“Because temporary isn’t enough for you? What is it with women and the urge to marry?” It didn’t make sense to focus so much on the future when it wasn’t guaranteed.
“Temporary is all fine and great, in the moment. But what happens in three or four months, when we’ve been sleeping together and spending most of our free time together and I’ve fallen in love with him but he’s still grieving her? My heart is broken, and he thinks he’s free and clear because he told me he wasn’t ready.” She shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“He did tell you,” I told her, realizing my mistake too late.
She nodded a little too energetically, arms folded as she walked through the parking lot and to the sidewalk beyond. “Yes, but the nature of spending time with someone and getting to know them, it changes things. To think because you say up front that things won’t change doesn’t stop them from changing. It’s a cop-out, but it’s one I appreciate because it tells me when to steer clear.”
“That’s a lot of thought to put into giving out your number.”
“Maybe so, but the same way you avoid relationships altogether to avoid hurt, I pay attention to red flags and avoid them.”
I stopped and turned to look at Eva, lit only by the golden lights of the street lamps above. “I’m not avoiding hurt, just complications.”
“If that’s what you need to tell yourself, Oliver, okay.”
I stepped into her space. “It’s the truth.”
“If you say so.” Her tone was filled with amusement, almost as if she was holding back laughter. “Tough guy.” With those last two words, laughter spilled out of her, loud enough to echo and shake her body, drawing my gaze once again to lovely rounded breasts. My fingers itched to touch them, to touch her and see if she was as soft as she looked.
“Eva,” I growled but she was doubled over with laughter and, dammit, it was contagious.
“Sorry,” she said, not sounding even a little bit sorry. “Sorry.”
“Eva,” I growled and when she stood up this time—face flushed pink with good humor, mouth parted slightly—I did it. The inevitable.
I kissed her, right there under the street lamp.
I waited for Eva to push me away and smack my face, but she didn’t. Despite her clear hesitation, she didn’t move back, and I deepened the kiss. I pulled her curvy body flush against mine and held her there while my tongue plundered her mouth. And somewhere between moment one and one thousand, Eva leaned into me and wrapped her arms around me. She demanded more with her mouth and her moans, pressing her tits against me so I could feel the hard tips of her nipples.
All rational thought fled. My hands found their way to the round globes of her ass and I squeezed, drawing another moan from her sweet lips. The kiss went on and on, our breaths coming out sharp and fast, and not often enough.
A car honked in the distance and laughter sounded, making both of us jump apart as if we’d been caught being naughty. In a way, I guess we had. Our gazes locked on one another, chests heaving, eyes swimming with heat and confusion.
“Did that…?” She couldn’t even finish the question before she shook her head in disbelief.
“It did. Do I need to apologize?” I wasn’t sorry for it, but if she truly hadn’t wanted it, I would.
Eva shook her head. “No. We were both responsible, but it can’t happen again.”
It shouldn’t happen again, but it would. That kind of kiss wasn’t just a one-off, but Eva didn’t want to hear that. Not now. “Agreed. Let me walk you home?”
Eva shook her head and took a quick step back. “Also not a good idea at the moment. Thanks for the offer, though. We’ll make a gentleman out of you yet.” She winked and walked off, leaving me alone with a boner at the sight of her swaying hips moving farther and farther away from me.
“Only a gentleman in the streets,” I called out to her. The last thing I heard was a deep husky laugh, echoing in the distance.
What a crazy damn night.EvaI blame my mama. None of the things that happened on Oliver’s first date with Priscilla would have happened if Mama hadn’t been planting ideas in my head. On purpose. She knew exactly what she was doing, calling me just an hour before the Big Date to worm her words into my head.
Nice charming man.
Even a dog can change for the right woman.
Imagine how gorgeous your babies will be.
Of course, I wasn’t thinking any of those things. I swear. I was thinking about how gorgeous Priscilla Evans was and how accomplished she was, with a string of fashion boutiques across the Southern United States. I was imagining the best-case scenario, Oliver falling for Priscilla in fourteen days. Me winning the bet.