Fight or Flight(36)

“There are plenty of beautiful women in Boston, I’m sure many of whom are good in bed … Very few are fantastic in bed, however.” His now heated eyes blazed at me meaningfully, making my clothes feel too tight, too hot.

I scoffed, trying to dampen the arousal he awakened in me. “I’m sure there was a compliment in there, but I’m not interested.”

Caleb calmly reached for his water glass and took a sip. When he was finished, I found myself recaptured in his gaze. “One thing you should know about me, Ava, is that I’m a very determined man. When I want something, I usually get it.”

My heart stuttered in my chest. What exactly did that mean? “And you want …?”

Quite abruptly he scowled. “I’m stuck here, which frankly pisses me off. Now I can spend my free time in the evenings being pissed off or I can spend them in bed with you. I know which one I’d prefer. And if you’d stop lying tae yourself, you’d admit that you want another go-around with me.”

Was there ever a more obnoxious man alive? My blood was hot with anger. “Do you ever think about what you’re going to say before you say it?”

“You’re offended?” He raised an eyebrow.

I leaned across the table, lowering my voice to his. “You just told me that you want me to be your entertainment while you’re stranded in Boston.” I sat back in my seat, my pulse racing even harder because the truth was, despite my aversion to him, I was still stupidly attracted to him. As in seriously wanted to launch myself across the table at him and rip off his clothes right then and there. What was wrong with me?

“No. I suggested we screw this attraction out of our systems.”

“We are in a nice restaurant,” I said between gritted teeth.

“Then let’s take this conversation elsewhere.”

“I’m hungry.” But I wasn’t sure I really was. I was just stalling.

Caleb glanced impatiently at his watch. “I have tae get back tae the office in forty-five minutes.”

Understanding what he meant, I decided I didn’t care where we were and threw my napkin across the table at him. “We are not having sex on our lunch break.”

He didn’t even look at the napkin. “But we are having sex?”

I shook my head at his single-mindedness. “I suppose I should feel flattered that you went to so much trouble for a booty call.”

Caleb didn’t even flinch at my sarcasm. “It didn’t sit right leaving things the way we did. I only walk away when I’m bored, Ava. I’m not bored yet. Are you?”

“When you say you only walk away when you’re bored … what about the women? Do you care if you break their hearts?”

He gave me a condescending smile. “It’s only ever about attraction. No one gets attached long enough for feelings tae be involved.”

“So you think.”

“Are you telling me that you dinnae want tae sleep with me because you’re afraid you might develop feelings for me?”

“You know I don’t even like you.”

“Exactly. So what’s the harm in it? Live a little, Ava.”

His comment made me think back to the other night in his hotel bed and how everything else had disappeared for those few hours we were together. It was just him and me and the pleasure we could bring to each other. There was something compelling about how lovely it was to disappear into something new. Especially now.

Our food arrived before I could answer, and Caleb unexpectedly stayed patiently quiet as we ate and I mulled over the pros and cons of sleeping with him again.

The pros were obvious. Unbelievable satisfaction with no strings attached. And Caleb would be gone again in a week or two, so I wouldn’t have to face him once we’d gotten each other out of our systems.

On the other hand, I’d once again be sleeping with a man I didn’t even like. How would I feel about my integrity when it was over? Or was I making too big a deal out of it?

“You think too much,” Caleb said, pushing his empty plate away from him.

I finished up too. “Just sex?”

His expression sobered and he nodded.

I lowered my voice. “I know I should have asked this in Chicago, but … are you clean?”

“I get a regular health check. You’re the first I’ve been with since my last. I can e-mail you the results if you want.”

“I want.” Maybe it would sound crazy to him, but I needed to be careful. I wasn’t the reckless type.

Caleb didn’t seem perturbed by my response. “And you?”

“You don’t have to worry about me. I had a health check after my last relationship. I’m clean. I can try to get those results if you want.”

“I want.” His eyes darkened to a sliver. “So does that mean you’re up for this?”

I felt like my heart was in my throat, my pulse was beating so hard. “Yes.”

Thankfully, he didn’t respond with a smug smile. “Your place or mine?”

The idea of carrying on with him under the Danby roof made me shudder. It was so horrifically unprofessional. Yet I wasn’t sure I wanted him inside my apartment, my private space. “I’d prefer neither, to be honest.”

“I still have my room at the Four Seasons.” He stood up abruptly and pulled out his wallet. “Patrice is very kind, but I like my privacy. For now I need tae get back tae work. Do you have a card so I can contact you?”