Page 2 of Daring to Love You
“You have too many women,” she blurted.
He snorted and shook his head. “There are no women in my life. Granted, yes, I’ll admit to being seen with women, but there’s nothing serious between us. Besides, I haven’t been out with anyone in over a month because I’m saving myself for you.”
She stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Yeah, right. I just witnessed one of the catering staff flirting with you.”
He shrugged. “So. If you saw that, you also saw me walk away without a backward glance.”
True, but still. She couldn’t imagine him giving up anyone for her.
“For the record, if you’ve seen me with anyone in the past, that’s exactly what it is, in the past. I’ve never been emotionally available to anyone I’ve gone out with, and they’ve known that going in.”
“And what? That would be different with me? Am I supposed to believe I’m somehow special, somehow different from all the others who came before me?”
His expression turned even more serious than it had been a moment ago. “Yes,” he said simply.
Dorian shook her head and pushed against his chest to move him away, but it was like pushing against a brick wall. He was immovable and didn’t budge.
“Give me a chance to prove to you that I’ve changed, that I want you in my life as more than just my best friend’s sister. And as more than just my verbal sparring partner. You’re the one I want to be with, Dorian.Only you.”
She shook her head. “I can’t,” she said weakly, despite meaning it. This time when she tried pushing him away, he moved easily. She skirted past him, putting a little space between them. “I don’t want to get hurt again, and you, Lynix Mathews, have the ability to crush me.”
“I wouldneverhurt you,” he insisted.
“Maybe not intentionally, but I’m not willing to take the risk. Now, I need to go and rejoin the wedding reception. I’m sure someone in my family is wondering where I’m at.”
He huffed out a loud breath. “Fine. Then I’ll just have to show you that I’m serious about you and me. I’m going to prove to you that you’re the only woman for me.” He opened the door and stood back, and as Dorian hurried out of the pool house, she heard him say, “I don’t mind working for what I want.”
Dorian tucked his words into the back of her mind as she headed to the main house. She had to be strong when it came to Lynix, but she wasn’t sure how much longer she could resist him. He made her body hum with need whenever she was around him, and she wanted him. She wanted him in every way a woman wanted a man, but…
Nope. Not going to happen. Stay strong, girl.
Chapter Two
Two months later…
Dorian was starting to hate anything involving weddings, engagement parties, and happy couples.
Bitter? Maybe.
Jealous? Definitely.
No. Wait.That’s not right.
She sighed at the route her thoughts had taken and shook off the sudden bout of negativity. She wasn’t bitter or jealous. As a matter of fact, she loved love and respected anyone who could keep the excitement growing in their relationship. Yet, there were moments like this evening, being surrounded by loving couples, that reminded her of the sad state of her love life. It was pitiful at best, and finding her soulmate was like looking for a goldfish in the Atlantic Ocean.
Why did it seem impossible to find a wonderful man, fall madly and passionately in love, and then live happily ever after?
She strolled into the kitchen of Moody Days, her sister Nyla’s jazz club, where several people bustled around washing dishes, plating up food, and taking care of a host of other things. Shegrabbed a batch of lemon pepper wings and mini quiches and headed back out to the huge room full of guests who were dancing, talking, and laughing. Basically, having a good time.
Once she set the items on the table, Dorian stood back to see if she could take any empty dishes away. When she had agreed to assist with Nyla and her fiancé’s engagement party, she hadn’t expected to have to help cook and serve so much food. She also hadn’t expected there to be so many people. Then again, what started as an engagement party had turned into a wedding reception as of five days ago. Her sister and now husband, Harrison, had returned from vacationing in Jamaica as a married couple.
Needless to say, Dorian’s mom had been livid to find out they had eloped. Especially when she’d dreamed of giving her girls, four of them, a fairytale wedding. Virginia Priestly was used to getting what she wanted, but now that her daughters and only son were grown, they were taking some of her power away.
If only I could be more like Nyla.
Instead, Dorian was the one who never stepped out of line. From a young age, she had always followed the rules and was the only one of her siblings who had never given their parents trouble.
The problem was she was tired of being the “good girl”—not that she wanted to be a rebel like Nyla and their sister Cree. No, she was just ready to live a little and stop being so socially awkward and predictable.
