Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)

He didn’t have the heart to tell her that was never going to happen. She was too special. But she wouldn’t understand the compliment, and he didn’t want to upset her.

She smiled. “In return, we’ll have sex. You have to admit our sexual chemistry together is excellent.”

He was willing to put a check mark in the yes column for that one. “Sex is dangerous.”

“I don’t think so. We’ll use protection, and as long as we keep the locations relatively safe then we should be able to...” Her brows rose. “Oh, you’re talking about the potential for emotional connection. You don’t want me to fall in love with you.”

“You’d get hurt.”

“I appreciate your concern. You have no worries for yourself?”

He hesitated, not wanting to hurt her feelings. “I’m not capable of loving anybody.” There wasn’t enough of him left inside.

“I think you’re very capable,” she told him, “but I understand what you’re telling me.”

“Saying.”

“What?”

“I understand what you’re saying.”

“Why wouldn’t you? I’m using very plain language.”

He chuckled. “No. Don’t use the phrase ‘I understand what you’re telling me.’ It’s too formal.”

Her eyebrows drew together, then she nodded. “I see your point.” She smiled. “Was that your way of agreeing to date me and help me learn to be like everyone else?”

He knew all the reasons he shouldn’t. The odds of this ending badly were greater than he liked. But how was he supposed to resist a commitment-free sexual relationship with a beautiful woman? More important, time with Felicia, both in and out of bed. He couldn’t be what she wanted or deserved, but that didn’t mean he could resist her.

“Yes,” he said.

She laughed, then stood. “Did you want to start with us having sex here at the radio station?”

He swore under his breath. In the time it took him to process her statement, he was already hard.

“You don’t have to pay in advance,” he told her.

Her smile widened. “I don’t consider physical intimacy with you payment. I enjoy it very much.”

He groaned. “You’re killing me, you know that, right?”

She circled the console and walked toward him. When they were close enough, she hugged him, pressing her curvy body against his.

“Thank you,” she murmured. “I really appreciate this.”

“You’re welcome.”

He allowed himself to put his hands on her waist, with the idea he and the woman in his arms weren’t going to do anything tonight. If they were dating, then he would follow the appropriate rules. No matter how much he wanted her.

She stepped back. “We should plan our first date.” She paused. “Although technically we had that already, so this would be our second date.”

“I’ll take you to dinner,” he said quickly, knowing if she showed up at his house, there wouldn’t be any eating, or dating. There would just be him and her and how they made each other feel.

She beamed at him. “I’d like that.” She kissed him lightly on the mouth, then waved and left.

He stood rooted in place until he heard the front door close. Then he sank onto his chair and sucked in a breath.

This was dangerous—possibly for both of them. But Felicia wanted to learn how to be like everyone else and he... Well, he wanted to pretend, even for a couple of weeks, that he was still close to an actual person.

He flipped through his CDs until he found the one he wanted, then put it into the slot. He put on his headphones and cranked up the volume. It was a night for the Rolling Stones. As they reminded him, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” but with Felicia, he could get damn close.

CHAPTER EIGHT

FELICIA CASUALLY CHECKED the clock behind the bar, then picked up her glass of wine. She had a bit more time before she had to head home and get changed before her dinner with Gideon.

They were going on a date. A real date, she thought happily, somewhat confused by her level of excitement. While dating Gideon would help her understand the rituals that could lead to marriage and children, he wasn’t the one she would spend her life with. He was a means to an end—therefore her enthusiasm level should be more contained. But there was a definite tightness in her chest and a fluttering in her stomach.

“What?” Patience demanded. “That’s like the fourth time you’ve looked at the clock in the past fifteen minutes. Are you late for something?”

Isabel, Noelle and Consuelo all turned to her, their expressions equally curious.

“Not late,” Felicia murmured. “I have a date.”

Four sets of eyebrows rose in unison. If she hadn’t been the subject of their speculation, she would have enjoyed analyzing their identical reactions. As it was, she felt a sudden and inexplicable need to squirm in her seat.

“A date,” Isabel repeated. “With a man?”

Felicia nodded. “I’ve never had any sexual feelings toward women.”

“Good to know,” Consuelo said, reaching for her beer.

“With whom?” Noelle asked.

“Gideon,” Patience and Consuelo said together.