And I won’t.
She washed off. While rinsing, she turned up the heat, let it scald her back. Off went the faucet and she dried off, moisturized her skin, and slipped into her silky robe.
Sex energized her, so there was no way she’d be able to sleep. Rather than crawl into bed, she made her way downstairs. In the foyer, as she rounded the corner, movement caught her eye and she startled.
Luciano sat on the sofa in the living room, looking damn near perfect in his suit and white dress shirt. As expected, his just-sexed hair had fallen back into place. The front porch lights streamed through the windows, bathing him in a soft glow. When he turned, the sadness in his eyes surprised her.
“I wanted to thank you for tonight,” he said.
She walked into the front room. “No need. It was fun.”
“I’m talking about the entire evening. I liked that you met Elsa, that you know Slash. My life is very compartmentalized. The overlap is different.”
She offered nothing more than a simple nod.
He rose. “I want you to know something about me.” He walked to her, clasped her hand in his. “I meant it when I asked you to dinner.”
Did he feel guilty that he was leaving? He didn’t strike her as someone who would.
Ahh, I know.
“This doesn’t have to be awkward if we run into each other’s at Carrera’s.” She tucked her hair behind one ear. “I’m a grown woman who invited you into my house, into my bedroom, and into my body. I have no expectations, especially when it comes to you.”
He furrowed his brow. “What does that mean?”
“Look, you’re a playboy. A no-strings man. I’m good with that, but I’m not gonna repeat this.”
“I understand,” he replied. “That’s why I asked you to dinner.”
“Like a date?”
He kissed her cheek. “Yes.”
“I don’t date,” she blurted.
“Why not?”
“I’m not on any dating sites and I don’t go to bars. I work a lot?—”
“I would imagine that your spy jobandyour personal shopper career take up all your time.” He smiled.
Her lips tugged upward, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a full-blown smile. She had every confidence Slash and Carrera had told him about heractualcareer, but she wasn’t saying a word. Not one damn word.
“Doyoudate?” she asked.
“No,” he replied.
He was stroking her hand with his thumb sending delicious sparks soaring up her arm. He kissed her, leaving his lips on hers for several glorious seconds.
His phone rang.
To her surprise, he silenced it, kissed her again.
She ended the kiss, but she did kiss his cheek, then his other cheek. That made him smile. “Let me walk you out.”
She started to pull her hand away, but he kept a firm hold on it. Together, they walked to the front door.
“Goodbye, Luciano.”
