Page 46 of Sacrifice the Knight (Checkmate 6)

“So you’re saying…?”

She expels a deep breath. “I’m saying one-night stands are exactly what I want. With you. With other men. Doesn’t matter who, as long as they go the way last night did. You held up your side of the deal; I came, and no one knows what we did. So if you want in on that, I’d be happy to drop in after work more often. But no matter which man I decide to spend my time with, not one of them will walk through my front door and make my kid think something is happening that isn’t. It’s a hard rule, and you talking to my son tonight already breaks that rule.”

“Wait.” My heart gives a thump that shocks me. “I can’t talk to your kid?”

“You can’t let him think we’re something that we’re not. You’re a customer at the diner. That’s it. That’s as far as it goes. I won’t tell him any different, so if he gets the wrong idea, that’s on you, and I won’t play nice if you mess with his head.”

I tilt my head back and stare at the ceiling, because I’m way more invested in this than I should be. Way more than she is. “You make it sound so clinical. I mean, I don’t want a wife either. I don’t want a relationship. But it almost sounds like I’m as valuable as a dildo, and well, shit, you could buy one of those online and have it in your bedside drawer for your convenience. A dildo means you don’t need to visit the garage in the middle of the night. It means there’s no chance of getting caught.”

Damn her to hell and back when she shrugs and speaks in monotone. “I have a dildo. I can take care of my own needs when I need to. But you’re one step up from that. You’re useful, and I like you. I think you’re sexy, and no dildo ever made me come so many times in one night. But you don’t reach the status where I care where you are on a day-to-day basis. If you skip a day at the diner, I won’t cry about it. I won’t check in with you or nag you to bring bread. I have a life with my son. I’m busy and truly can’t afford more baggage, but forty minutes each night is something I could get on board with.”

“Harsh.”

She shrugs. “It’s my reality. I know it’s not ideal, so I’ll understand if you’re not interested in the same kind of agreement.”

“Well, I didn’t say I wasn’t interested,” I rush out. “I just said it was clinical.”

“Did last night feel clinical?” Switching feet, she plops the lifted heel to the floor, then raises the other and rests it on the wall. “When you were fucking me on my own car, did it feel cold and clinical?”

Her hot pussy wrapped around me. Her succulent hips in my hands. Her fragrant hair in my face. “Not even a little.”

“Exactly.” Flashing a wide smile, Katrina pushes off the wall and catches her son and his friend on their way past. She pulls the duo close and brushes hair off Mac’s face. “Baby, you can’t sell me to strange men. It’s bad manners.”

Mac’s raging eyes snap to me. “You snitched? I said you could take her out for a meal! Why are you snitching?”

“Wait up!” Benny, Mac’s best friend, grabs his shoulder and spins him around. “You told FuckWhit he could date your mom? What the hell is your problem, dumbass? We keep the wolves away. We don’t toss the women into the fuckin’ forest.”

“Mind your own business.” Mac pushes his older friend off and turns to me. “Why the hell would you snitch?”

When Katrina’s eyes sparkle with a message I can’t quite decipher, I run with what I’ve got and try my best. “So I took your advice and mentioned how maybe we could get dinner. When your mom hesitated, I mentioned how you said it was okay.”

“Blair!” Benny smacks his friend. “Why would you tell him it’s okay? Oz married my mom, and it’sstillnot okay!”

“Because he’s not a prick!” Mac tosses out. “He’s not an asshole, so I figured if anyone was safe, it would be DeWhit.”

“Nobody is safe!” Ben snaps. “Nobody! They’re all pricks.”

“Benny, honey?” Katrina pats the boy’s broad chest and pushes him back a step. “Shut up now. Go find your mom; I’m certain I just saw Oz smack her butt.”

“That fucker!”

As soon as the kid storms away, Katrina pats Mac’s collar down the way Laine did mine. “Honey, I appreciate what you tried to do, but I’m not interested in dating. If, at some point, I find myself lonely and in the mood to date, I’ll make my own arrangements. On my own terms.” She purses her lips to push the point home. “Please don’t try to set me up with anyone ever again.”

“You were alone on your birthday.” His narrowed eyes span from his mom to me. “You put goop on your face and watched a crappy movie.”

“I exfoliated my face because it makes me happy, and I watched a movie with you and Grandpa, because that also makes me happy. You don’t get to judge my choices.”

“But you coulda been at a fancy restaurant.” His light eyes almost plead. “Somebody’s gotta show you the good life, Mom. I can’t do it yet. I didn’t make any money yet.” He nods in my direction. “So why can’t it be him?”

“Because I’m not a cow, and this isn’t a sale yard. Honey, even if I were dating, I wouldn’t be with a guy on my birthday when I could be with you. You’re my favorite person in the world, so why would I trade you for a date?”

“You’re lame,” he pouts. “Super duper lame. You gotta find some fun in your life before it’s too late.”

“Babe! I’m thirty, not ninety.”

“Thirty is old! Next thing you know, you’ll blink andbam! Forty! Ask DeWhit. I bet the last decade flew.”

“Kid! I’m not old.”

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