I nodded. “Right. For the kids. But still, that’s very generous.”
“Yeah, that’s what they say about me.”
I dropped my eyes to the table. We both knew the things people said about him. It couldn’t all possibly be true, could it?
“And what if I dial this number? Is it going to be a Chinese restaurant?”
I pressed my knees together under the table. It had been a rebellious impulse to give it to him, and I was starting to question myself. Was I really this mad at Jake? Or was I willing to flirt with Luke Canton a little while longer?
“Try it,” I suggested.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the number. I bit my lip when we both heard my phone ring.
“Not a Chinese restaurant.” He grinned.
“No.”
He looked over his shoulder. He was the last one in line. Jake would be here any minute.
“Want to get a drink?” The way he asked it sounded as if he was asking for so much more than a nightcap at the hotel bar. Even his words dripped sex. Was there ever a woman who turned him down?
I nodded. God, yes. He didn’t know how thirsty I was. Thirsty for something other than schedules and order. Thirsty for a taste of something wild. Thirsty for something dangerous. Dangerous like him.
He leaned over the table. “Here’s the thing. I have to leave alone.”
I looked at him, trying to read between the lines. He didn’t explain what that meant.
“But, I can meet you somewhere as soon as I leave the hospital. Or.” He stopped and lowered his voice. “You could come back to my place.”
The good girl knew what to do. Lexi Wilde would not have a drink with the state’s biggest womanizer. And she sure as hell wouldn’t go home with him. Everyone knew about Luke Canton. I didn’t have to be a huge football fan to know he was the kind of bad boy girls like me needed to steer clear from. Jake wasn’t completely wrong. Luke’s image was the complete opposite of mine. Our paths colliding publicly would be an explosive disaster.
“Text me your address,” I whispered.
He picked up the thousand-dollar autograph I had signed and tucked it inside his tuxedo jacket.
“Done.” The wink he shot at me made something twitch between my legs. I let out a tiny whimper.
“Lex,” Jake was out of breath. He ran toward us. “They need you on stage to announce the auction winners.”
“Oh?” I shot Luke a disappointed look. Getting out of here wasn’t going to be easy and with the way the night was going, it was starting to look impossible to spend a minute alone with him.
“Yes, come on.” He stood impatiently between the table and Luke. “The mayor is waiting for you.”
Luke started to follow us and Jake spun around. “Thank you, Mr. Canton. I can take it from here.”
But Luke wasn’t the kind of man Jake could push around. I recognized that about him quickly.
“I’ve put in quite a few bids. So I’d like to hear Miss Wilde tell me if I’m the night’s big winner.” His eyes traced my lips and I felt them part slightly in response to his heavy stare.
“Oh, well I didn’t realize that,” Jake stammered. Luke had him almost as flustered as he had me.
It was impossible to ignore the effect he had on people. His frame was imposing. His eyes a shocking green. And his body was like a Greek god. The killer smile didn’t hurt either. Standing next to him I didn’t care if he was the Pied Piper leading me down the wrong trail. I only knew I wanted to know what was at the end of that road.
“I’ll join the other donors. Excuse me.”
I watched him walk out of the room as if he owned the entire hospital. He was brash. He was confident. He was hot as hell. And holy shit, I wanted to spend the night with him.
“Jake?”