Page 20 of Close Encounters of the Sexy Kind
Most guys were surprised or threatened by her chosen career. Some laughed and made smarmy comments about handcuffs and role playing.
He didn’t. Instead, his eyes glistened with approval as he cocked his head slightly. “Quite impressive.”
Ryan blinked. “That doesn’t bother you?”
“Not in the least. Where I come from, female warriors are highly respected.”
“And where is that?”
“Not here,” he murmured with a slight curve of his lips.
She let that one slide for the time being. “Most men are threatened by my job.”
“Most men are idiots,” he scoffed. “In my opinion, there is nothing more desirable than a strong, capable woman. A woman who chooses to be with a man out of want, not necessity. That is truly a gift.”
“Oh.” Ryan felt the area below her belly button clench and grow warm. Hearing those words passing from his lips while he stared at her with those hypnotic eyes was doing funny things to her insides.
She shoved a forkful of pie into her mouth before she said or did something stupid, like pull a Betty and proposition him. She had never been so sorely tempted, but for some reason, this guy flipped every one of her switches.
“Tell me, Ryan,” he said, looking perfectly relaxed yet intense, “if Bait does not appeal to you, why did you come tonight?”
“It’s my friend’s birthday,” Ryan explained, “and that’s where she wanted to go.”
“I see. And yet, you were alone when I approached you.”
She shrugged, sipping her coffee. “One of the owners offered her a private tour, and she took him up on it.”
His dark eyes glistened. “Were you offered a ‘private tour,’ as well?”
“The guy said he could arrange one for me, but I passed.”
“Why?”
“Why did I pass?”
He nodded.
“Because, like I said, I’m not into that sort of thing. This”—she looked down at herself—“the dress, the shoes, the makeup—this isn’t me.”
“What is you, Ryan?”
Again, she was faced with a decision: tell the truth or prolong the fantasy. And again, she opted for the truth.
“Comfortable clothes, shoes I’m not likely to break my neck in, and spending an evening in with high-calorie takeout and anAncient Aliensmarathon.” She smiled ruefully. “I bet you’re sorry you asked, right?”
“On the contrary, I am more intrigued than ever.”
So far, this guy was proving too good to be true; saying and doing all the right things. Her innate alarms should be sounding loud and clear, but they weren’t. In fact, beyond the butterflies and the case of lusty tingles she seemed to have acquired, she felt very comfortable in his presence.
“Whoareyou?” she asked, shaking her head slightly.
He cocked his head. “Tiberius. I thought we had established that.”
She laughed softly. “No, I mean, you are unlike any man I’ve ever met.”
“I certainly hope so.”
Time passed far too quickly. She did most of the talking, and for some bizarre reason she couldn’t fathom, Tiberius seemed genuinely interested. He asked questions about her family, where she went to school, and her thoughts on things like politics and social issues. It was a shock when she looked at the clock and saw the time.
