Page 31 of Dirty Little Secret
Fox took a seat on the sofa again, munching on his sweet treat, basically giving it all of his attention as he virtually ignored us. While he was distracted, I headed to the door, placing myself between it and her. “I’m not busy at all. Please stay a bit longer. Let’s catch up.”
One brow cocked as she gave me a sly smile. “Haven’t we already done that?”
“Verbally,” I whispered. “I don’t want you to go yet.”
“I know what you want.” She winked. “Sorry, Kane. I can’t.”
“You can.” I leaned back on the door. “And you will.”
It had been a very long time since I’d craved anyone like this. But now that I had her, I felt a hunger for her that rivaled anything I’d ever felt. I would have her obstinate ass under me again if it was the last thing I did.
Fox got up to toss the napkin, now empty of brownie, into the trashcan. “What are you guys doing anyway?” He walked up to my side, looking at me with a confused expression. “It sounds like you two are fighting about something.”
“We’re not fighting,” Zandra said as she looked down at him, running her hand over his head. The maternal action made me catch my breath, and I wondered if she had any idea that this was the boy she’d grown in her belly for nine months. “Your dad’s just being silly, is all.”
Fox looked at me, his tone surprised, “You’re being silly?”
It wasn’t like me to be silly, and Fox knew it. “No, I’m not being silly. I’ve just asked her on a date.”
Now his eyes grew big. “A date?” He looked at Zandra. “You should say yes, ’cause my dad never goes on dates.” Then he looked back at me. “You must really love her, Dad.” He tried to whisper that little bit, but I was sure people on the other side of the hospital could have heard him.
Zandra choked a little as she backed up, holding her throat as she looked down at the floor. “I just can’t. I really can’t.”
Patting my son on the top of his head, I said, “Grownups don’t talk about love so soon, son. But I would like to take this nice young woman out for dinner and maybe some drinks and dancing, if she’s not opposed to it, of course. Gentlemen never force themselves on a lady. You remember that, Fox.”
Zandra suddenly found herself with the upper hand as she saw that I wasn’t about to teach my son to bend a female to his will the way I’d been trying with her earlier—and fully planned on doing again. “Glad to hear you think that way, Kane. So you do understand that I just can’t go out with you on any kind of a date. Sorry about that.”
“Aw, man, Dad. She don’t love you back.” Fox shook his head. “Sorry, Dad. That’s gotta hurt.”
“Oh, it does.” I held my hand over my heart. “Just one little date is all I’m asking for.”
Fox turned to look at her. “Please, lady. I’ve never seen my dad like this. He’s so, so—um—acting so weird, is what he is. It’s just dinner, drinks, and dancing. Come on. Please.” Then my son put on his most pitiful pleading face as he tried one last time. “Please. Can you do it for me?”
The way Zandra looked at him made my heart stop. Her eyes shimmered a bit, and I could tell she was holding back tears. Maybe she was thinking about the boy she had given away.
She had no idea she was looking at that same child.
“You two are making this very hard.” She looked up at me. “Kane, if I thought it would be a good idea, I would say yes. I’m sure nearly every woman in this city would love to go on a date with you. I know that’s how it was back when we were in high school.”
“But I’m not asking any of them out—I’m asking you out.” I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at her with a sexy grin. “Come on, just say yes already.”
Fox walked over and put his hand on her arm. “Come on, please? Just tell him you’ll go on at least one date with him. I’ve never seen him this way.”
Reaching out with her left hand, the one with the bandage wrapped around it, she said, “I just can’t, Fox.”
He caught her by the wrist, looking at something on the inside of it. “Hey, you’ve got my birthday tattooed on you.”
Holy hell!
