Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
“Clearly a believer in the ‘less is more’ mentality. I especially like the tinfoil vase.”
“He’s very adept at arts and crafts.” I look over the beautiful bouquet he brought me. “Yours are lovely, too. Even without the foil.”
“Well, if they can impress without tinfoil, I must have made the right choice.”
I smile, taking the bouquet in my left arm and lifting them so I can smell them. “I love orchids.” I bring my gaze back to his. “Thank you. That was very thoughtful. Did you just come to do a costume check and deliver flowers, or did you watch the performance?”
He draws a ticket out of his breast pocket. “Paid my fifteen dollars and everything. I very much enjoyed all of your costumes. Who do I have to contact about arranging a private show?”
I shake my head and look down at my flowers, memories of last night creeping up on me. “No private shows for you. You shouldn’t even be here. I don’t know what this has to do with handling my neighbor problem.”
“Well, obviously, if Brent sees you coming home without flowers, he’ll make certain assumptions about the kind of boyfriend I am.”
I smile because he’s so full of shit. “Of course. Wouldn’t want Brent to form a bad opinion of your boyfriend abilities.”
He nods, his gaze moving slowly over my body before returning to my face. More seriously, he says, “You danced your ass off tonight. You must be hungry. Let me take you out to dinner.”
“I am hungry, but I can’t go to dinner with you. My daughter’s waiting in the car.”
“She can’t drive herself home?”
“She’s also hungry,” I state.
“Then bring her, too.”
That surprises me so much, the smile falls off my face. There have been a lot of times dating as a single mom when I wished a man would say something like that.
Some part of me even thinks Parker might like Hayden, but since she doesn’t know he’s the one I was out with last night, I can’t just spring something like that on her. She might not be comfortable saying no, but also not be comfortable hanging out with her mortal enemy’s father.
I don’t want to put her in an awkward position, and I’m not prepared to clue her in that I’ve spent time with him outside of his office, anyway.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
I shoot him a look. “You know why not.”
“I won’t invite Landon.”
“And how do you think he’ll respond if he finds out you took us to dinner without him? Honestly, Hayden. He makes her life hard enough.”
“I told you, I’ll talk to him about that. There’s no reason to think he would find out about my taking you two out to dinner. It could be beneficial to hear her side of the story. It will give me a better idea of what I need to bring up when I do talk to him about it.”
I shake my head, but I’m more tempted by the idea than he can imagine.
Too tempted.
“We aren’t dating,” I state, partially to remind him but mostly to remind myself. It would be easy to get confused with the sex and the flowers, his pushy insistence on taking care of me and my problems when he doesn’t have to. “I don’t introduce my daughter to men I’m not dating. I hardly introduce her to men I am dating. Her stability is the highest priority for me, and I don’t see the point in sharing information that might upset her when this isn’t going anywhere.”
My reasonable statement seems to irritate him. “There you go saying that again.”
“It’s true. We both know it’s true. Now, thank you for the flowers. They’re lovely. I’m glad you enjoyed the show, and I appreciate the cameras, but I really have to go.”
I try to brush past him, but Hayden grabs my arm, halting my departure.
I look up at him, wordlessly requesting release.
He looks back, wordlessly denying it. “Tomorrow, then.”
His hard tone brooks no arguments, but I give him one, anyway.
“No.”
His eyes narrow. “I told you I want to see you again.”
I tug at my arm, but he doesn’t let go. “And I told you I’m not interested in dating.”
“We aren’t dating. We’re just spending time together. Preferably without clothes on, but I’m flexible.”
“Hayden…” I tug my arm again.
His grip tightens. “I’m not releasing you until you agree to see me again.”
“We are in public,” I remind him.
“I don’t care.”
He may not, but I do.
I cast a subtle glance at the people around us, hoping no one notices this brute holding my arm prisoner until I relent and give him his way.
The biggest problem is, a part of me wants to relent.
His hand locked around my arm reminds me of last night, the way his hands felt on my body. I can’t even remember how long it’s been since a man touched me, and never one like this.