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Too much.
“How about somewhere more public?” she asked, ignoring his question. “The library, maybe?”
“There are no libraries open on Sundays around here. Or at least, they won’t be by the time I’ll be ready to get out the door. I was reading the paper in bed when I decided to call. Iwasn’tgoing to call.” He said that last part in a nearly indecipherable mumble.
She wasn’t going to dwell on it. She already knew why he hadn’t wanted to call. Carine had said he didn’t ask more than once, and that he never begged. “You’re still in bed?”
“Mm-hmm. The paper is the only thing covering me right now.”
“You’re—” Due to her suddenly weak grip, Valerie nearly dropped her six-hundred-dollar phone into the sink. She managed to catch it against her belly before the corner hit the marble, though.
She didn’t want to think about that man in any state besides fully dressed, or else she’d probably be on her knees the next time she saw, him waiting patiently for him to place his balls on her tongue.
“You there?” he asked.
Breathing out a shameful little titter of self-hatred, she plopped gracelessly onto the tub’s edge. “I’m here. Um…”
Think, think.
“How about a coffee shop?” she suggested. “I can think of a couple that have tables wide enough to work on.”
“You can’t really have a good conversation there. Too much background noise.”
“True. Well, I know of a quieter place that has a back room. A deli. The owner lets me work in there sometimes if it’s not reserved.”
Tomato & Basil was a perfect spot to meet Tim. Valerie would be forced to keep her hands—and feet—to herself, they’d have to keep the innuendo and dirty talk down for the sake of public decency, and she’d be able to see for sure that Tim actuallydidwant her help and wasn’t just trying to pull a dom snake charmer routine on her. She’d taken a risk two nights ago and told himyes, foolishly thinking that she’d be able to avoid him afterward if she wanted to.
She hadn’t thought then that shewouldn’twant to.
He took so long to respond that she thought he was going to refuse. But finally, he asked, “Where is it?”
“I’ll text you the address. Meet me there at eleven, maybe?”
“Eleven-thirty. You’ll let me buy you lunch.”
“I don’t need you to. I could write it off as a partial tax deduction.”
“I’ll buy you lunch.” He disconnected.
She sat there on that uncomfortable tub rim for a while longer with the phone held to her ear and bobbing her knee nervously. There weren’t very many personality types she clicked well with, especially when it came to sex, and Tim was already hitting way too many of the right buttons for her.
He was quickly turning into a distraction.
___
Tim had somehow managed to beat Valerie to Tomato & Basil. She found him in the back room, seated in front of what looked to be Maria Lucia’s Deluxe Catering Spread, although a severely downsized version.
Valerie whistled low as he pulled out the chair at the head of the table for her. “That’s a lot of food for one guy.”
“Believe it or not, I didn’t order any of it,” he said with that warm laugh she was starting to become so addicted to. “Maria Lucia insisted that she bring me something to tide me over until you got here.”
“Doesn’t look like you’ve touched anything yet.”
“Nah, she just brought it. Help yourself. I’m sure she’ll poke her head in and ask what youreallywant to eat as soon as you get settled.”
“I’d probably be content with this.”
Tim put his elbows on the table and leaned in close. He smelled like cedar and citrus, warm and yet fresh—a scent that made her want to crawl onto his lap and purr.
