Page 57 of The Playboy Meets His Match
“You can come to my apartment,” she said reluctantly, her thoughts still on Dorian. “I feel as though I’ve failed Holly again. And you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. That was just one gambit and it didn’t work.” Tilting his head to one side, he studied her. “Do you know how long it’s been since I kissed you?” he asked, and his voice lowered a notch.
She smiled. “About ten minutes ago when you came into the restaurant.”
“I mean really kissed you, the way I want to,” he replied in a husky voice that made her pulse beat faster.
“At my door after our date last night,” she replied. “If that’s the kind of kiss you’re talking about.”
“That’s way too long,” he said, taking her hand to brush warm kisses lightly over her knuckles. His kisses made her tingle as much as his words, and she forgot being with Dorian or the frustration she had been feeling. All her attention was on the breathtakingly handsome man gazing solemnly at her.
He raised his wineglass in a toast. “Here’s to tonight.”
She arched her brows and raised her glass to touch his. “Fine. What’s tonight?”
“A special evening with you. Each one is a celebration of my love. I love you, Merry. Deeply, truly, always. Sooner or later you’re going to realize that I’m telling the truth.”
“Jason…” she said, turning to brush a kiss on the back of his hand.
Their roasted king salmon served with a lemon artichoke aioli arrived, and while they ate, Jason talked about his rodeo days when he was in college and immediately afterwards, keeping her laughing and her thoughts off Dorian and the afternoon.
“You and your brothers were a wild bunch!”
“I doubt if we were half as wild as your brother Hank.”
“That’s probably true. Hank has spent a few nights in jail for brawls. You probably charmed your way out of that.”
“I don’t recall charming too many cops, or having to charm them, either. And I seem to be striking out with you when it really counts.”
She smiled at him. “You’re not striking out at all. You’re just not getting your way every single second.”
“I’m not getting my way about anything where you’re concerned.”
“That’s not true.”
“I want you to marry me. I want you to come back home with me. I didn’t want you to talk to Dorian today. Tell me when I get to something where I’m having my way.”
She laughed. “Maybe you haven’t been getting your way quite as much lately.”
“I haven’t gotten my way since I met you.”
“I think you have, a few times. Like, what do you want to do right now?”
“Take you home and make love to you,” he answered instantly.
“Then what are we waiting for?” she said, knowing she was breaking her own rule, but unable to resist him.
He was already on his feet and taking her arm. She smiled at him as she stood. He kissed her lightly and leaned close to whisper in her ear, “I could eat you up right here if you’d let me.”
“Get going,” she said, her heart racing in anticipation. He slipped his arm around her waist as they left the restaurant.
At the door of her apartment, she put her hand against his chest. The May night was cool and beautiful with sparkling stars and a clear sky. Crickets chirped, but otherwise the apartment complex was quiet and far enough from Main that all sounds of traffic were muffled.
“We’ll make love a little while, but I didn’t mean you can stay the night.”
“Merry, that’s not—”
She placed her finger on his lips. “Take it or leave it.”
