Long Slow Second Look (20 page)
Read Long Slow Second Look Online
Authors: Marilyn Lee
I watched through narrowed gaze as he opened it.
On top of a manila folder lay a single red rose and what looked like a box of chocolates. Removing the rose and the box, he walked back across the carpet and offered them to me.
I’d had flowers from several male friends, but that beautiful, single red rose touched me far more than it should have. Meeting his dark gaze, I felt my emotional defenses crumbling. I accepted the rose, but not the box of chocolates. “The rose is beautiful.”
“So are you.”
I knew most men found me attractive but none had ever called me beautiful. Standing there without makeup, I believed him. I smiled. “Apology accepted. Thanks.”
“You don’t like chocolates?” he asked.
“Of course I do, but clearly I don’t need those. They’re decadent and probably have about a thousand calories in each piece.”
“A beautiful, confident woman of substance has no need to worry about a few calories.”
In the act of turning away, I paused and met his gaze.
He sighed. “Damn, please don’t tell me I’ve said something wrong again.”
“No.”
“Then why are you looking at me like that?”
I shook my head. “My father calls my mom and me women of substance. He uses the term as a compliment.”
“That’s how I’m using it as well,” he said, pushing the expensive box of chocolates at me.
Meeting his gaze, I was lost and the rest of my emotional defenses crumbled. I accepted the chocolates and walked over to the sofa where I sat, trying not to stare at him.
He made that harder when he crossed the room to sit next to me on the sofa.
I stared straight ahead, surprised at how tongue tied and unsure of myself I felt with him.
“Are you shy?” he asked.
I didn’t go around having one-night stands but I was no shrinking violet either. Still, there was something about him that attracted me so strongly all I could think about was sex. “Not particularly.”
He slid his arm along the backseat of the sofa so his fingertips brushed against the back of my neck.
I sat forward and turned to look at him. “Thanks for bringing my tote. I won’t keep you any longer.”
The corners of his mouth turned up. “Is that your charming way of telling me it’s time to take my ass elsewhere?”
“In a word? Yes.” Before I did something crazy—like straddle him and kiss the taste out of his mouth.
He laughed and remained seated. “What do your close friends call you?”
“Rena.”
“Mine call me Andy.”
“That’s not nearly as impressive as Anderson,” I said.
“Then by all means call me Anderson.”
“I don’t think there’s going to be any point.”
“I disagree. Tell me Rena, are you in an exclusive relationship?”
The question thrilled me because I knew he shared my interest. “Why do you ask?”
“Why do you think I’m asking?”
I’d never dated a white man before but the thought of going out with him excited me. “No. I’m not in an exclusive relationship,” I finally admitted.
“Good. Now wouldn’t you like to ask me to stay for dinner?”
Seated next to him food was the last thing on my mind. “No. I wouldn’t.”
“Ok. Would you like to come out to dinner with me?”
I parted my lips.
He pressed a finger against my mouth. “Let me guess. No. You wouldn’t? Right?”
I leaned away from his finger without kissing it. “Right.”
He laughed and stood up. “Point taken. I’ll see myself out.” He smiled and walked towards the door.
Are you insane? Why are you letting him walk away?
“Wait a minute.”
He turned to smile at me. “Changed your mind already?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“Are you married?”
He shook his head and held up his bare left hand.
But he surely had a woman or women in his life.
“Anything else?” he asked, his gaze lingering on my breasts.
Yes. Would you like to fuck me?
With my cheeks burning at my thoughts, I shook my head.
After a last glance at my breasts, he walked out of the living room.
My breasts are large and natural and I’ve always been a push over for a man who enjoyed looking at them. I got up and followed him into the foyer. “Is there a special woman in your life?”
There was a noticeable pause before he leaned against the door, staring at me. “I’m not married or engaged.”
“But there is someone special?”
He sighed. “Depends what you mean by special.”
“Do you two live together?”
“No.”
“But you have an exclusive relationship?”
“I don’t think she’s seeing anyone else but that’s her choice. She’s as free to date anyone she wants to without any explanation to me as I am to see you. I don’t owe her any particular exclusivity and she doesn’t owe me any.”
I shook my head. Men.
“She knows I reserve the right to date anyone I want.”
Charming. “And you do—knowing how she feels about you?”
“I’m not now nor have I ever pretended to be in love with her and—”
“Does she love you?”
“I doubt it. Look, I’m single and free to see who I like. And I’d like to see you.”
And I sure as well wanted to see him. There was no reason why I shouldn’t as long as I didn’t lose sight of the fact that I wouldn’t be the only woman he was seeing. The thought didn’t sit well with me until I decided to look on a possible relationship with him as a meaningless fling.
He pushed himself away from the door to come stand in front of me. He brushed a hand against the back of my cheek.
I clenched my teeth in an effort to conceal the jolt I felt at his light touch.
“This is much ado about nothing. My relationship with her has always been causal.”
“So you’re in the market for another meaningless relationship with me?”
He allowed his hand to drop to his side. “What I’m not in the market for is having my ass dragged over the fire for something that’s none of your concern. I don’t have any emotional or moral obligations that make my seeing you an issue. I’ve made it clear I’d like to see you. If you’re not interested, that’s your privilege. Good night.” He opened the door and left.
I sighed.
You handled that well–not! A man like him doesn’t have to beg for dates. He won’t ask you out again. I hope you’re happy.
Women of Substance: Just One Look available now from marilynlee.org and other online sites.
Marilyn’s booklist:
Marilyn Lee Unleashed
Marilyn Lee Omnibus 2
In Blood and Worth Loving 3: Kiss
And Eating It Too
His, Hers or Theirs
Sweet Insanity
Stormwaters 2: All of a Sudden
Stormwaters: Family Night
Women of Substance: Just One Look
Shana Mine
Dream Lover
A Cheating Situation
Any Time Any Place
Beauty Is Alisha Hoover?
Blue Desert Heat 1
Blue Desert Heat 2
Blue Desert Tales: Courtesan Seduction
Daughters of Takira: One Night In Vegas
Daughters of Takira 2: Kyla's Awakening
Daughters of Takira 3: Revelations
Falling Hard
Fantasy Knights
Fantasy Knights 2: Endless Love
In Blood 2-Lost Without
Large, Shy & Beautiful
Loving Large—Yours, Only And Always
Loving Large 2—Yours, Now And Forever
Marilyn Lee Omnibus I
Marilyn Lee Sampler
Marilyn Lee Sampler 2
My Mother's Man
No Commitment Required: Naughty Girls
Primal Lusts
Secondhand Lover
Secret Lover
Some Like It Male
Soul Mates
Taking Chances: Falling For Sharde
Taking Chances 2: Nice Girls Do
The Dare
The Quest 1: Hunter's Passion
Torn By Love
Where You Find It
Yesterday's Secret Sins
Red Rose Publishing
Sweet Surrender
Sister’s Keeper
Finding Love Again
Betrayed By Love
Song of Desire
It Had To Be You
One Sweet Night
Tempting Neal
In Blood And Worth Loving
Eye of the Beholder
Night Heat
A Thing Called Love
Summer Storm
Skin Deep
Ellora's Cave
Night of Sin
Bloodlust series:
Conquering Mikhel Dumont
The Talisman
The Taming Serge Dumont
Forbidden Desires
Nocturnal Heat
Midnight Shadows
All In The Family
Moonlight series:
Moonlight Desire
Moonlight Whispers
Long Line of Love series:
Night of Desires
Love Out Loud
Only One Love
Teacher's Pet
Trina's Afternoon Delight
Branded
Road To Rapture
The Fall of Troy
Full Bodied Charmer
Breathless In Black
Playing With Fire
White Christmas
Quest II—Divided Loyalties
Quest III—Return to Volter
Changeling Press
Bloodlust—Nighttime Magic
Marilyn’s Bio:
Marilyn Lee lives, works, and writes on the East Coast. In addition to thoroughly enjoying writing erotic romances, she enjoys roller-skating, spending time with her large, extended family, and rooting for all her hometown sports teams. Her other interests include collecting Doc Savage pulp novels from the thirties and forties and collecting Marvel comics from the seventies and eighties (particularly Thor and The Avengers). Her favorite TV shows are forensic shows, westerns (Gunsmoke and Have Gun, Will Travel are particular favorites), mysteries (loves the old Charlie Chan mysteries. Her all-time favorite mystery movie is probably Dead, Again), and nearly every vampire movie or television show ever made (Forever Knight and Count Yorga, Vampire are favorites).
Marilyn has won numerous writing accolades, including a CAPA award for Bloodlust: Conquering Mikhel Dumont and the following Lub-Dubs Awards for 2009: Lifetime Achievement Award, In Blood And Worth Loving (Best erotic novel and best sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal Award.
She loves to hear from readers who can email her at [email protected] or who can visit her website, http://www.marilynlee.org. She has a Yahoo! Group called Love Bytes that readers can join by sending an email to: [email protected]
Marilyn’s homepage: marilynlee.org
Email: [email protected]
Table of Contents
Mature Men: Long Slow Second Look
