“I onlydo that with you, you know.” He squeezed her fingers.
“You’reintelligent, easy to talk to, and you’re so random that you’re never boring.Your mind is either zigging or zagging. All. The. Time.” She paused a beat.“I’m amazed by what you’ve achieved in only thirty-some years, Beck. It’sadmirable.”
“Notall admirable,” he chuffed. Even to his own ears, he sounded like a petulantchild.
Sherolled her eyes. “Fishing for more compliments? Okay. My grandma, who was avery wise woman, once said, ‘You don’t see a person’s true character when lifeis sunny; it only shows up when the storms roll in.’ You messed up, Beck. Bigtime. But you owned it. That takes courage. You’re trying to fix it, and Iadmire that. You have heart. Besides, you’re a gentleman, you’re supportive,and you’re stupid-dumb loyal. I love that. Your biggest flaw is you’re aterminal playboy.” She patted his hand and released it.
Hisattention caught on “I love that.”
Shelowered an eyebrow at him. “Are you even listening to me?”
“Ofcourse I’m listening. I always listen to you. But I gotta admit being labeledan irredeemable womanizer sucks.’”
“Youthink it’s an unfair label? How does a typical relationship go for you?”
Hestared at a water stain on the ceiling as he marshaled his thoughts. “Beforeyou, my relationships always followed the same pattern. I’m in it for a goodtime, and I’m up front about that. No strings, no commitments; I’m not settlingdown.” Pump and dump. “But sometimes the message is forgotten, and shethinks we’re in it till death do us part. A good time morphs into a supernovathat leads to a sucking sound—a black hole where the relationship ends up.”
“Soundslike a player to me. I mean, where else would these relationships go but into agraveyard? Ever slip up and fall in love?”
“Hellno! And I don’t lie and tell them I love them either.”
Shescrunched her face. “And this makes your behavior praiseworthy? Basicallyyou’re a user, a predator on the hunt for the next lay, with no intention of along-term bond. That’s sad, Beck.”
“Firstof all, I get approached most of the time, before I have a chance to setmy sights on anyone. Secondly, we’re consenting adults, and they knowthe score. How am I predatory?” His tone was level, curious even. She was theonly woman—the only person—he could talk to this way.
“Somaybe you’re not predatory, but doesn’t taking advantage and keeping an emotionaldistance make you a user?”
“Iconcede your point, but those women are users too. Hell, they use and manipulate.Am I worse because I’m a man?”
“Sinceyou put it that way, I guess not,” she sighed. “Your playground is so differentfrom anything I know. Don’t you ever get tired of it, Beck? A new girl everynight? What if one of them is someone special and you don’t stick around longenough to find out?”
“Noone’s hit that note, and yeah, I have gotten tired of it.”
“You’vesaid that before. Maybe you just keep attracting a certain type becausesubconsciously you know it won’t go anywhere and you keep yourself fromplunging in, from exposing your heart. Why not build a friendship first, makeit the foundation, so you don’t go from supernova to the black hole? Theexcitement, all that adrenaline is intoxicating, but it wears off. Why not makeit the icing so when you’ve licked it all off, you still have the cake?”
Hisstomach tightened, and other parts followed. “I love your analogies.”
Moreeye-rolling, accompanied by head-shaking.
Hegrabbed her hand and laced his fingers with hers. “So something just like this,taken to the next level?”
Hereyes sparked, and her hand twitched, but she left it in his and laughednervously. “I didn’t mean us.”
“Whynot?”
“Anddestroy a beautiful friendship? You’re not used to women saying ‘no,’ and you,Mr. Tenacious, enjoy a challenge. If I ever said yes, you’d stick around longenough to peep under my hood, and then you’d be gone in a flash.” She snappedher fingers.
Their waitressarrived in a flurry of plates, and while she deposited them on the table, Andiereclaimed her hand. Beckett drummed his fingers and cast her a regretfulglance. Funny, he wasn’t quite as hungry anymore.
.~ * * * ~.
Jazz floated from Andie’s bedroom. She’d been in there overan hour. What the hell was she doing? Had she been Yamila or Asha or any of theother women he’d brought to events like this, he would have expected it; anhour would be nothing for them. They’d have taken the whole fucking day, andthen there would be absolutely no touching. Couldn’t muss a hair or, Godforbid, lean in for a kiss. Might dislodge a fake eyelash. Fake hair. Fakeboobs. Fake smile.
Seatedin an overstuffed armchair in front of the fireplace, glasses on, he was staringat a magazine when Andie’s door finally clicked open. He glanced up, then stoodand whipped off the glasses.
Holyshit!
Shetwirled out of the bedroom in a daring, devastating, dark blue lace cocktaildress cut low. Too low. Nothing fake about this girl. The lacy hemstopped at her knees, and his eyes traveled down her gorgeous legs to herperfect blood-red toenails peeking from come-fuck-me heels. Her hair was sweptup, and a few waving wisps framed her heart-shaped face.
“Willthis do?” She gave him a shy smile.
Hewolf-whistled and nodded slowly, praying drool wasn’t leaking from his mouth.“I thought I’d lost you in there, but the time spent was … Not that you’re notbeautiful all the time. Because you are … beautiful all the time. Butthis—wow.”
Theskin from her hairline to the gap between her breasts flushed. “Thank you, Mr.Miller. You’re looking rather fetching yourself.”
“Andie,you’re stunning.”
Shelaughed and blushed a deeper shade of pink. “Different than a cute pixie?”
Hecouldn’t keep the smile from tugging one side of his mouth. “Pixie isdefinitely not what comes to mind.” More like fucking hot. “Notthat there’s anything wrong with pixies. I think I’d better shut up now.”
A grinspread over her face. “Well, I do believe I’ve gotten the effect I was
