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She didn’t ask who it was. First mistake. As she pulled the door open and saw Spencer, her second was not slamming it in his face.
Then again, that she couldn’t move for a full thirty seconds kinda inhibited any such gestures.
“Hey.” He slipped his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels as if he were powered by an invisible motor. “Thought maybe we could get some dinner.”
All at once, he seemed to notice her attire. His jaw landed on the floor near her composure. “Headed out for the night?”
Her mind whirled. She was half tempted to say she was going to Kink. Or out with some amazing man, maybe Paul. He’d stand in as a good imaginary boyfriend. Spencer would buy that too. He’d seen the way Paul had eaten her up—without benefit of a spoon—the night before.
But as usual, the lies wouldn’t come. “I have a dinner engagement,” she said after a moment.
When he charged into her foyer, she stepped back to avoid being mowed down. “With whom?”
“I’m not sure that’s any of your concern.”
“Fuck yeah, it’s my concern. What happened to your one-man woman speech?”
And so commenced the swearing. It was almost funny to learn how he worked. “I don’t have a man. You’ve made that clear.” She gave him her most fake smile, the one she’d modeled after Leigh. If any woman knew how to look completely insincere, it was her. “Now if you wouldn’t mind—”
“I do. I mind very much.” He started to reach for her, but he stopped when she held up a hand.
“Nope. Paws off.” She drew a triangle around her body. “This area is now officially off-limits.”
Instead of rolling his eyes as she’d expected—she knew she sounded just a little ridiculous—he cocked an eyebrow and rocked some more. “You really are angry.”
“No, I’ve just wised up. You and I are wrong. We’re every shade of wrong in the damn rainbow. I have no desire to turn into some sort of emotionally stifled—”
“I came here to ask you to dinner, Kelly. Out in public. Wherever you want to go.” He cleared his throat. “An actual date, sex optional.”
“Thanks, but I have plans.” She opened the door, shifting out of the way when he slammed it closed. She blew out a breath. “I’m not arguing with you, Spencer. You want things your way. Well, bully for you. I’m doing things my way now.”
“I can’t stop thinking about you. What more do you want from me?”
The quiet admission broke her. If he’d come at her with more bluster, she’d have turned her back on him without a qualm. Okay, there would have been qualms, but they would have come later. But this…she hadn’t expected honesty. And she didn’t know what to say.
He moved closer and sniffed her hair. “You smell like fruit tonight. Not flowers.”
“I’m a woman of many sides,” she said, hoping like hell her voice sounded normal. She was surprised he’d even noticed. “And body washes.”
“It’s nice.”
“No, please, the flattery. It’s too much.”
“You look beautiful.” When she turned, his mouth curved as he eyed her from head-to-toe. “You’re so…tall.”
She couldn’t restrain her laugh. “Why, thank you for noticing.”
“It’s those damn short dresses you keep wearing. Your legs look long enough to—”
“Wrap around your neck?” she asked sweetly when he faltered.
He gifted her with one of his rare true smiles. At least they’d been rare before this week. He was smiling more and more now. She hoped it was because of her, but even assuming that seemed like too big a leap. “Something like that.”
Her fingers skimmed up his slate-gray tie, plucked at the tidy knot. As much as she loved seeing him disheveled and sweaty, his buttoned-up look had always worked well for her too.
She swallowed deeply. If she didn’t give him a chance, she was no better than he was. She also didn’t know how to turn him away, not when he was here in her foyer and so handsome she wanted to cry. Or laugh.
“I’m having dinner with friends. You’re welcome to join us.”
