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He could deny it. Pretend he hadn’t. But he wasn’t a liar. So he nodded. “In my mind, it ends with us naked in bed and you looking pretty damn happy. That’s as far as I’ve gotten.”
“Look, I like you. You seem like you’re a good guy. You did it—you showed me you’re not the guy I thought you were. We could probably even be friends.” She looked up from her drink. “But that’s all this could ever be. I can’t fall for you. I can’t sleep with you. You can’t make me come in your bed or mine. You’re too much of a risk, and I don’t take those anymore.”
He heard every damn word she said, and he even understood it.
If he were her, he’d be saying the same damn thing.
But he wasn’t ready to give up yet.
If she didn’t want to be with him, and all she could offer was friendship, then fine. So be it. They’d be friends. He’d never been friends with a woman before, let alone one he wanted, but he’d be willing to give it a shot for her. He swallowed. “Consider this a dinner between two friends, enjoying one another’s company, with no sexual tension between them, then.”
She blinked. “You still want to be my friend?”
“Of course I do.” He tapped a finger on the white tablecloth. “I wasn’t only here because I wanted to fuck you, Shel. Yes, I want to. And yes, I’m attracted to you, and I think that since you don’t want a relationship and I don’t either, we could have some fun…but I respect that you don’t want that. I want to get to know you, in any capacity you’re willing to allow.”
She bit down on her lip. “You always say the perfect things.”
“Sorry.” He smiled. “It’s a horrible habit of mine.”
She smiled. “Deplorable.”
“I’ll try to stop.”
She nodded. “Please do. I can’t accept your insufferable need to be so frigging perfect. It’s exhausting to watch.”
A laugh burst out of him, and for the first time, he wasn’t surprised. He wasn’t much of a laughing guy, but with her, he was. And he liked it. Go figure.
So, yeah, he’d be her friend.
Only her friend.
But if she gave him even the slightest hint that she wanted more than that, if she so much as leaned in for a damn kiss, then it was go time.
Chapter Six
Last night had been a complete disaster.
Even worse than that?
It had been the perfect date.
After she’d come clean to Eric about her antics, he’d behaved exactly the same as he had before she told him he had no chance of getting laid. He’d been charming. Funny. Patient. Kind. Everything she wanted in a guy and more. And that’s why it had been a disaster.
He’d been perfect.
Even worse?
She wanted him. Bad.
Sliding her purse over her shoulder, she grabbed her muffin, opened her door, and stepped into the hallway. As soon as she turned around, she spotted him standing against the wall again.
With two cups of coffee.
Damn it.
He smiled immediately. “Grande vanilla chai latte, right?”
“How…?” She walked toward him. “How did you know my drink?”
