Sweet Persuasion (Sweet #2)(17)

He grimaced. “Why beautiful women like you and Faith hang out in that place is beyond me.”

“It has character,” she said with a straight face. “But if you hate it, we can go somewhere else.”

He pulled into traffic and maneuvered down the busy street. “No, I agreed to go to the place of your choosing, so Cattleman’s it is.”

“You’re a snob,” she said smugly.

He cast her a surprised glance and then evidently saw she was teasing him.

“Not a snob. I just enjoy . . . let’s just say I enjoy the finer things.”

Serena nodded. “Nothing wrong with that, but I have to tell you, I’m a beer and onion ring type girl.”

“Barbarian,” he said in mock horror. “I have nothing against some greasy finger food and a good beer, but I don’t turn down a well-aged steak and a good glass of wine either.”

“Mmmm, steak. I love steak. I love meat. I’m a total carnivore. Cattleman’s has great steaks.”

“I’ll be amazed if you don’t order a girly salad. What is it with women always ordering salads, anyway?”

She pretended to consider. “Well, I’ll order a salad if it has steak in it.”

He laughed. “Then I guess we’ll have steak for lunch.”

They drove into the parking lot, and when Serena reached to open the door, Damon stopped her with a hand to her arm.

“Let me,” he said.

He got out and walked around to open her door. Then he extended his hand down to her. Tiny little sparks shot up her arm when she slid her fingers across his palm. He pulled gently, and she stepped out to stand beside him.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

Again, he tucked her hand under his arm and walked her toward the entrance. When they walked inside, the hostess greeted them, and Damon leaned in to murmur quietly to the young woman. She smiled immediately and nodded. Then she motioned for him and Serena to follow her.

They were seated across the room from the bustle of the lunch crowd. Serena settled in and raised an eyebrow as the hostess left.

“Bribery?” she asked. “This area is usually closed for lunch.”

Damon smiled. “Let’s just say I’m used to getting my way.”

Serena snorted. “We’ve already ascertained that.”

“I wanted a place we could speak privately,” he said. “I have something for you.”

“Oh?”

Her heart slammed against her chest when he slid an envelope across the table toward her. She hadn’t even noticed that he’d carried it from the car, but then her concentration had been on other things. Like how damn good he looked.

With trembling fingers, she opened the envelope. Before unfolding the pages, she looked up at him in question. She was fairly certain that this was what she’d asked for, but now that it was here, in front of her, she was a little frightened and a whole lot unsure.

“You hesitate,” he said quietly.

“I’m nervous,” she admitted.

“Quite natural. Are you having second thoughts?”

She flushed. “You never said a word about the fact that it was me . . .”

He shrugged. “I figured you had your reasons. You don’t owe me an explanation.”

She stared down at the paper then slowly opened it. Age, address, physical details, appearance, characteristics were all listed first. Her eyes flickered over the sheet as she tried to take in as much of the information as she could at once.

No criminal record, stable job and income. Her gaze shot back up the page, and it was then she saw the name staring boldly back at her. Damon Roche.

She gasped sharply, and she yanked her head up to stare at Damon. “I don’t understand.”

He raised one brow as he studied her intently. “Don’t you?”

“Why?” she demanded.

If he’d intended to catch her completely off guard, he’d certainly succeeded. She was so rattled that her hands were shaking, and sweat beaded her forehead.

“Why not?” he asked calmly.

“Don’t play with me. This wasn’t our agreement.”

“Our agreement was that you wanted me to find a suitable man for a sexual fantasy situation. I’m that man. I don’t see the problem.” He leaned forward in his seat and pinned her with his stare. “Would you prefer a complete stranger take you and possess you? If we had not met as we did, if someone else had set up our meeting, would you object to my being the man who controls your fantasy?”

“But why?” she whispered. “Why didn’t you volunteer from the get-go?”

“I didn’t know you were the woman,” he said simply. “When I found out, I knew I had to be the one to have you.”

She gawked like a moron, her lips parted in shock. “You want me?”

“Why does that surprise you? You’re a beautiful woman, Serena. I wanted you from the moment you walked into the restaurant. After I read your eloquent e-mail and saw who had written it, there was never any question as to whether I would step forward. No other man will have you.”

Warmth sizzled through her abdomen, burning a path to her groin. Her clit pulsed and throbbed, and her ni**les hardened until they ached. His vow whispered through her ears until it rebounded and echoed, seductive and alluring.