“No, it’s mine.” He stepped up beside her and opened the door leading to the deck. “But I don’t get here often enough.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged. “Work. Commitments. You know how it is.”
She nodded. Most of the time she was the first in and the last to leave. “That I do,” she said. “I have this thing about unfinished business.”
He winked. “So I heard. I know all about all work and no play.”
She put one hand on her hip. “Well, you’re far from dull, and according to the rag mags, Miami’s most eligible bachelor does a lot of playing.”
He stepped closer until their bodies were touching, and just like that, his cock hardened. “Lies.”
She laughed and turned to face him. “Don’t worry, I’m not judging.” She waved her hand around the room. “Who you bring here is none of my business.”
“I’ve never brought a woman here before,” he admitted. Why the hell am I telling her that?
Her eyes narrowed. “Then why did you bring me?”
Good question. If this was his sanctuary, why had he?
Chapter Three
Instead of answering her question he asked one of his own. “Hungry?”
She rubbed her stomach, taking in his wolfish look. Good God, what had she gotten herself into? Damned if she couldn’t wait to find out. “Starved.”
“I know I said we were having sushi, so I hope you’re okay with pizza. Most women I know don’t do carbs, but it was fast and easy, and well, there are other things I’m anxious to get to.”
Awareness sunk low in her body. She cleared her throat and tried for casual. “No worries, carbs are my pastime.”
“Yeah?”
“For sure. Who needs a puppy when you can get unconditional love from sugar and starches.”
He laughed. “Next time we’ll have sushi.”
Next time? Wasn’t this a one-shot deal?
He found her hand and led her to the kitchen. Linc pulled the slices from the box, and with nervous anticipation building inside her she stared at his big hands, anxious and tense to have them on her body. Linc moved close, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. God, she was so aware of him, his every move, his every touch. She stole a quick glance at him, taking in his strong profile. When and how would he make his move? Would he pounce like a predator stalking prey, or would he take his time, each move slow, careful, and calculated? Which one did she want more?
“Hey,” he whispered.
“Yeah.”
“You nervous?”
She glanced at her pizza, and was about to say no.
“No lies, okay? Everything in the open this weekend.”
The truth was she wanted to use this as a learning experience. Faking it wasn’t going to get her anywhere. “A little bit.”
“Don’t be, okay. I’m going to walk you through everything, and trust me, you’re going to enjoy it.”
Cocky bastard. Thank God. “You seem confident.” She still wasn’t totally convinced he could deliver what he was promising.
“That’s because I am.” He looked past her shoulders. “How about a glass of wine, just to take the edge off and help you relax. When I touch you, I want you to feel it. I want you fully aware when I put my hands and mouth on your body, when I slide my cock inside.” He grinned. “I’m going to fuck you right into the next century.”
Lord, when he said things like that…
“Wine,” she said quickly. “Wine is good.” Lots of wine.
A soft chuckle sounded in his throat.
He walked past her, his body brushing hers, and he reached for a bottle of wine and uncorked it. “Let’s go eat on the deck.” With the bottle in one hand and two stemmed glasses in the other, he gestured toward the double patio doors. She scooped up the two plates of pizza and followed him out.
She breathed in the tang of salt. The moon lit up the waves lapping against the shore a few feet away. “This really is beautiful.”
They sat across from each other at the small bistro table, and she bit into her pizza. Her mind had been so preoccupied with other things that she hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she took that first bite.
He handed her a glass of wine. “We can take the boat out tomorrow if you like.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“Have you ever had sex out on the water?”
She nearly choked on her crust. “No. Have you?” she asked then wished she could take her words back. Of course he’d had sex out on the water. The man had a reputation as long as her last spreadsheet.
“This is about you. Tomorrow, if you want to have sex on the boat, we can.”