“I think it would be a fantastic idea.”
Naya’s mind swirled, her body arched, and her legs clenched tightly closed. “No. I can’t do it, Luke. I told you, I don’t do casual.”
His lips moved against her ear and she almost moaned with how good that felt. “Then don’t make it casual. Make it something more. I can do more.”
No. He couldn’t do more. And she couldn’t do more. Nor could she do less. Any kind of a relationship with Luke was not a good idea.
Reminding herself of that gave her the strength to stop. Naya pulled back with a sigh of regret. “No. You’re not that kind of a man.”
Without looking at him again, she stepped out of the car and ran into her house, closing it firmly and leaning back against the solid wood. She gritted her teeth to keep herself from pulling open the door once more and calling him back. Her body wanted what he was offering. Her mind knew it was wrong.
Broccoli was good. Luke was bad. Salads! She had to think about salads and getting to the gym tomorrow morning. She needed to force her mind to think rationally and remember what was good and positive.
She walked over to her fridge and stared at the mostly empty space. Ice cream was in the freezer, she reminded herself.
But she’d already eaten too many calories for the night.
“Go to bed,” she told herself and slammed the freezer door. “Just go to bed and forget the man.”
Well, she’d gotten half of her task accomplished. She went to bed, but sleep eluded her. Her mind kept going over the kisses from earlier today and tonight, her body wanting more, needing to feel his hands on her.
She pounded her pillow several times, wishing she could stop thinking about him. It was pointless! She wasn’t the kind of woman he needed and Luke definitely wasn’t the kind of man she wanted.
But her body called her a liar.
Chapter 2
Naya slid her hands down her hips, feeling slim and sexy tonight. “Okay, you can do this!”
She’d been eating salads and broccoli for the past three days and she’d lost three pounds. It showed, at least in her mind. She’d also hit the gym and was feeling stronger. Stronger and sexier than she had in long, long time!
Well, she was sore, actually. She’d broken down and used the gym’s personal trainers. The cost had seemed exorbitant initially, but after one session with the man, she’d understood how valuable his services were. She could see muscles in her arms! Not cut and defined like…well, like a certain man she wasn’t going to think about. But there was a slight definition.
She liked it! She liked feeling fit and stronger.
Naya just had to remember to be sensible tonight. No appetizers. No wine and no fancy cocktails. She’d stick to spritzed water and a lime wedge. That’s all she needed and all her body wanted.
A half hour later, she smiled as she joined a group of other agents who were gathered around the bar. “Naya!” an older woman called out, signaling to the bartender for another drink. “Come on, honey! We’re way ahead of you!”
Naya immediately felt better as she approached the group of fellow real estate agents. It was hard enough entering a big bash like this alone. Knowing someone at these fancy affairs, having someone to talk to, helped ease the stress of attending as a single person. She hated standing awkwardly alone, but she also refused to attend with anyone. Nope! No dates for her! Not even as a friend. She’d tried that route when she’d first started out but, although Seattle was a big city, it still had a small town feel to it. And in the real estate business, the crowd was even smaller.
There was no way she would have her name attached to another person’s. The industry was just too small. Everyone knew everyone else and they gossiped worse than she would have thought possible.
“Hey Laura,” she greeted, leaning in for the usual air kiss. Can’t mess up the lipstick. Not with so many potential clients wandering around.
This was a charity event for…Actually, Naya couldn’t remember what this one was for. She must have donated last year in order to get an invitation this year, but she had been to so many over the past few weeks, she was losing track.