“I’m not on a date,” she clarified, shifting self-consciously in her seat. Knowing their conversation was one-and-done made her bold. “It’s a one-night arrangement.”
“Here you go, darlin’.” The waitress handed them each a glass. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
Ivy eyed the pair over the rim of her glass. The poor thing was doing her darndest to engage. Ivy admitted, the drink was delicious and just the way she liked her liquor, sweet, fruity. One drink shouldn’t have counted as brownie points, but she ticked the considerate box. What was that nonsense people often spewed…it’s the thought that counts. It was irritating, however, that he easily guessed her drink preference and she vowed to ask how he knew. She didn’t doubt he had a line of women he probably learned from.
“No, thank you,” mister swoony said. When the waitress walked away, he faced Ivy. “Was my order up to snuff?”
“It’s delicious.” She took another sip, enjoying a burst of pomegranate coating her pallet.
“You were going to tell me your requirements for tonight.”
“Was I?” She licked her lips. This man was persistent. Deciding to ignore the first two items, because Ivy wasn’t putting her safety under scrutiny or in the hands of a stranger, she said, “No sharing of personal info.”
“No attachments.” He nodded and she wanted to see that bun fly.
“Yes.” It was refreshing that he got her reasoning. Perhaps it was because he seemed more worldly—even if he did tease—than the guys she usually chose. He was older too. She tucked that information away for later. “I don’t want to be an ass for not exchanging digits when we’re done…er when the night is over.”
He chuckled. “What’s next?” At her wrinkled nose, he said, “I know there’s more, you might as well tell me. Besides, if anyone is going to review your sheet, they should be your man.”
“You’renotmy man.” Her thighs clenched in protest at her words.
His eyes heated like warm brandy from under thick lashes.
He was definitely masculine though. His white shirt, tucked beneath his navy blue suit was open at the collar, enough to glimpse sun-kissed skin. Ivy glanced away, but not quick enough. “Good looking.”
“I’m glad I have something going for me.”
She shot him a glare.Was he flirting?
“That’s two for two in my favor.” He drained his glass, signaling for another.
“You aren’t a contender,” she interjected. Ivy bit the inside of her cheek. Now she knew he was checking boxes of his own, she couldn’t dismiss the image of them wrapped in sheets.
“We’ll see,” he said, too confident for his own good. “What’s next.”
“Considerate,” she said, trying to ignore the tilt of his lips. “Able to have a decent conversation.”
“Talk during sex?” His brows wrinkled.
The base of her spine tingled. “If that’s what the moment calls for,” she said, then wished she hadn’t.
“You like kinky sex. Noted.”
Ivy gaped. Any retort died in her throat when the waitress returned. She finished her drink as another was placed on the table separating them by the flirty waitress. It shouldn’t have bothered her, but this time, the server’s look-at-my-boobs lean-in got under Ivy’s skin.
“I don’t know why I’m telling you any of this,” she said when the waitress left. “You’re a stranger—”
“Who enjoys a good one-night stand and kinky sex.” He leaned close. His fragrance filled her lungs like an invasion. “I’m Cor.”
She stared at his outstretched hand. Touching Cor seemed more intimate than sharing her penchant for list-making. Should she do it?
“Joan,” she lied, slipping her palm into his strong, sure, grip. Using a fake name was the only barrier left, since it was too late to ignore the drum of her pulse or leave the booth without seeming stuck-up. And Ivy wasn’t pretentious, she was attracted to Cor and he knew it.
“See, stranger problem solved.” His grip tightened ever so slightly. “Joan, huh. You don’t strike me as a Joan.”
She arched a challenging brow to hide her quickening pulse at being caught in a lie. If he would let go of her hand and back up a few inches, her senses wouldn’t overload. Who was she kidding, he could leave the hotel and his scent would linger. Wanting to put him in the spotlight, she closed the gap between them and instantly regretted it.He, not his fragrance, was the invading force.Drat, he was yummy.Swoony man-bun was one thing…how was she supposed to forget him now that she knew his name? But backing down now would be a show of weakness.
“No? Tell me then, how do I strike you?”
