Page 7 of Keeping the Single Dad
His gaze dropped from my eyes to my shoulders to my breasts. Tingling lit the pit of my stomach.
He took a thoughtful sip of his pint. “That could be a problem. I’m never going to get on with someone that doesn’t like dogs. We will fundamentally never be able to agree on anything.”
“There are reasons not to like dogs. What if a dog bit you when you were a kid?”
“Fear of dogs is acceptable.” His voice was teasing and his smile amused. “I won’t quibble if you have some deep-rooted dog-related psychological trauma.”
Something in his calm, gruff manner soothed me as much as it electrified me. Was he into this? No point playing games. As casually as I could, I slid my hand along the smooth cool bar. My little finger grazed his. My heart jolted, and I inhaled sharply at the contact. For a dreadful moment, I thought he might jerk his hand away, but he held perfectly still. Despite my pounding heart, I fought to keep my expression level. The lightest graze of our fingers made heat bloom up my wrist.
His gaze riveted to my face. “I’m talking about a groundless dislike of dogs. I can’t get on board with that.”
“Cats are independent. They look after themselves.”
“See, that’s the part I don’t get.” His finger slid tantalizingly back and forward over my little finger, spreading shivers of delight through my body. “You let a cat out of the door, and then you know it’s out there on the streets. I would worry the whole time. You can never tame a cat. How do you know it’s going to come home?”
?“A cat chooses its owner. It will come back if it likes you and it’s getting what it wants from you.”
He eased closer on his stool. His strong thigh brushed my leg, and warmth pooled in my lower belly. My breath hitched at his huge solid presence pressed so close and so bracingly male.
His thumb traced delicious circles on the back of my hand. “Right, but a dog will adore you until the end of time and you don’t have to do anything to earn that love.”
“A cat knows how to love. It’s just more discerning than a dog.”
“A dog only knows how to love unconditionally. We all need to be loved like that, don’t you think?”
An unexpected ache burned my throat. “Have you ever loved anyone like that?”
His thumb froze, and he slid his hand away. His expression stilled and grew serious. The sadness in his whisky-eyes held me entranced. Why wasn’t he touching me anymore? I let my gaze drop to his huge hands. No rings. “Are you married?”
He drew a breath. “No.”
“You’re single?”
“Yes.”
“Sure?”
“Am I sure I’m single?” His full-hearted laugh was deep and masculine. “Yes. I’m sure.”
My hand tingled from where he’d touched me. My body ached for more. Heart hammering, I took a breath and slid down from the stool. Even standing on tiptoe, I couldn’t reach his ear to whisper. “I’d love to see inside one of these fancy rooms.”
He could say no. This was a bold move even for me. I’d had my fair share of hook ups, but I’d never felt such an undeniable magnetism before or such desperation for a man’s touch. Men were only good for one thing, and most of them weren’t even that good at that. Dad’s relapse and Karen Delaney’s threats had messed with my head. I needed this distraction. Even if I looked a fool, throwing myself at this man-mountain. It was a way to make this terrible evening better. Besides, I’d never seen a mountain I’d been more desperate to climb.
I pressed myself closer, relishing the heat of his hard muscular body. The fresh, clean scent of his cologne filled my nose. I took his huge hand in mine and turned it over to trace the lines on his palm. My skin prickled pleasurably. “No strings. Just fun and done.”?
I watched his throat bob as he swallowed. Maybe the stupid cat thing was a deal breaker. Chatter and the tinkling music from the piano filled my ears. Was he going to say no? Hook ups were never a big deal. Why was my heart thundering?
I flashed a smile and hoped it looked seductive. “So, what do you say? Will you give me a tour of your room?”
He watched me in fascination before he interlaced his huge fingers with mine. A giddy sense of pleasure filled me.
Leaning down, he whispered into my hair. “Aye, sweetheart. I’ll give you anything you want.”
Chapter 5
Alexander
Assoonasthelift doors slid closed, we were on each other. I’d envisioned my evening would contain all the extravagance of a pack of salted peanuts and a pint before bed, not a devastatingly beautiful redhead plastered to me. Her soft mouth met mine in hot forceful kisses that made me breathless. Our tangled figures reflected from every angle in the sparkling mirrored lift as we soared upwards, groping each other furiously. I’d forgotten what it was like to give in to desire. Forgotten what it was like when my senses came to life like this. We pawed at each other like horny teenagers behind the bike sheds. Our pants and groans drowned out the soft drone of piped elevator music.?
