“I was. I was picturing you in my clothes.”
The corners of his mouth lifted, a sexy half smile that sent a jolt to all her female parts.
“I would look terrible in a bra and lace panties. But I’d like to see you in them.”
She laughed. “Not my clothes. My designs for men.”
“Oh, those. Got anything for me to try on?”
A thought hit her. She hadn’t put any clothes on her models, hadn’t brought any of the designs to life yet. That might really spark her creative juices . . .
“Actually, yes I do. Could you stop by my place tonight before you go home?”
“Sure.”
“I have a few things I’d like you to try on. They’re not exactly finished, but if I could get your measurements and fit you, it would help propel me forward in the process.”
“Happy to do anything I can to help.”
“Great.”
Heath brought their sandwiches and they dug in. Suddenly in a hurry, Carolina wasn’t even embarrassed about wolfing hers down. One, she hadn’t realized how much time had passed since they’d last eaten, and two, with the promise of inspiration on the horizon, she was eager to get Drew into her designs.
Unfortunately, he seemed to savor every bite of his sandwich. After that, there was the pie, which he seemed to delight in slowly sliding into his mouth bite by bite, while she tapped her foot and looked around the room.
“We should probably hurry so Heath can give this table to people who have reservations,” she said.
“You just want to leave so you can get me back to your place and out of my clothes.”
She gaped at him, then scanned the tables nearby to see if anyone had heard. Thankfully, the people at the other tables were too engrossed in their families to eavesdrop. “You do realize we’re in a packed restaurant.”
“So? Did I say anything that wasn’t true?”
“Yes.”
“What did I say? Aren’t you going to get me out of my clothes when we get back to your place?”
“I am not going to be taking your clothes off. You’ll be taking them off.”
He took a sip of coffee, then gave her a sidewise smile. “So, you want a striptease, huh?”
She rolled her eyes. “Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I? Or is this just some nefarious plan of yours to see me naked?”
“Are you sure there isn’t alcohol in that coffee?”
“Why? Do you think I need to be drunk to tease you?” He wiped his mouth and signaled to Heath. “We’ll take the check.”
“Let me pay.”
He gave her a look. “Why would I do that when I’m the one who invited you out to eat?”
“You’ve been paying every time we’ve gone out.”
“And?”
And . . . she had nothing, other than him buying all the time made it seem very much like they were dating. Which they weren’t. At all. And never would be. As far as she was concerned, Drew was nothing more than a mannequin.
A very hot, extremely sexy, breathing, human mannequin.