“I don’t know you.”
And it was the truth.
I didn’t know him, but I did know he was one of the most attractive men I had ever laid eyes on, and something about his body spoke to mine. As if they had some secret silent language that pulled me to him like a magnetic signal.
“And isn’t that a shame.” His grin grew, the dimple taunting me yet again. “We should fix that.”
“Let me pass,” I demanded, not feeling any of the authority I heard in my voice. “I don’t have time for your childish games, and I have errands to run.”
It was a lie.
I was really going to go home and take a freezing shower until my mind decided to work properly and my body had a few minutes to cool down, but he didn’t need to know what he did to me. He didn’t understand the memories he made rush to the front row of my memory or that my body was being a traitor by feeling things my mind found utterly disgusting.
“Childish games?” He shook his head and chuckled. “Go out with me.”
It wasn’t a request; it was a demand.
“No.”
I moved again to step around him, yet he blocked me again.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t know you,” I stressed.
“Yeah, but Lilly kind of does. You trust her, don’t you?”
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure she never wants to see you again after the drama at her mom’s house.”
He chuckled. “That’s wasn’t me. That was Devin. Now again … go out with me.”
So much pressure.
“What is this?” I asked, unsure of his reasons for wanting me to go out with him.
He was gorgeous, rich, and flirty. I was positive getting dates wasn’t a problem for him, yet he was chasing after me, who, if I were honest with myself, had a little too much tummy and uneven skin.
“This is me asking you on a date. So what do you say? Want to go out with me?”
“But why me?” I was sure I sounded stupid and insecure, but I really wanted to know what it was about me that made him think going on a date with me was a possibility.
His eyes dipped to my lips before connecting with my eyes again. His blue orbs were so mesmerizing I felt like I was drowning.
Cliché much?
“You really want to know?” he asked.
I nodded. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know.”
His ran his fingers through his thick, dark hair and shook his head. “Because I know going out with me is the last thing in the world you want to do.”
His answer confused me, and I was sure he could see that confusion in my expression because he chuckled.
“So because I don’t want to go out with you, you want to go out with me?”
He nodded. “Yep.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It does to me.”
“Why not ask out someone you know wants to go out with you?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” He shrugged.
“And you think going out with me would be fun?”
“Yes.”
“But why? I’m super boring, I assure you.”
And I was.
I liked to read, and on occasion, I sewed. I wasn’t a heavy drinker, and I hated dancing. I was the most boring person I knew.
“Because I always go out with women who want to go out with me. It’s not exciting. You, on the other hand, you’re not falling for any of my bullshit. It makes me want to see what makes you tick. You’re a mystery I want to solve.”
“Well, I’m sorry. You’re going to have to find another woman who’s not interested in you.”
He laughed, his head falling back and his face lighting up.
“You’re not attracted to me at all, are you?”
Lies.
I was full of them these days, and when I opened my mouth to answer his question, yet another one slipped out.
“I’m not trying to be mean or anything. It’s just … you’re not my type.”
His mouth dropped open in shock. It was as if he couldn’t fathom a woman not finding him attractive, which made total sense. I was sure he had yet to meet one, and I wasn’t even sure one existed. I didn’t know what my type was since I hadn’t given it much thought, but standing there staring at him and feeling the way my body was reacting to him, he was definitely it. I was too attracted to him. It wasn’t safe for my sanity.
“You do realize I’m not going to give up until I get what I want?”
His confidence made him even sexier.
“I wish you would,” I said, honestly.
I wasn’t like most girls. I wasn’t enjoying his flirting, and he wasn’t making me feel good about myself. He was making me feel worse since I knew every time I turned him down, it was because I was broken beyond repair.
“I’ll try, but I can’t make any promises.” He grinned, and I felt the heat in my panties intensify.
“You should probably get over your obsession with me,” I said sarcastically, earning laughter from him.
His eyes sparkled down at me as if he was really enjoying our conversation.
I wasn’t.
“My obsession, huh?”
“Yep.”
I moved to go around him, and this time, he moved out of my way.
“Well, it was nice seeing you again. Enjoy the rest of your day,” I said as I moved away from him and started toward the exit.
“You, too,” he said from me behind me. “I’ll see you again real soon, Red.”
Not if I had anything to say about it.
Staying away from him was a good idea, which meant I could only hope the next time I visited Grammy, he wouldn’t be there. Visiting her wasn’t something I would stop doing, though. Even if he was there every time. Even if running into him left me feeling hung over from a bad high.
It wasn’t until I reached my car, got inside, and closed the door behind me that I realized I wasn’t almost in tears anymore. He had managed to take my mind off Grammy for a very limited time. He would never know it, but he had done me a huge favor. I drove away with the smell of his cologne on my shirt and a smile on my face.
SEVEN
MATTHEW
I WATCHED HER WALK AWAY, her thick hips swaying with each step, and I knew the fact I had to have her no longer had anything to do with my bet with Jermaine. I’d known it since the night of Lilly’s birthday party. The second my body pressed into her heat and I’d lost myself in her long red waves.
My want was ten times worse after talking to her in the hallway. She refused a date with me, and it was like a shot of something strong to my ego, and I liked it. Her turning me down had left me hot and bothered—my cock throbbing like it hadn’t in a long while—and my mind swam with all the dirty things I wanted to do to her lush body.
I was pissed about being forced to do the community service at the nursing home, but I was also embarrassed, which was why I lied to her about why I was there. Knowing she would be visiting someone at Twin Oaks made it a lot easier to deal with my punishment, though, because I would see her again. As long as I was at the nursing home, the chance of running into her again was high.