Even her personality was nothing special. She’d come out of her shell and had more self-confidence than ever before, but years of keeping to herself had left her a little socially awkward.
“What are you thinking?” Sam asked.
“Why did you ask me over here? What do you want?” She looked around suspiciously. Was someone waiting to pop out and shout, You’re on Candid Camera?
“I’m not sure what you mean. I wanted to see you again and inviting you over for dinner seemed like a normal thing. Is it not?” His brows knit in confusion.
“But why?” she pressed. “Are you wanting to get back at me for the other night? Is the food poisoned?”
“Why would I want to get back at you? I had a great time.”
“Because you didn’t, you know, finish?” She looked away as she said it and felt her cheeks warm.
He chuckled. “Well, that did suck. I’m not gonna lie. But I’m a big boy, Annie. That didn’t upset me. If anything, it intrigued me.”
“What? You think I’m playing some game?” she exclaimed. “Look, I’m sorry about what happened. I didn’t mean to shove you out the door. I honestly was in shock it happened at all, and I didn’t register your, um, condition. I’ve never done that before.”
“Done what before?”
“Any of it. Been picked up at a bar. Had a one-night stand. Had sex against a door. Received flowers from a man. None of it. I’m way out of my league, Sam. You’re way out of my league.” She was beginning to panic, and tears welled up. “And now you tell me you had two dinners just to spend some time with me? What am I supposed to think?”
“Hey, hey,” he soothed. “It’s okay.” He pulled her into his arms, and she hugged him back tightly.
“You said you were married. Surely, he sent you flowers.”
She shook her head. “No, never. He didn’t want to waste money on something that was only going to die.”
“Asshole,” Sam muttered. “And you want me to believe that a beautiful woman like you has never been hit on at a bar. That’s hard to believe.” He leaned back to look at her, apparently trying to gauge her reaction.
She snorted when he said beautiful woman. “To be honest, just being in a bar was new. I didn’t do the bar scene in college, and then I got married. Since my divorce, I haven’t been out much.”
“Annie, I want to get to know you. Is that so hard to believe?” She crooked an eyebrow.
“Look, just try to forget who I am. Think of me as a normal guy who’s interested in spending time with you,” he said.
“You could have anyone you want, Sam. I know you’ve dated supermodels and movie stars and real-life, actual princesses. What I don’t get is, why me? I’m nobody.”
“Don’t say that. Yes, I’ve dated some famous, beautiful women, but just because they’re pretty doesn’t mean they’re perfect or any better than you. Their looks don’t tell the whole story. You’re nothing like those women, and I think that’s why I’m attracted to you. You aren’t intimidated by me, and you don’t try to suck up or tell me only things I want to hear. You speak your mind. You aren’t pretentious and don’t see others as beneath you. You’re easy-going and normal.”
“So, is this like a Pretty Woman story? I’m an experiment to see what it’s like dating how the little people do?” She put air quotes around little people. Irritated, she moved to get out of his embrace, but he held on tight.
“No. That’s not it at all. I don’t know how to describe it. I feel a pull to you, a connection. Ever since I saw you at the bar the other night. And for the record, I never have one-night stands like we did either. If my attorneys ever found out, they would go ballistic. That was very out of character for me, and I should probably apologize, but I’m not sorry. I don’t feel like I’m better than you. I just want to get to know you. Is that so bad?”
“I guess not,” she softened and relaxed a little in his arms.
“Are you going to freak out if I kiss you right now?”
“Are you going to ask for permission every time you kiss me?”
“I hope not.” He tipped her chin up and slowly leaned down to kiss her. When she didn’t move or protest, he closed the gap. He kissed her tenderly, soothing her anguish. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him back. He was a good six inches taller and had to bend to reach her.
He grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her to the countertop. She spread her legs, and he moved in, deepening the kiss as he did. She opened her mouth, and their tongues met. Tilting her head, she sighed into him. He was hard between her legs, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer.
Just as he was about to round second, she broke the kiss and laid her forehead on his chest, breathing heavily. “Sam, this is a bad idea. Now that you know I work for you, this could get really awkward.”
“Yes. You’re right. I don’t suppose you want to quit? Or that you’d be okay if I fired you?” He smiled.
“Ha. Ha.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. It was worth a shot.” He chuckled. “The thing is, I feel like maybe this situation could be different. What if we just hang out here and there? We don’t have to tell anyone.”
“You mean treat me like a booty call?” She was more intrigued than offended. Her brow creased as she considered it.
“No. Not like that at all. Let’s take sex off the table for now. I just want to get to know you.”
“You mean off the counter?” She snorted at her own joke.
“See, this
