too bad. But maybe you’ll pay me a visit there one of these days.” I wink unable to help myself.
Her flush makes my balls draw up tight ready to explode. I let go of her hand because I need mine to place it in front of my raging hard on.
“Tomorrow, then?”
“Shit,” I mutter. Her pretty face sours. “No, there’s nothing wrong. I just completely forgot. I have a dinner thing tomorrow for work.”
“Oh,” she says and I can see she’s as disappointed as I am.
“It’s sort of embarrassing, but I need a date. It’s not what I had in mind when I asked you out, and it’s probably more than a little weird. But I was given very short notice. And I can’t imagine anyone else I’d rather have as a companion for the night.”
There’s something about him with that damn hair that I want to run my hands through. He stands there looking sheepish as he tells me about tomorrow. It is kind of weird.
“Hmm. A business dinner, huh?”
“Yeah. I’m really sorry. I didn’t find out about it until a little while ago when I spoke with my father, who happens to be my boss.”
Lauren’s mom did mention that he worked with his dad. Good to know she had been thinking of the same Rhoades.
“Will this be one of those stuffy, formal things?”
The corner of his mouth curls. “Probably. But I can make it worth your while. I promise if you go, I will find some way to make it up to you.” His eyes quickly sweep over me and I know his promise has more to do with his sheets than anything else. “You name it, and I’ll do it. And I’ll guarantee you will love it and beg for more.”
The way he says those words makes my belly flop. I’m talking take a running jump off the diving board and hit the pool kind of flop. I think back to Trevor momentarily and he didn’t even make my toes get close to the edge of pool. “That sounds kind of risqué.”
Ben takes a step closer to me. “Samantha, it was meant to sound risqué.”
My eyes widen and I swallow the knot of desire that’s formed in my throat. “Um, o-okay. I’ll go.” My voice shakes as I answer.
He leans in and says, “You won’t be sorry. I promise.”
His fresh, clean scent that reminds me of the beach fans over me. When he straightens, I want to grab him and bring him back closer to me again. He’s stepped out of my personal space, and I inhale, trying to get another whiff of him.
“I’ll hold you to that promise, Ben Rhoades.”
He awards me with a smile.
“Oh, and I assume the attire is business?”
“Yes, that would be correct.” He takes my hand again and kisses it. “Until tomorrow. I can pick you up at seven.”
“Perfect. I’ll text you my address.”
“Until then, Samantha.”
I head for home only a few blocks away. When I get there, Lauren is waiting.
“Well, how was it?” She practically pants like a dog.
I offer her a secretive grin. “It was nice. Very nice. He’s the ultimate gentleman and every bit as sexy as he was in the produce section. It’s good to know I didn’t have this image built up in my mind, only to be blown to pieces by some douchebag idiot, you know?”
“Yeah, but tell me more. What did y’all talk about?”
“The basics. It was only our first get together. A little about work and stuff. That’s it. He’s so sweet, though.”
“Hmm. Are you going to see him again?”
“Yep. Tomorrow. Like we originally planned.”
Her tone conveys shock. “Really?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“That’s a lot for just meeting someone.”
I shrug. “Not if you like him. At least in my opinion.”
“You’re giving in too easily.”
I plop down on the couch. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You need to make him chase you. That’s what.”
“I’m not going to play that game crap, Lauren. If I like him and he likes me, and we want to see each other, then we’ll see each other.”
She groans. “This is why I want to shake you all the time. You never learn. Guys don’t want a girl who gives in so easily.”
I lean my head back and close my eyes. “Then fine. If he doesn’t want me the way I am, then he won’t want me. I am not good at this game stuff, and I won’t play them.”
Her arms wind around me as she hugs me. “Okay, but never fear. I’ll be here when you need me. And obviously I’m saying things you don’t want to hear, so don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, you big goon. It’s just that I need to do things my way, you know?”
“I know.”
“I gotta run to the Yacht Club. I have an event tomorrow and I need to check on some things. I won’t be long.”