“I’m sorry,” she said, “I think I should go. This isn’t a good idea. I need to—not have sex with my boss. If I stay here with you, there’s, there’s a pretty strong chance of it happening. So, um thank you for a—nice afternoon.”
“Just nice?”
She stared into his eyes. “More than nice. More than lovely. I had a wonderful, fantastic time.”
“I aim to please.”
“You went out of your way to make it different, special. Because usually, from what I’ve read, you take your dates out on the town.”
“I knew you wouldn’t be impressed by that.”
“You’re right. This was perfect. You’re nothing like what I thought you would be.”
“Really? Did you think I’d be old and stuffy? Because if that’s the case, then maybe you should read the tabloids.”
“I know you’ve gotten into a lot of trouble and need to clean up your image.”
“Yeah. Well, it’s about time I grow up.”
“Growing up. What does that entail? I mean, what are you looking for? A possible relationship? Something casual, no strings? Because that’s simply not me. I’m an old-fashioned hopeless romantic.”
“Then, if that’s the case, why did you want such a simple date? We could’ve had dinner underneath the stars surrounded by a million white candles. Because I assure you it would be a romantic and unforgettable experience.”
“And it would be so delightful. But then I would feel obligated. That’s why I wanted to keep it simple...for now.”
“So, if I play my cards right, I might get to take you to the date of your dreams?”
“Maybe.”
“Wonderful. Are you ready to go home?” he asked.
“I feel weak in the knees. I’ve never been kissed like that before. My body is going off like strobe lights at the disco right now.”
“I feel the exact same way.”
She smiled. “I need to take a shower and get dressed, back into my jeans.”
“I’ll meet you in the lobby in, say, thirty-minutes?”
“Okay,” she said faintly.
Chapter 14
WHILE SHE WAS RINSING the freakishly fancy gym shampoo out of her hair—it smelled like orchids and a tropical paradise—she tried to tell herself to calm down. You can’t act like a crazy person just because he kissed you, she thought. You have to try and be normal. She wasn’t sure how to be normal when fireworks were shooting off inside her, and her body kept telling her brain to find him and do things to him in the locker room shower. Things that belonged in the bad dialogue of a randy teen comedy, not an adult woman’s brain.
When she was safely dressed in her own clothes, she slicked her wet hair back into a severe ponytail. One that was so tight it pulled on her temples. She thought of it as penance for having all the impure thoughts. Really impure ones. About Luke Conners.
He was waiting for her in the gorgeous marble lobby. He held out a cold bottle of water to her. She took it gratefully and drank, hoping the icy liquid would cool off her rather embarrassing ardor for him.
“Feeling better?” he asked, looking unfairly gorgeous like a naughty J. Crew model.
“I always do after a shower.”
“Me, too,” he said.
“I’m sorry. I guess I’ve been alone for a while and the first time you kissed me I acted like the horny nerd who just saw the Swedish exchange student in a bikini.”
“What?” he said, looking puzzled.