“You baked a cake?” Rome asked.
Andy wiped some icing sugar from her cheek. “It was just a little thing.”
“I had no idea you liked to bake.”
The chocolate cake wasn’t her finest work, but if the frosting was anything to go by, it was delicious. “I … don’t. I used to. When I first moved here, I baked all the time, but being the newbie, no one would accept my baked goods. I hated to throw them out and even I can only eat so much cake. I had no choice.” She sighed. “I stopped baking because when I do bake, I want to do so much.”
“Does this mean you want a big family?” he asked.
She should lie. Rome was young, and he had his whole life ahead of him. She was ten years older. “I do, actually. Growing up, I imagined getting married, having dozens of kids.” She winced. “Does that sound crazy?”
“It sounds perfect.”
“You think so?” she asked.
“Hell, yeah, I want a big family too.”
“You do?”
“That surprises you?”
“I guess it does. I mean, you grew up with a lot of brothers. I don’t imagine for a second that was easy.”
“Two brothers isn’t a lot, and it was crazy, and I know my parents wanted more kids. Big families don’t scare me. I would love to live a life surrounded by people I love and who love me.” He held her hand, pulling her close. “I’m so sorry I had to head out.”
“Work has to come first.”
“Saturday was supposed to be our day.”
She laughed and swatted at his shirt. “No, you’re just trying to distract me so I’m not nervous about tomorrow.”
“You’re still worried?”
Andy nodded. “Wouldn’t you be if you were meeting my parents?”
“I’m a charming man.”
“You’d be terrified. Don’t even lie about that.”
“Okay, fine, I would be terrified, but come on, they’re my parents. They know I adore you, and they’re going to love you for it.”
She nibbled on her lip. “Moms are not known for making life easy for their son’s girlfriends.” She cringed. “I don’t even know if we’re boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“What would you call two people who hang out together and make love?” he asked.
“Really, really good friends.”
His hands moved down to her ass.
“We’re that, and you’re also my girlfriend. I like that. Andy Evergreen is now my girlfriend. This is the stuff I wanted as a kid.”
She swatted at his chest. “No, we are not having sex,” she said.
“Oh, come on, why not?”
“I’m not going to meet your parents after … you know … after we have sex.”
He pressed his face against her neck, and she gasped. Eyes falling closed as he licked at the pulse. He made it hard for her to tell him no.
“Fine, no sex tonight, but can I do other things?” he asked.
She pursed her lips, tempted to tell him no, but he had her intrigued. “What kind of other things?”
“I knew I’d draw you in.”
“I’m not saying we’re going to do them, but you do have me curious.”
“I’m a man of mystery.”
“Tell me.”
“How about you meet me in your living room, wearing only a robe, in ten minutes?”
She tilted her head to the side. “Ten minutes?”
“Yes. Tempted?”
“Yes.”
“Ten minutes?”
“You got it.” She took off, rushing upstairs, removing her clothes as she went.
Her heart raced as she entered her bedroom. After a glance in the mirror, she was more than happy that she didn’t need to take a quick shower. Before she baked the cake, she’d already taken one.
Glancing through her three robes, she picked the silkiest and sexiest one.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror, pulling her hair out of the tight bun.
She hadn’t checked the time on arriving at her bedroom, and she sat on the edge of the bed, waiting, counting down the seconds.
What the hell are you doing?
You’re a full-grown woman acting like a teenager.
You should go downstairs and end this. Ask him to leave.
Nibbling on her lip, Andy got to her feet and slowly made her way down to him. Each step she took, her heart broke a little more.
Rome Hard was the first man to ever make her feel like this. So alive, looking forward to each moment. Until he asked her on a date a week ago, she’d been slowly dying inside. With her hand on the banister, she closed her eyes. A tightness in her throat from the pain. She was the adult. Ten years his senior.
She walked toward the sitting room and paused as she stared into the room. Candles were spread across the room, creating a gentle glow. The room was warm, and Rome had pushed out the coffee table, along with the sofa and chairs. A large rug filled the space in the center, and she was sure she saw sex toys on the floor.
Rome stood, completely naked, with his hand held out to her.