Page 13 of Irresistible

“No, not at all.” Watching Brock flip his spoon around and around as his knee bounced, told her how hard this was for him. “You liked me?”

“Lilly, it was a lot more than like. I wanted to devour you, own you, and maybe ruin you. The overwhelming desire I experienced scared the shit out of me. I thought there was something wrong with me. How could a man want that with a fifteen-year-old girl?”

She shredded her napkin and glanced up. “I had no idea you felt that way.”

Letting out a loud huff, his shoulders tensed. “I went off to college and buried myself in football and my studies. When I never felt a tenth of those emotions for anyone else, I finally decided that I wasn’t a psycho, sicko, or whatever else I feared.”

When the waitress delivered his beer, she took a moment to study the man she’d known for more than twenty years. Or at least, thought she knew. Sliding her hand across the table, she entwined their fingers. “You have always been the best sort of man. No exceptions.” Cocking her head, she smiled. “Except when you tried to stop my pranks.”

“Girl, you have a wild streak a mile wide, and I saved you from juvenile hall.”

“No, you didn’t. The pranks were all harmless.”

“Setting off a homemade rocket under the school librarian’s porch isn’t as innocent as you might think.” Tightening their hands, he grinned. “I’ve spent more than the last decade trying to pretend I never had those feelings. Guess what?”

“What?” she responded with a smile.

“I still feel the same way…only more.” Lifting his beer, he studied her over the rim of his glass. “I’m guilty of lust. That’s a deadly sin I’m willing to embrace.”

“As far as I can tell, that’s a damn good one to choose. I’m guilty of sloth. Given half a chance, I would take a nap every day at three.”

“You’ve written twenty books in six years. That isn’t sloth.”

Shrugging, she remained silent. Let him think the best of her. Why should she point out all her flaws? Hell, he already knew most of them. Looking around the bar, she grinned. A man who’d taken up her imagination for years…lusted for her. Last night had given her some clue, but his confession tonight gave her the full picture. “I guess the smooching last night makes a lot more sense now.” Draining her drink, she looked out the window. “Now what do we do?”

“Spend time together and see what happens.”

“All right. I have a date with my couch, and you can join me. I have Predators Up Close on Amazon, and I want to watch it.”

He signaled to the waitress for the check and gave her a smile. “Count me in.”

“Really? You like nature shows?”

“I like you, Lilly. I always have and suspect I always will. It’s time to figure out what it’s all about. Those feelings I had as a boy have only intensified, and I’m asking for a chance. The three-year age difference between us is no longer a barrier. What I felt at eighteen is only stronger now, and it’s not illegal.”

“Always a plus,” she commented dryly. The waitress handed Brock the bill, and that gave her an opportunity to take a much-needed breath. Tsunami. Brock Landry was a freaking storm landing on her shore, and she had no idea how to keep her head above water. Maybe it was time to test her swimming skills and see what she could manage. He was coming for her whether she was ready or not. “So, we’re really going to try this?”

“Absolutely. We’d be idiots not to see what we could have.” He dug money out of his wallet, put it on top of the bill, and stood. “Let’s go watch the show.” Holding out his hand, he grinned.

When she put her hand in his, his eyes closed and his mouth lifted at the corners. If she wasn’t mistaken, the predator in front of her had made his first move. As they walked out of the restaurant, his words ran on a loop… “I wanted to devour you, own you, and maybe ruin you.” What in the world had she just agreed to?

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