Page 49 of City of Sin (Men of Manhattan 1)

"I should probably get you home," he said.

"Yes, you probably should." There was no invitation back to his place. Or any suggestion that he wanted tonight to continue. I bit my lip. I wanted him more now than I had the first night, now that he wasn't offering. I didn't want his hands on me to become a distant memory.

Our check had come and he had paid for the whole meal despite my protests. And now he was just staring at me. Did he want me to make the first move? I was so out of my element. I had only ever really dated Patrick. My experience was close to zero. I swallowed hard. "Unless you want to do something else?"

A small smile crossed his handsome face. "Not tonight. I have an early morning tomorrow."

"Right, me too."

"Okay then." He pulled on his wool jacket and stood up.

I didn't want him to put on more clothes, I wanted him to be taking them off. I stood up and grabbed my jacket off the back of my chair.

"Allow me." He grabbed my jacket and held it up for me.

He was a gentleman. Despite what he had said on our first date, he seemed to be the most respectful man I had ever met. And un-respectful at the same time. I slid my arms into my jacket as he pulled it up onto my shoulders. His fingers brushed across the back of my neck as he pushed my hair over the collar of my jacket. My skin tingled where he had touched me. It was the first time he had touched me since we had started our dinner. I quickly turned around and looked up at him. His face was just a few inches from mine. I saw his Adam's apple rise and fall as he stared down at me.

But he quickly turned away from me, placing his hand on the small of my back for a second, directing me toward the exit.

He said we could do things my way. But I wasn't sure taking things slowly was my way. I had fallen for Patrick so quickly. And Mason Caldwell was more captivating than Patrick. I was in way over my head. Maybe Mason knew that. Maybe that was why he had said we could take things slowly. Because he was respectful. No. He's not respectful. I had never been so confused in my life.

He opened up the door for me and I walked out into the cold night. It was well past 8 o'clock and now that The Bachelor was over, I really had nothing to do back at my apartment. I wanted him to come with me. Maybe he would make it feel warm and full of life again.

I watched him hail down a taxi. I thought he might grab my hand again or drape his arm across my shoulders with an excuse to keep me warm. But he didn't touch me at all.

A taxi stopped right in front of him and he opened up the door for me. I walked up to him and placed my hand on his forearm. I could feel his muscles beneath his wool coat and suit jacket. "Thank you for a wonderful evening. I'm sorry that I thought you...well, that I suggested that you were..."

He pulled out his wallet, ignoring me. "I believe you said you wanted my number." He handed me his business card.

I looked down at the card. His cell phone number was listed at the bottom. "I didn't actually, but thank you." I leaned forward slightly. His cologne was making me slightly dizzy. I wanted him to kiss me goodnight.

He smiled down at me. "Get in the taxi, Bee."

I looked up at him. Why isn't he kissing me? I batted my eyelashes in what I hoped was a seductive way.

"You do realize how hard you're making it for me to take things slow?" he asked.

"Maybe I don't want you to take things slow with me."

"Trust me, baby, you do."

His words made me cold. "Goodnight, Mason."

"Goodnight, Bee."

I was sure my facial expression didn't hide my disappointment. I guess I needed to step up my game. Hopefully Kendra could give me a few dating tips. I climbed into the taxi and Mason closed the door behind me.

He tapped on the front passenger's window and the cabbie rolled the window down. "West 96th Street," Mason said as he slipped the taxi driver some money.

How does he know my address?

I turned to look at him as the taxi sped off. He was standing on the sidewalk staring at me. He waved before shoving his hands into his pockets. He had a smug grin on his face.

Is he stalking me?

Chapter 31

Bee

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