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Kelly’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment and she finished the rest of her wine with an unladylike gulp. She set her glass on the bar with a clink and stood. “I should probably get home.”
“I was just teasing you, darling.” He caught her wrist in his big warm hand, stroking the inside with his thumb. “I promise to behave if you stay.”
Kelly pulled from his grasp and dipped down to give him a peck on the cheek. “It’s almost ten and I have to be at the office early.”
“You sure I can’t change your mind?”
For a grown man, his pout was rather adorable, and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth so she wouldn’t smile. His ego was far too healthy as it was.
“Not tonight, Hank, but thank you. I had fun.”
Hank groaned. “Oi, she said fun. I’m doomed.”
She placed her hands on her hips with a huff. “I could have said you were boring and I never want to see you again.”
“Do you want to see me again?” His eyes bored into hers with a seriousness that made her shift her feet.
Hank was nice and funny. They could go out for dinner and drinks without breaking her protocol, especially since the mere touch of his hand didn’t send her into an excited state of lust.
“Yes, I think I would.”
His self-satisfied grin took up his whole face. “Well, then there is that, I suppose.”
“Goodnight,” she said, a hint of laughter in her voice.
He stood up next to her, and even though he had tipped the bartender earlier, he put another bill on the bar. “I’ll walk you to your car. There could be fiends about.”
“In Sweetheart? Please.”
“All the same, I’ll see you out.”
Kelly picked her phone up off the bar. He placed his hand on the small of her back, gently leading her outside and she smiled. She’d had a good time, and Hank was charming. She didn’t remember much about her first date with Ray except his hands were sweaty and she’d been so nervous she kept having to leave the movie theater to pee.
So far, her grown-up dating experience had been a dud. At least she liked Hank.
Maybe I should just say to hell with the rules for once.
But as she paused just inside her car door, looking up at his handsome face shadowed in the street lights, the words, “Come home with me,” froze in her throat.
“I’ll see you Friday, Hank.”
“Unless I see you before that.” He winked at her as he backed up and made his way one row down to a silver Porsche.
Kelly climbed into the driver’s seat and shut the door. Well, that had been a bust. Why the heck couldn’t she do casual sex? She’s seen it done hundreds of times in movies and television. Most men didn’t turn down no strings attached romps in the sheets, so the risk for rejection was low.
She turned the key in the ignition, realizing that it was probably a good thing she didn’t suggest they get it on. Hank was going to be her client for several more weeks. It would be awful to have a casual fling and either one or both be disappointed in the other’s performance. Hank was probably a sex god who knew every move and position to make a woman come, while Kelly…
Well, her experiences had all been with Ray for about three months before he deployed. They’d had sex a couple times while he was on leave, but other than that, she was not exactly a rock star in the bedroom.
Besides, she wanted a serious relationship, right? Not some love-her-and-leave-her fling with an actor.
I haven’t lived at all since I was twenty years old. I have buried myself in work for eleven years. It’s time that I get a life.
She needed to get some experience and take life by the balls. And maybe, by the time the summer was over, she’d give Hank what he wanted.
Her phone beeped, and she swiped her thumb over the screen. Chris had finally texted her back.
Hey, sorry, I just got home. Heading to bed.
