Scored(16)

“I’ll take questions about dating me for one hundred, Alex.”

She stops in front of a floor-to-ceiling window that’s etched with flowers and forest creatures and turns to face me. Her pretty eyes are serious.

“Is this going to be casual dating or serious dating… or a one-time-until-your-friend-gets-what-he-needs dating?”

“Whatever you’re most comfortable with.”

“Do we have to go public and announce it?” She worries her bottom lip with her teeth. That is not the look of a woman excited about the prospect of everyone knowing her business, or even one excited about being seen with a guy like me. Women are always excited about going out with me. They take so many fucking selfies that I barely get to enjoy myself.

“Not if you don’t want to.”

“Oh, thank God, because Finley can’t know about us. At all.” She steps closer to me, tipping up her chin. Her sweet mouth parts and all I can think about is kissing her, sinking my hands into her hair and finding out if we’re as compatible as I hope we are. “She’s basically made you forbidden man candy.”

“You can lick me all you want in private, sweetheart. I won’t tell.”

Her cheeks turn pink and her eyes start to sparkle. “You say the… I don’t know if I can handle dating you.”

“You like what I say.”

She grins. “I do.”

I take a step closer to her, our bodies nearly touching. “And you can handle every bit of me, too.”

“I can?” Her words are breathless. Music to my ears. The woman is turned on by the thought of licking me. Hell, going by my rapidly swelling dick, I’m turned on because she’s turned on.

“Oh yeah, I’ll show you how.” Carefully, I take her hand in mine and gently turn it over so the palm is facing up. Her fingers are curled inward, so I stroke each one until she fully relaxes her hand. “Look at you… you’re already handling me just fine.”

Her breasts rise and fall with each breath. “You have the magic touch.”

I smirk a little. “So I’ve been told.”

“I read about it when I Snoogled you.”

“That so?”

She nods, her hair sliding forward to rest on top of one of her plump breasts. “I tried to learn as much as possible.”

“How come?” I keep stroking her, keep touching her smooth, satiny skin that’s heating up with each pass. Glancing at her wrist, I can see her pulse pounding and it makes me smile. It makes my formerly bruised ego a new man.

“I like information.”

Interesting and not the answer I was expecting. “Any other reason?”

She licks her lips. Man, I want to bite the bottom one. It’s fuller than the top and softly pink. Perfect for sucking, licking… shit, I have to stay in control. We’re in a library for Pete’s sake. “I wanted to know if it was a good idea to say yes to you… if you were to ask me out again. At the time, I thought it was a long shot, but I have something you want.”

“Yes, you do.”

Her eyes close, then open as she visibly swallows. “I meant the event space.”

“Meant that, too.”

She giggles, then abruptly stops. “Ugh, didn’t mean to laugh at you. Again.”

“Hey, come on now. I like that laugh. Don’t care if it’s because you’re nervous or not. Although, I’d rather you be comfortable with me and laugh at my jokes. I’m fucking funny.”

“And so very modest.”

“I’m the most modest, humble person in existence. Ask anyone.”

This time, a full-on belly laugh makes her tip her head back. The sound echoes in the ballroom.

“I hate that I missed the joke,” Layton says as she walks in, heels clicking against the floor and joining the sound of Paige’s laughter. Her eyes zero in on where I’m holding Paige’s hand, but instead of saying anything, she gives her full attention to her iPad. “I brought the contract with me, Mr. Drake. A little presumptuous, I know. Also, in full discloser, you’ll have to work with Paige more than me because I’m training her to take my place.”

“Temporarily take your place,” Paige says.

Layton smiles tightly. “Exactly.”

“I’ll sign it.”

“That’s wonderful.” Layton shoves the iPad between us. Reluctantly, I let go of Paige’s hand to take the damn thing. “Read through this and sign at the end. A deposit of two hundred dollars is required, with the remainder due the day of the event.”

“If you don’t mind giving me a minute…” While I trust Paige and Layton to be the genuine articles, I don’t sign shit without a lawyer or Finley looking at it first. Walking a few paces away, I grab my phone and call Finley.

She answers on the second ring. “Did you decide?”

“I want to have it at the Franklin-Hayes House, but I’m not signing the contract until you or Caswell looks it over.”

“Already looked it over. Layton sent it to me earlier today. You’re safe to sign.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

I end our call, read though the contract anyway, and sign my name with my finger. “Doesn’t look any better when I do it with a pen,” I mutter, but people don’t pay me for my penmanship. I hold up the iPad. “Here you go. All signed. Do you accept credit card payments?”