‘Which fairy tale? The one where the stepmother poisons the apple or the one where the prince has to deal with a heroine with narcolepsy?’
She laughed. ‘The happy-ending part. I want to fall in love, settle down and have lots of babies.’ Enjoying herself, she looked him in the eye. ‘Am I freaking you out yet?’
‘That depends. Are you expecting to do any of that with me?’
‘No! Of course not.’
‘Then you’re not freaking me out.’
‘I start every relationship in the genuine belief it might go somewhere.’
‘I presume you mean somewhere other than bed?’
‘I do. I have never been interested in sex for the sake of sex.’
Nik looked amused. ‘That’s the only sort of sex I’m interested in.’
She sat back in her chair and looked at him. ‘I’ve never had sex with a man I wasn’t in love with. I fall in love, then I have sex. I think sex cements my emotional connection to someone.’ She sneaked another look at him. ‘You don’t have that problem, do you?’
‘I’m not looking for an emotional connection, if that’s what you’re asking.’
‘I want to be more like you. I decided this morning I’m going to have cold, emotionless rebound sex. I’m switching everything off. It’s going to be wham, bam, thank you, man.’
The corners of his mouth flickered. ‘Do you have anyone in mind for this project?’
She sensed this wasn’t the moment to confess he was right at the top of her list. ‘I’m going to pick a guy I couldn’t possibly fall in love with. Then I’ll be safe. It will be like—’ she struggled to find the right description ‘—emotional contraception. I’ll be taking precautions. Wearing a giant condom over my feelings. Protecting myself. I bet you do that all the time.’
‘If you’re asking if I’ve ever pulled a giant condom over my feelings, the answer is no.’
‘You’re laughing at me, but if you’d been hurt as many times as I have you wouldn’t be laughing. So if emotions don’t play a part in your relationships, what exactly is sex to you?’
‘Recreation.’ He took a menu from the waiter and she felt a rush of mortification. As soon as he walked away, she gave a groan.
‘How long had he been standing there?’
‘Long enough to know you’re planning on having cold, unemotional rebound sex and that you’re thinking of wearing a giant condom over your feelings. I think that was the point he decided it was time to take our order.’
She covered her face with her hands. ‘We need to leave. I’m sure the food here is delicious, but we need to eat somewhere different or I need to take my plate under the table.’
‘You’re doing it again. Letting emotions govern your actions.’
‘But he heard me. Aren’t you embarrassed?’
‘Why would I be embarrassed?’
‘Aren’t you worried about what he might think of you?’
‘Why would I care what he thinks? I don’t know him. His role is to serve our food and make sure we enjoy ourselves sufficiently to want to come back. His opinion on anything else is irrelevant. Carry on with what you were saying. It was fascinating. Dining with you is like learning about an alien species. You were telling me you’re going to pick a guy you can’t fall in love with and use him for sex.’
‘And you were telling me sex is recreation—like football?’
‘No, because football is a group activity. I’m possessive, so for me it’s strictly one on one.’
Her heart gave a little flip. ‘That sounds like a type of commitment.’
‘I’m one hundred per cent committed for the time a woman is in my bed. She is the sole focus of my attention.’
Her stomach uncurled with a slow, dangerous heat. ‘But that might only be for a night?’