Politeness won…barely. “The seat’s empty.”
Why did his eyes have to be equally alluring? Not that weak brown that faded in light, but cocoa bean brown. Those eyes were now aimed in her direction.
“Thank you, ma’am. I could use the silent company.”
What did that mean, the silent company?
She sized him up to be around thirty-five years old. His smooth leather shoes…the cut of his suit said he came from money. The man-bun slicked to the back of his head said he was all the way naughty. If she was correct, he wouldn’t be a disappointment in bed.
Ivy shook her head.Not her type, she mentally repeated, checking her phone.
His age group was more inclined to use words like commitment, settle-down, and family. Words that reminded her of her parent’s marriage. Oh, her parents were great at the commitment and settling down part, but they weren’t good at the family part. Specifically, knowing what to do with a child.
At twenty-six, nothing in her life said commitment, unless it referred to building her marketing company. While her team worked virtually, she enjoyed traveling and taking on new contracts in new cities. It was why tonight was so perfect. Get laid. Enjoy multiple orgasms to last a few months. Leave.
She checked the time—ten minutes before lover-boy showed. Considering her current companion, she was regretting arriving fifteen minutes early for her date. Choosing a secluded area in the lounge was her second error.
Trying her best to ignore the man in front of her, Ivy dismissed the update notice on her device which always messed with her apps and files. She found the dating app with tonight’s checklist, opening it. At least, she could distract herself by double-checking that she was prepared for the night.
Condoms
Hotel room
No personal info
Good looking
Considerate
Intelligent conversationalist
Since her date was cutting it close regarding time, Ivy added punctuality to the list of requirements for next time. She could have made an entrance, shown up late, made him drool over the hot red dress she was wearing, but Ivy hated games as much as she hated tardiness.
“Are you waiting for a friend?”
“My date.” She didn’t look up. Let him realize he was deviating from ‘silent’company.
“Ah.”
Her gaze shot to his too late to check herself.Drat!He had made that pitiful sound on purpose. “Was that a sympathetic ah,” she asked, “or, a your-nights’-about-to-be-better-than-mine ah?”
“I haven’t decided.”
There was that draw-you-in cheeky smile again.
Just ignore him, Ivy. His opinion doesn’t matter. Tomorrow, you’ll blow out of Wheelcaster and on a plane to Maryland for a quick follow-up on a previous job, then on to your dream project in Bourbon, Texas. When your date shows, you’ll never see Mr. swoony man-bun again. Nine minutes.Was it her imagination or was time slowing down?
“I’ll keep you company until your date arrives.” Turning in his seat, he signaled a passing waitress. “Waiting is a bitch.”
That was code for, ‘you’re about to be stood up, you poor girl.’ Shouldn’t he be running? Wasn’t he afraid she’d spend the rest of the evening complaining about men, their manners, or some other shortcomings?
“That’s generous of you,” she said darkly.
She wished he wasn’t generous at all. If her assumptions were correct about his tone, she didn’t want an audience to the derailing of her perfectly planned evening.
“Oh, I’m not fixin’ to be generous.” His gaze was piercing.
What did he mean? The pit of her stomach did a little flip that sent a sizzle of electricity to her panties. This was the second time her sex-deprived body responded to him. It wasn’t lost on her that from the moment he sat, he’d ticked the ‘good looking’ box on her checklist. She clamped her mouth and her legs shut, resolving to ignore him and her tingling body parts. When he kept staring, her curiosity got the better of her. “It’s Friday night in a beautiful city, don’t you have plans?”