"Never mind," she said breathlessly.
"Come on. Sometimes it's easier to tell things to a perfect stranger."
"Interesting that you'd think you're perfect." No doubt he was close to perfection. The long black braid trailing down his back added a roguish touch, bringing her pirate fantasies front and center. God, was there a chance he'd cart her off and ravage her?
"Good one." He chuckled. "A complete stranger. That a better word choice?"
"I guess." His intense gaze never wavered. Definitely a lawyer with that stare-down technique. She ignored the temptation to confess her attraction to him.
He playfully nudged her knee with his own. "So tell me what's with the heavy sigh."
The rasp of his crisp leg hair brushing against her smooth thigh felt intimate. Erotic. "You seriously want to hear me babbble?"
"Seriously. I'm imagining any words tumbling from your rosy lips"-his intent stare lingered sexily on her mouth-"will leave me spellbound, wanting more."
She bit back a purely feminine sigh. "Are you a professional charmer?"
"Interesting that you'd think I was charming." His sultry voice slid through the evening air like dark, luxurious silk. "So talk to me."
Tate clamped her hands down on the bench until concrete bit into her palms. Yep. Really happening. She inhaled, drawing in his clean, soapy scent. Lord he smelled divine. "Here goes. You ready?"
He gripped the bench with mock fierceness. "Ready."
On second thought, she'd never be ready for the havoc this hunk wreaked on her senses. His smile alone made her knees quake. One sweep of those caramel-colored eyes over her body and she felt tingles in places she'd long forgotten actually tingled. "Ever been on a blind date?"
"Not for a long time. Have you?"
"Not really. That's why … " Blast it! Why did her cheeks redden at the most inopportune times?
"Ah. That's why you are out here hiding." His heated gaze skimmed her breasts before zeroing in on her shoulder. Those large fingers flicked a pine needle from her shirt, and he carefully smoothed the puckered material back in place. "So where is your date?"
She watched the gentle movement, silently willing those deft fingers to stay put. "I don't know."
He signaled for her to continue.
Tate's tongue had gone bone dry from his close contact. And weren't all his muscles sucking up every bit of available oxygen? She managed to swallow once before she pointed at the bottle resting on his muscled knee. "Since I'm sharing my bench, you have to share your beer. No cooties, I promise."
He smiled, wiped off the top and passed the bottle without comment, again letting his gaze loiter on her mouth.
Damn if her lips didn't tremble. She managed to say, "If I had a shred of self-respect, I'd hightail it home before I follow through with my crazy plan."
His dark, expectant gaze wandered over her body, intimate as a caress. "What does self-respect have to do with a blind date?"
Tate shrugged, offering a rueful smile. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Trust me. I've had some strange goings-on myself this week."
"Must be the phase of the moon." She tilted her head to catch a glimpse of the silver orb through the treetops. Her cheek brushed the skin-warmed cotton fabric stretching across his broad shoulder. "Now, aren't you sorry you asked?"
"Only sorry you're drinking all my beer," he murmured. "Don't you believe some unexpected things can be … " his gaze read pure sin when it dallied on her mouth, " … promising?"
Tate nervously moistened her lips, surprised when a sound resembling a groan gusted from his. "Not in this case."
Her attempt at legal humor evoked a low, sexy chuckle that suggested he was imagining illicit acts performed outdoors in fading daylight.
"Your turn." His purely male presence enveloped her like a sensual fog as his large palm covered hers. Lifting the bottle, he leisurely outlined her lips with the wet rim. "Open for me," he said huskily, tipping the amber liquid past her parted lips. The yeasty taste rolled over her tongue. His rough thumb wiped an escaped drop of beer from the corner of her mouth, and he slowly brought his thumb back to his mouth and licked it.
Tate's amazement that the glass hadn't returned to its molten stage from his hot touch was second only to her blazing desire to launch herself straight onto his lap and generate some serious sparks.
"Are you real?" His hungry gaze roved over her face. "Or just a wood sprite sent here to tempt me?"