I glanced to my right at the glass wall that provided zero isolation. “Sort of.”
Stephen’s eyes followed mine, and he laughed. “It works elsewhere.” He lowered the folder. “I hope you don’t think I’m too forward,” he continued in a gentle voice. “But I’d love to take you out for dinner sometime.”
I smiled politely. I’d sort of been expecting the invitation since the comments Stephen had made that morning. He was friendly and helpful and attractive. There was no reason to not jump at the offer. It was just… I already knew it wouldn’t work out. We’d never get further than a handful of dates at best.
It was gut instinct telling me we were both dominant men.
And sure, maybe Stephen would have no problem switching off, but it wasn’t just sex that had been an ongoing issue my entire adult life. It was…everything. The whole package. I needed to be in a relationship with a man who let me be in charge in the ways that felt natural to me. More importantly, though, I needed someone who was my equal that found the same comfort I obtained from dominance in being … submissive.
Like how some people prefer to be held? I prefer to hold.
Some don’t like to make the first move? I’m always the one to react first—even if I put my foot in my mouth half of the time.
At the end of the day, my problem was always the same. I don’tlooklike a dominant male figure. Looks shouldn’t matter, but come on, so many of us are guilty of judging a book by its cover. Stephen was probably doing that right now, whether he meant to or not. He saw a thin, lanky, artsy sort of guy and maybe expected….
Stephen raised an eyebrow. “No? It’s okay. No excuse necessary.” He started to get up.
“Wait.” I reached for his arm and kept him from rising. “I’m sorry. I don’t… befuddlement wasn’t my intended response.”
“It looks cute on you, though.”
Hell. I guess one date wouldn’t hurt….
“Sure, I’d like that.”
“Yeah? How about this Wednesday?”
“It’s a date.”
Stephen stood. “It sure is.”
Chapter Three
21 Days Until Christmas
“ONE HOTchocolate with cinnamon, toasted marshmallows, and—” A tall mug was set down in front of me. “—mint chocolate flakes.”
I whistled. “Now this sure as hell beats the powdered chocolate in hot water.” I sat at the counter of a little restaurant on Main Street called Eatery. They had a nice menu, rave reviews with the locals, and considering the state of my house and that I’d only just left the school around dinnertime, the fact that they also offered takeout was a godsend.
The huge guy behind the counter jutted a thumb at the kitchen door. “Your meal will be out in about fifteen minutes.”
“Awesome, thank you.”
“No problem.” He flashed a quick smile over my shoulder before calling toward the front door, “Hey, Felix!”
I inhaled drink and air at the same time and started coughing.
The big guy looked down. “You okay?”
“F-fine!” I wheezed, waving a hand. I spun on the barstool and my feet smacked right into Felix as he approached the register. “Oh crap!”
Felix tugged down the scarf that covered his mouth. He looked to be on the verge of laughing. “Nice to see you again too.”
“I’m sorry,” I replied.
Felix just smiled.
I looked at the guy behind the counter and pointed to the hot chocolate. “Is there alcohol in this?”
