Page 40 of When Annika Met Thom

“I think it might be fun,” she said lightly. “I did come to New York for sex, after all.”

Thom turned away, picking up the pizza box and heading for the fridge. “No. Out of the question. Not even a possibility. Find another candidate.”

“The gentleman doth protest too much.”

“Maybe I’m not even a gentleman.”

“Bull.”

He closed the lid on the box and shoved it into the fridge, dropping his soda can in the recycling box. He left his plate in the sink. “I’ll clean up tomorrow,” he informed her, his back against the counter. “Good night.” He snapped his fingers and headed for the bedroom, closing the door behind himself and Cerberus.

It wasn’t even eight o’clock. He stood in the bedroom wondering what the hell he was going to do for three hours.

Then there was a little rap at the door.

Five

“Did you just run away from me?” Annika asked from the other side of the door.

“I retreated with dignity,” Thom said and she laughed again.

She opened the door, considering him through the crack. “Come watch a movie with me.”

“No.”

“Why not? It’s just a movie.”

“Not a chance.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What’s the issue?”

“It would be a mistake of epic proportions.”

“Why?”

Thom sighed. “Because women are how they are, that’s why, and you’re not going to convince me that you’re different.”

Annika pushed open the door, propping one hand on her hip. She had a glint in her eye that Thom knew better than to trust. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that I know how it will go.”

“Tell me.” It was hard to believe that such a soft and sexy woman could sound like steel.

Thom went to the door so they were standing toe-to-toe. It was a bit of a risk because he could feel the heat of her skin and she was close enough to touch, but he wanted to make sure she heard every word he said. “Women always try to make more out of less,” he said. “You can’t just watch a movie together. You can’t just have dinner together. You can’t even just have sex. Everything has to be the next step on a journey that always leads to the same place.”

“Where’s that?”

“Marriage. Happily-ever-after.”

“Big assumption,” she said. “All women aren’t the same.”

“I’ve never yet met one who could live in the moment, at least not for long.”

“People have hook-ups and many of them are women.”

“But if the other party is still there in the morning, then it’s not a hook-up anymore. It’s abeginning.”

She surveyed him, her eyes narrowed. “So, you’re afraid of commitment?”

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