Together Again(28)

                She was sure she looked as stunned as she felt.

                The confident look he’d been wearing began to fade. “If you don’t think it’s a good idea, that’s okay. I mean, you were worried about our families knowing about dinner so maybe you won’t want to stay with me. It was just a thought.”

                A laugh bubbled up from deep inside her. When the eruption had passed and she could talk again, she said, “The mistake you made was not taking me to your apartment? That’s what you wanted to talk about?”

                “Yeah, and that’s funny because … ?”

                “It’s not funny. It’s great. I’d love to spend the weekend with you.” She picked up a slice of the bread from the platter and ate it in two bites. “I expected you to say … never mind. It doesn’t matter.”

                “What? You expected me to say what?”

                “It’s not important. Really.” She shrugged her shoulders, talking through a mouth full of bruschetta.

                He reached over and brushed breadcrumbs from the side of her mouth. “It must have been important. I’ve seen suspects on a perp walk look happier than you did when you came in here. And you turned down bruschetta, which must be a first. Tell me what you expected.”

                She swallowed what she’d been chewing. “I thought … I was afraid you were going to say we made … you made … a big mistake going to bed with me last night and we should forget it happened.”

                “Jesus, sugar, I don’t want to forget last night; I want to repeat it.” His smile warmed every part of her he’d kissed the night before. “Is that the reason you wouldn’t come to dinner at my place? You thought I was softening you up so I could dump you?”

                “Well, let me down gently, was what I thought. But yes, that’s the general idea.”

                “I’ll be damned. I thought you wanted to meet in public because you were going to give me hell and wanted people around so I wouldn’t lose my temper. But when you walked in you looked unhappy, not angry, I couldn’t figure it out.”

                “Why would I want to give you hell?”

                “I don’t know. Standing you up for breakfast? Not nailing down our dinner? Leaving you in the middle of the night? Being bad in bed?”

                “Bad in bed? That’s the last reason … Didn’t I say last night that you were good at … ?” She could feel her face flush and stopped talking when she saw his grin, this time more sexy than sweet.

                “Oh, I remember what you said. I just wanted to hear it again.” He finished his Scotch. “Drink up, I have a dinner waiting.” He took her hand. “We back on solid ground here, Keyes? No more sad-puppy eyes because you’re sure I’m about to — what was it you said — let you down gently?”

                “Yeah, we’re okay. Thanks. Or I’m sorry. Maybe both.”

                He kissed the inside of her wrist. “I love the perfume you wear. What’s it called?”

                She untangled her hand from his, picked up her glass and drained the last of the Scotch from it. “It’s one of those embarrassing names.”

                “If it’s ‘Seduce Me Tonight,’ I’d be happy to oblige.”

                She couldn’t tell if he was flirting or making fun of her. “It’s something like that, yes.” After a brief hesitation, she replied, “It’s called ‘Beautiful’.”